Factors Affecting the Time to Burst in Exploding Wires

Abstract

Studies of Al, Cu, Ag, Au, Pd, and Pb wires are being conducted using a condenser bank of 11.4 kj maximum storage capacity. The order of increasing times to burst, which is not the same as the order of decreasing first-pulse energies, is Pb < Al < Au < Ag < Cu ≈ Pd. Resu lts with numerous sets of Al samples of constant length but cross sections varying by a factor of about 25 show a linear relationship between the cross-sectional area A and the time to burst, at constant initial voltage. This linearity is shown to be consistent with a theoretical relationship, previously derived, which emphasizes the hydrodynamic energy per unit length and the radial expansion.