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Sphericity and roundness for three-dimensional high explosive particles by computational geometry

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Abstract

Particle shape governs the macro-mechanical behavior of high explosives. This study develops 3D computational geometry techniques to determine commonly used sphericity and roundness definitions of typical high explosive particles, including HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro- 1,3,5,7-tetrazocine), RDX (1,3,5-Trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine), and CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane). This technique can automatically determine principal dimensions, volume, surface area, minimum circumscribed sphere, maximum inscribed sphere, and the 3D convex hull of 3D particle geometries and determine commonly used 3D sphericity descriptors of high explosive particles. This technique can also automatically identify corners on the 3D particle surface, fit appropriate spheres to these corners, and compute Wadell’s roundness of high explosive particles. This study demonstrates that the qualities of 3D particle geometries affect the computational results of particle sphericity and roundness descriptors of high explosives. These descriptors display a hierarchy of resistance to the effects of low image quality. Therefore, the minimum requirements for ensuring reliable shape characterization of these parameters are established for high explosives. This study systematically compares 2D and 3D particle shape characterizations of around 15,000 particles from three high explosives (HMX, RDX, and CL-20). Results show that 2D sphericity and rounded definitions either underestimate the corresponding 3D definitions or vary within large ranges leading to uncertainties for inferring 3D particle characteristics from 2D images of high explosives.

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All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Fund from State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, PRC (WDZCKYXM20190101), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51769028), Beijing Institute of Structure and Environment Engineering Fund (BQ2019001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xi’an Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Xi’an, 710065, Shaanxi, China

    Xianzhen Jia

  2. Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology, Xi’an, 710025, Shaanxi Province, China

    Zai Liu

  3. School of Gemmology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yutong Han

  4. Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100084, China

    Peng Cao & Chengshun Xu

  5. The 41st Institute of the Fourth Research Academy of CASC, Xi’an, 710025, Shaanxi Province, China

    Shanwei Xu

  6. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shanxi Institute of Technology, Yangquan, 045011, Shanxi, China

    Hang Zheng

  7. School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China

    Junxing Zheng

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Jia, X., Liu, Z., Han, Y. et al. Sphericity and roundness for three-dimensional high explosive particles by computational geometry. Comp. Part. Mech. 10, 817–836 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-022-00524-3

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