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Why did military explosives need to resist shock and friction?
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explosive
A coal miner loading a drill hole with a water gel explosive called Tovex.
Military explosives must be insensitive to shock and friction primarily to ensure safety and reliability during handling and deployment. Because these materials are often fired in projectiles or dropped in aerial bombs, they must withstand significant physical stress without suffering a premature explosion.1
This requirement is essential for the following reasons:
- Operational Safety: Explosives must be stable enough to resist detonation from small-arms fire or the intense forces experienced during the firing or dropping process.1
- Reliability: They must be capable of enduring long periods of storage in adverse conditions without deteriorating, ensuring they function correctly when intended.1
- Controlled Detonation: By remaining insensitive to accidental stimuli, military explosives allow for the use of complex, specialized fuses to trigger the charge only at the desired moment, such as after penetrating heavy armor.12
Ultimately, this insensitivity allows military forces to transport and deploy powerful, high-shattering explosives with a reduced risk of catastrophic accidents.1