In order to investigate and define some of the variables involved in the impact testing of liquid explosives and monopropellants, a standard Olin Mathieson drop-weight tester was instrumentated for dynamic pressure measurements and high speed camera studies. This instrumentation allows pressure measurements up to 7000 kgs/sq cm which is the calculated burst pressure of the rupture diaphragm in the sample cup assembly. The high speed camera studies provide a visual display of the impact - initiation - explosion process as it occurs in the sample cup assembly. (Author).

"The drop weight impact test is the simplest and easiest test that can be performed on small quantities of explosives or propelants, and yet it has only a minimal role in assessing explosive sentitivity or performance. This report examines the drop weight impact test as it is currently used, describes its major flaw, and suggests an alternative test that holds the promise of providing the impact energy required to ignite an energetic material. Other impact tests are described. One of these, the Ballistic Impact Chamber Test, measures the rate of reaction and extent of reaction during impact. This test demonstrates that during impact there are two forms of initiation reactions that occur; one that is very fast and is likely due to direct impact-shear initiation of the crystalline solids in the sample and, the other, a much slower component, is thought to arise due to burning of the sample."--Report documentation page.