Equidistant Truss Line Wave Generator (LWG)

Author(s):

Dwight Hofstetter Jr, Justin Bays, Todd Brinkman, and Paul Duvall

Abstract:

The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory researched and developed a line wave generator (LWG) to detonate three explosive masses reliably and simultaneously with the use of only one detonator. This report reflects the final “as-executed” experimental details and findings for experiments conducted to collect data on the effectiveness of various LWG designs with respect to delivering a detonating shock wave to separate explosive masses simultaneously. The optimal design would deliver individual shock fronts to each explosive mass simultaneously, use minimal explosive, and initiate reliably and repeatably. It was also necessary that the design be produced in-house, with limited tools, and be somewhat transportable. The LWG would need to be created on demand, transported, and potentially modified in the field in future uses. The explosive trains were placed on 1-inch-thick 6061 aluminum blocks and, when detonated, created a cavity in the aluminum that provided forensic evidence to the behavior of the detonation. High-speed video taken during the final experiment certified that the detonation front was delivered uniformly to each explosive mass.