ENERGETIC SYSTEMS HAZARDS

The JANNAF 32nd Energetic Systems Hazards Subcommittee (formerly Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee, PSHS) meeting will address hazards and related technology areas for energetic materials (EMs, including propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics) found in strategic missile, tactical missile, gun, and rocket propulsion systems and munitions. Papers are invited that (a) address all aspects of vulnerability and survivability, loading and firing hazards of propulsion systems, and weapon systems safety or (b) aid in synthesizing, interpreting, and validating current knowledge to make research and development results more useful to the design engineer. Meeting topics generally fall into two groups: (1) hazards evaluation and (2) hazards mitigation technology.

ESHS Mission Areas

Areas of interest included in the Call for Papers are:


Mission Area I: Thermal Decomposition and Cookoff

Co-Chairs:
Ms. Aubrey D. Farmer, NAWCWD / China Lake, CA
Telephone:  (760) 939-7582
Email:          aubrey.farmer@navy.mil

Dr. William W. Erikson, SNL / Albuquerque, NM
Telephone:  (505) 284-5867
Email:          wweriks@sandia.gov

  • Thermal Decomposition, Ignition, and Combustion: Topics include fundamental experimental and modeling studies of thermal decomposition of reactive materials including EM ingredients and formulations; changes in reactivity from autocatalytic, self-heating and confinement effects; thermal ignition of EMs; and combustion of Ems in off-design scenarios. (Papers in this area may be considered for joint ESHS/CS sessions.)

  • Thermally-Induced Damage Effects: Exposure to elevated temperatures during an EM-system’s life cycle (production, storage, transportation, deployment, and final use/disposal) can produce physical and chemical changes to the EM. Thermally-induced damage can produce changes in burning rate and material sensitivity and thus has implications for both safety and performance. Studies of the creation, measurement, and assessment of thermal damage in EMs and the associated safety and/or performance effects are encouraged. (Papers in this area may be considered for joint ESHS/CS sessions.)

  • Cookoff Hazards Assessment and Mitigation: Cookoff response of energetics systems and components; cookoff mitigation technologies; threat/hazards assessment (THA) of cookoff scenarios; relationships between THA and cookoff test procedures; small scale test methodologies for predicting cookoff of full scale systems; effects of heating rate on cookoff response.

  • Thermal and Combined Environments: Hazards from thermal environments produced in operational and accident scenarios. This may include experimental and modeling studies of the environments themselves (e.g. aerothermal heating, fire, etc.) and the response of energetic systems (propellants, explosives) to those environments. Effects of combined mechanical/thermal environments produced by accident scenarios (e.g. crash-and-burn) and advanced delivery systems (e.g. g-force, vibration + aerothermal) are also of interest.

Mission Area II: Shock / Impact-Induced Reactions

Co-Chairs:
Dr. Joel B. Stewart, CCDC ARL / Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
Telephone:  (410) 278-3129
Email:          joel.b.stewart2.civ@mail.mil

Mr. Joshua E. Felts, NSWC-IHD / Indian Head, MD
Telephone:  (301) 744-2374
Email:          joshua.felts@navy.mil

  • Coupling in Energetic Materials between Mechanical and Reactive Response: Modeling and experimental studies on sub-detonative events triggered by impact or low amplitude shock loading; experimental, theoretical, and computational studies on the influence that the damage and fracture of the energetic material has on the initiation and evolution of reaction; development and use of experiments and diagnostics to either (1) identify fundamental mechanisms for the initiation and evolution of reaction (e.g., inter-granular friction vs plastic heating of binder material vs intra-granular fracture); (2) obtain the material response of the individual energetic constituents (e.g., for use in meso-scale modeling); (3) aid in sub-detonative model validation; or (4) better characterize sub-detonative responses in full scale systems.

  • Detonation Phenomena: Modeling and experimental studies of shock-to-detonation transitions (SDT), deflagration-to-detonation transitions (DDT), unknown-to-detonation transitions (XDT), delayed detonation phenomena (e.g., due to shock desensitization), or other detonation phenomena not mentioned. Experimental and theoretical studies of hot spot initiation and growth. Scaling of fundamental physics to predict system-level events.

Mission Area III: Insensitive Munitions Technology

Co-Chairs:
Ms. Jessical L. Vaughn, CCDC Aviation & Missile Center / Redstone Arsenal, AL
Telephone:  (256) 876-1993
Email:          jessica.l.vaughn16.civ@mail.mil

Mr. Stephen R. Struck, AFRL / Eglin AFB, FL
Telephone:  (850) 882-3911
Email:          stephen.struck@us.af.mil

Areas of interest include but are not limited to:
  • historical reviews of prior IM technology developments and lessons learned from integration into munitions;
  • ongoing IM technology development efforts whether general in nature or geared to specific systems/munitions;
  • design and functional details on mitigation concepts involving both passive and active features;
  • results of IM and Safety testing of components and full up systems;
  • evaluation of the relationship between small scale and full scale testing.

Mission Area IV: Vulnerability of Stowed Energetics

Chair:
Mr. J. Kevin Boyd, CCDC ARL / Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
Telephone:  (410) 278-2505

Email:          james.k.boyd.civ@mail.mil

Any aspects related to the response of stowed energetics on platforms to overmatching ballistic events. Stowed energetics include but are not limited to fuels used for propulsion, hydraulic oils and lubricants, stowed gun propellants and ammunition, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and flammable refrigerants.


Mission Area V: Propulsion Systems Safety and Hazard Classification

Chair:
Dr. Josephine Covino, DDESB / Alexandria, VA
Telephone:  (571) 372-6685
Email:          josephine.covino.civ@mail.mil

  • Hazard Classification of Large Solid Rocket Motors: Test methods/procedures, analysis techniques, experimental data and computer simulation results related to the assessment of hazard response of large solid rocket motors for hazard classification purposes. In particular, papers covering three hazard scenarios are of interest, including: (1) detonation/explosive reaction characteristics of various propellant families subjected to explosive shocks, for example critical diameter, shock sensitivity, and the relationship between the two parameters; (2) response of large SRMs in an engulfing fire or fast cookoff scenario; and (3) creation and effects of propellant damage on hazard response of large SRMs in impact and other accident scenarios.

  • Propulsion Systems Safety and Hazard Classification: Harmonization of Hazard Classification and Insensitive Munitions Testing, Issues identified by the service safety offices, Hazard classification issues, Differences between insensitive munitions and hazard classification and safety testing and standardization, Assessment of response and pass/fail criteria, Alternate test protocols and the role of small scale to full scale testing and hazard classification, and miscellaneous safety issues and programs.

Mission Area VI: Energetic Liquid Hazards

Chair:
Mr. Adam J. Brand, AFRL / Edwards AFB, CA
Telephone:  (661) 275-5787
Email:          adam.brand@us.af.mil

  • Hazards characterization associated with energetic liquids either as part of bipropellant combinations, monopropellant formulations, or liquid ingredients in solid propellant formulations and their respective propulsion systems.

  • Identification and application of meaningful analytical/experimental methods for assessing hazard risk with energetic liquids, and the development and standardization of new test methods for assessing hazards in the different propulsion systems considered.

Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee Chair

Mr. Adam J. Brand, AFRL / Edwards AFB, CA
Telephone:   (661) 275-5787
Email:           adam.brand@us.af.mil

Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee Deputy Chair

Dr. Joel B. Stewart, CCDC Army Research Laboratory / Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
Telephone:  (410) 718-5009
Email:           joel.b.stewart2.civ@mail.mil

JHU WSE ERG Technical Representative

Mr. William A. Bagley, JHU WSE ERG / Columbia, MD
Telephone:  (410) 718-5009
Email:          wbagley@erg.jhu.edu