Detonace

Detonace is a type of rapid combustion or explosion characterized by a supersonic shock wave that propagates through a reactive medium. This shock wave compresses and heats the material ahead of it to temperatures and pressures sufficient to initiate a very rapid chemical reaction, often referred to as decomposition or combustion. Unlike deflagration, which involves subsonic flame propagation, detonation involves a self-sustaining process where the shock wave is intrinsically linked to the chemical reaction zone.

The energy released by the reaction behind the shock wave is what drives and sustains the supersonic wave. This creates a very sharp pressure and temperature rise across the detonation front. Detonation can occur in gases, liquids, and solids, provided they are capable of undergoing rapid exothermic reactions. Common examples include high explosives like TNT, nitroglycerin, and certain industrial explosive mixtures.

The study of detonation is important in fields such as aerospace engineering for rocket propulsion, mining and demolition for controlled explosions, and in understanding combustion phenomena in engines and accidental explosions. The speed at which a detonation wave travels is known as the detonation velocity, which is a characteristic property of the explosive material and is typically several kilometers per second. Factors influencing detonation include the chemical composition of the material, its confinement, and the presence of initiation stimuli.