Modelling and optimization of melt cast explosives fabrication process

熔铸炸药装药不仅用于军事系统，也用于民用爆破行动，在那里它们作为“助推器”来维持凝胶炸药配方的爆炸。这些炸药本质上是固体晶体在TNT等易熔基质中的分散体。对于任何爆炸装置来说，装药的大小和形状对其性能都很重要。它们是先在热熔炸药中混合固体成分，然后通过重力在模具中铸造而成的。一旦填充，冷却模具，使易熔基体凝固。冷却过程的速度对最终产品的质量至关重要。不适当的温度条件会导致零件产生裂纹和滞留空隙。该项目旨在模拟通用炸药零件的铸造和冷却过程，作为改进其制造的手段。它还通过研究诸如熔体流变学和热性能等变量如何影响铸造和冷却过程来促进新配方的开发。因此，每当使用新的成分时，就更容易适应这些变化。当新配方首次混合时，开发的模型也将用于提高安全性。

Melt-cast explosives charges are used not only in military systems, but also in civilian blasting operations where they act as "booster" to sustain the detonation of gel explosives formulations. These explosives are essentially a dispersion of solid crystals in a fusible matrix such as TNT. As for any explosives devices, the sizes and shapes of the charges are important to their performance. They are prepared by first mixing the solid ingredients in the hot melt explosive and then cast in a mold by gravity. Once filled, the mold is cooled to allow the fusible matrix to set. The rate of cooling process is critical to the quality of the final product. Improper temperature conditions will lead to cracks and trapped void in the part. This project is aimed at modelling the casting and cooling process of generic explosives parts as a means of improving their fabrication. It also has for objectives to facilitate the development of new formulations by studying how variables such as melt rheology and thermal properties affect the casting and cooling process. Therefore, whenever new ingredients will be used, it would be easier to adapt to these changes. The developed models will also be employed to increase safety when new formulations will be mixed for the first times.