Revisiting hotspot ignition and growth due to pore collapse and shear localization using atomistics-consistent material models

C Chukwudubem Okafor (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA) J Jacob Herrin (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA) Y Yen Thi Nguyen (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA) H H. S. Udaykumar

Abstract

The calculation of hotspot ignition and growth rates is crucial to providing closure in the form of burn models to hydrocodes that predict the shock-to-detonation transition in energetic materials. Previous attempts at meso-scale calculations of energy localization to form reactive hotspots have relied on material models, including thermophysical and material strength properties, which did not adequately represent several aspects of the material behavior. Here, we revisit the calculations of reactive hotspot evolution, utilizing recently developed atomistic-consistent material models for the energetic crystal HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane). These updated physical models lead to significant differences in hotspot development at pore collapse sites by capturing energy localization in shear bands. In light of the distinctively different physics of shock-induced localization in the atomistics-consistent models, we also reevaluate the approach to calculate hotspot ignition and growth. These new meso-scale quantifications of energy localization rates are compared with previous approaches and the resulting differences are highlighted. The present work advances both physical understanding and quantification of the hotspot ignition and growth rates in HMX, informing the development of improved meso-informed reactive burn models for the prediction of sensitivity of such materials.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 138, Issue 13
Published October 07, 2025
ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Journal of Applied Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-8979 Physical Sciences

Authors (4)

C

Chukwudubem Okafor

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA

J

Jacob Herrin

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA

Y

Yen Thi Nguyen

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA

H

H. S. Udaykumar