Transverse wave instability in a solid explosive.

By the use of a metal indentation techinque, microscopic transverse or side-running shock waves can be detected in composition C-4, an explosive consisting largely of cyclonite (RDX) with organic plasticizers. The minimum wave spacing observed is approximately 0.05 millimeters. with a lateral velocity of about 6.5 millimeters per microsecond. The instability was demnostrated in cylindrically divergent detonation waves.