Energetic Materials: Thermophysical Properties, Predictions, and Experimental Measurements

The development, processing, and lifecycle environmental impact analysis of energetic materials all pose various challenges and potential dangers. Because safety concerns severely limit study of these substances at most research facilities, engineers will especially appreciate a tool that strengthens understanding of the chemistry and physics involved and helps them better predict how these materials will behave when used in explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, and other applications.

Energetic Materials: Thermophysical Properties, Predictions, and Experimental Measurements covers a variety of advanced empirical modeling and simulation tools used to explore development, performance, sensitivity, and lifecycle issues of energetic materials. Focusing on a critical component of energetic materials research— prediction of thermophysical properties—this book elucidates innovative and experimental techniques being used to:

• Apply molecular and meso-scale modeling methodologies to measure reactivity, performance, and properties of new energetic materials
• Gain insight into shear initiation at the particulate level
• Better understand the fate, transport, and overall environmental impact of energetic materials
• Evaluate the performance of new materials and assess their reaction mechanisms

Edited by two respected U.S. Army engineers, this book highlights cutting-edge research from leaders in the energetics community. Documenting the history, applications, and environmental behavior of energetic materials, this reference is a valuable resource for anyone working to optimize their massive potential—either now or in the future.

Dr. Veera M. Boddu is a senior research engineer with in the Environmental Processes Branch at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Champaign, Illinois. Dr. Boddu has over 20 yrs of research experience with focus on studying thermophysical properties of explosive materials, and developing innovative technologies for waste streams from Army manufacturing facilities and training lands. Dr. Boddu also conducts research on catalytic degradation of new insensitive munitions explosives on nanomaterials. Dr. Boddu has published more than 35 peer reviewed journal articles, 10 Army technical reports, and 3 patents. Dr. Boddu received his B. S. from National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India, an M. S. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri at Columbia, all in Chemical Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Missouri and a board-certified environmental engineer. He is an adjunct professor in the Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Paul Redner is a senior chemical engineer with the Energetics Research Branch at the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command - Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (RDECOM-ARDEC), located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. Mr. Redner has over 11 years of research and management experience, ranging from the recrystallization and processing of high explosives such as RDX to the development of nanoscale and nanostructured materials for use in both energetic and non-energetic applications. He is currently the project officer for eight programs concentrating on the development and integration of advanced materials and nanotechnologies into Army weapons systems and spends the balance of his time performing business development duties for this technology area. Mr. Redner has published 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented papers at over 36 national and international meetings. Mr. Redner received his BE in Environmental Engineering and ME in Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. He received his MBA from New York University – Stern School of Business, New York, New York.