Shear instability at the “explosion product–metal” interface for sliding detonation of an explosive charge

Periodic perturbations at the “explosion product–metal” interface were studied experimentally. Experiments were performed for both spherical and plane geometry. Critical conditions of wave formation (detonation velocity of an explosive charge $D\ge6.9$ mm/$\mu$sec) are determined, and an explanation of this effect is given. It is found experimentally that a dynamic pulse causes intense plastic strains at the “explosion products–metal” interface, leading to thermal softening of the steel boundary layer. In this layer, Kelvin–Helmholtz instability occurs. Calculation-analytical estimates of the critical boundary unstable wavelength agree satisfactorily with experimental results.