Modeling of plane detonation waves in a gas suspension of nano-sized aluminum particles

A physicomathematical model of detonation of a gas suspension of nano-sized aluminum particles with allowance for the transition from the continuum to free-molecular flow regime and heat transfer between the particles is proposed. A formula for logarithmic interpolation for the thermal relaxation time in the transitional regime is derived. A semi-empirical model of Arrhenius-type reduced kinetics of combustion is developed, which ensures good agreement with available experimental data. Steady (Chapman–Jouguet and overdriven) structures and also attenuating detonation waves in suspensions of nano-sized particles are analyzed. Typical features of detonation in nano-sized particle suspensions are found: the normal detonation regimes correspond to the solution in the Chapman–Jouguet plane with a sonic final state in terms of the equilibrium velocity of sound; combustion occurs in an almost equilibrium mixture in terms of velocities and temperatures; a strong dependence of the combustion region length on the amplitude of the leading shock wave is observed.