CYLINDRICAL EXPLOSION FLOWS.

This paper describes the results of integrated studies of cylindrical explosion flows. Special attention has been given to the study of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability developing on the contact boundary between shock-heated gas and detonation products, which, as turned out, governs the electrophysical parameters of the leading zone of cylindrical explosion flow. Stages and space-time characteristics of instability development have been defined and some peculiarities revealed. In particular, it was the first time that jets of detonation products had been experimentally observed to surpass the shock front. The measured distributions of density in the leading zone of cylindrical explosion flow helped obtain quantitative data on the mixing of shock-heated gas and detonation products. A compression wave propagating from the center over the detonation products has been experimentally revealed, and its effect on the development of Rayleigh-Taylor instability at a late stage of expansions has been studied. Also described is a comparison of the experimental data with the conclusions made as a result of analytical studies.