Publications

Dean, Steven W.; Hodge, K.C.; Usher, Joshua M.; Pacheco, Lena M.

This report summarizes initial results from a series of gun experiments which were conducted at the DICE facility. The target of these experiments was a modified metal slug composed of a tantalum/tungsten alloy (Ta-10W). The general geometry of the slug was a right circular cylinder with a through-hole cut normal to the cylinder's axis. In all experiments, hardened steel impactors were used, the desired impact velocity was 200 m/s, the slug was preheated to a target temperature of 175° C, photon doppler velocimetry (PDV) was used to measure the projectile velocity before and after impact, and the impact event was recorded with high-speed video. In two of the impacts the slug was oriented perpendicular to the projectile, while in the remaining two it was tilted 8° from normal. Initial high-speed speed video results showed slug failure in the tilted impact case, while the slug survived normal impacts. Recovery fixtures were used to preserve impacted slugs for future postmortem analysis. Discussions are included regarding improvements to potential future experiments involving these slugs.

Digest of Technical Papers-IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference

Corley, John P.; Hodge, K.C.; Drennan, S.A.; Guthrie, D.W.; Navarro, J.M.; Johnson, David L.; Lehr, J.M.; Rosenthal, Stephen E.; Elizondo-Decanini, Juan M.

Gas switch development for application in Z refurbishment (ZR) has continued since PPPS Conference 2001. Several iterations have been tested both in oil and water dielectrics. The first switch tested was an evolved version of the Sandia designed HERMES III switch. The 6MV ZR Baseline Switch consists of a self-breakdown (cascade) section in which the discharge current flows in several parallel channels, and a trigger section where the current flows through a single spark channel. The second switch tested is a Cantilevered Switch. The entire cascade section is cantilevered on a plastic support rod allowing for a single continuous insulator housing but having the same characteristics as the Baseline. The third switch tested is a Sandia Hybrid switch. The laser triggered section of the Hybrid switch includes 5 Cascade like electrodes connected in parallel to a triggered gap via a ∼2μH series isolation inductor. The discharge current in the Hybrid switch trigger section flows in several parallel channels eliminating the single channel flow as in the Baseline Switch trigger section. The design iterations of these switches and results of these tests are presented.

Woodworth, Joseph R.; Corley, John P.; Hodge, K.C.; Drennan, S.A.; Guthrie, D.W.; Mowrer, Gary R.; Navarro, J.M.; Johnson, David L.; Woodworth, Joseph R.; Lehr, J.M.; Miller, Paul A.; Aragon, Ben P.; Elizondo-Decanini, Juan M.; Fowler, William E.; Maenchen, John E.; Sarkisov, Gennady S.

Abstract not provided.