M. RAT

Munitions vulnerability assessment is performed during development programs to demonstrate the IMness requirements. Today, many new munitions pass these criteria. Nevertheless, no evaluation is done to prove that munitions keep their IM signature along their life cycle. In this paper, we propose some methods to predict IMness behaviour of ageing munitions. These predictions are based on the knowledge of energetic materials characteristics according to their ageing damages. Through methodologies that allow taking into account various reaction mechanisms; it is possible to estimate the most probable response of ageing munitions. In the future, it would be useful to validate this approach in the aim to increase our confidence in IM assessment all along various life cycles. Nevertheless, since the 90's, Cast Cured Plastic Bonded explosives have been used in many different munitions. Some experimental data are available to demonstrate that the service life can be guaranteed during 20 years as required. This paper describes the methodology and the results concerning the Cast Cured Plastic Bonded Explosives. It has been demonstrated that mechanical and safety properties have not been damaged; and, it can be considered that IM signatures have remained the same. 1