containing an explosion?

Question

Is it possible the calculate the result of containing an explosion in an indestructable container, and then measure the resulting pressure in lbs per square inch. say 1 kilo of semtex in a container of volume 1 cubic metre with a wall thickness of sufficient thickness to contain it ( say 1 metre thick ) Im just curious in trying to get a feel for the amount of energy involved. I think I read somewhere that in the alamo project It was considered to try and contain the first experimental atomic bomb and explode it inside a container

Answer 1

There was some concern that an atomic explosion might well result in a chain reaction with the more common elements in the air and the terrain.
Perhaps it might even destroy the planet!
After all, no one really knew too much about the particulars of Einstein's mass/energy equality. Obviously, assuming E=MC2 to be true, they also knew a container could not be built to contain such a release of energy - let alone the heat.
On a smaller scale, think of a bullet. Someone had to determine the force needed to push the lead from the shell - without blowing up the rifle.
(A 180gr bullet, if seated deep enough in the case, for instance, can generate over 135,000 PSI!)
It is far, far better to rely on the mathematics to indirectly (and accurately) determine the total force in regards to explosions than to actually try and contain and directly measure the force.

Answer 2

Well, theoretically, "just" calculate the energy released when a given amount of the explosive is detonated and build your container to be strong enough to hold it in. No difference in concept that swiftly filling a high pressure gas tank. In concept. You could modify the concept though, design a container to have an opening out of which the energy would pour, and then just have to design the container to be strong enough to hold during the transition from inert to incredibly energetic and then long enough to allow the energy to pour out the opening. Well, that would be a cannon, actually.

If you could do that for an atomic bomb, I wonder how far the cannon shell would end up going?

Answer 3

Explode an atomic bomb inside a container?

LOL good luck.

Do you know what kind of power we're talking about? A small container would disintegrate in the tiniest fraction of a second - the energy would have nowhere else to go.

**There's no such thing as an indestructible container**

Answer 4

Maybe if the container was the size of an average house and 100% made of carbon nanotubes 3 feet thick or something similarly exotic. But if you are able to contain an explosion and release its energy in spurts you could have a good energy machine. :)

Possible? Yes but the costs and energy required would be more than the nuke itself.

Answer 5

you could calculate the amount of energy released in the explosion. And the amount of gas given of. From this you could work out the rise in temerature and from there the increase in pressure