O-023 Ways and Methods to Insensitive Munition: IM Recipes, Version 2

Changing current munitions into Insensitive Munitions (IM) is a difficult challenge with no miracle solution. Moreover, even if a universal miracle design could be found for future munitions, these munitions would still need to be developed, which requires both funding and time. Therefore, the solution to medium term problems and still more to current problems essentially rests with case by case combinations of elementary "recipes" to be tailored to each particular situation.

Most of these recipes appear in open literature, but in a scattered manner. This is why NIMIC has undertaken the task of collecting them, categorizing them and assembling them into a compendium called "Ways and Methods to Insensitive Munitions: IM Recipes", with references found in literature and with examples of actual applications. This categorization is based on three types of solutions:

A. Solutions which require no modification to the munition itself, i.e. solutions relying on external protections (storage, containers, buffers, attenuators) against thermal threats, shockjirnpact threats and sympathetic detonation, electrostatic and electromagnetic hazards, catastrophic pressure buildups;

B. Solutions which require a modification of the casefliner or of the design of the munition independently of the nature of its energetic substances, against the same threats as above;

C. Solutions based on modifications or improvements of the energetic substances.

The general structure of this compendium is explained and its contents are exemplified within each of the categories A, B and C. Since the first publication early 1994, NMC has been screening the available literature, organizing several workshops and keeping in contact with all the potential users in order to improve the 2nd version, to be published by the end of 1996.