Abstract
The current research attempts to develop a model for a polycrystalline, composite solid with viscoelastic matrix known as LX17. It is a highly-filled plastic bonded explosive with a shelf-life of up to 50 years. Experimentation is too costly and time prohibitive to use as a method of characterization, so micromechanical models are developed here. First, the viscoelastic binder and elastic particles are characterized to be used in the developed models. Analytic micromechanics models, concentrating on Hashin's composite spheres model, will be shown to be ineffective due to the complexity of the material. Therefore, computational micromechanics is examined using the finite element method. Both models are compared to existing experimental data, and it is shown that the computational micromechanics is an effective method for characterization of LX17. The finite element results show a stiffer response than the experimental data, which is expected since damage is not included in this effort. Including damage will be necessary for future work in order to accurately model LX17.
Clayton, Kyle Martin (2001). Mechanical modeling of the plastic bonded explosive LX17. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -2001 -THESIS -C532.