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Cell structure and heat release in aluminum air heterogeneous detonations

Pikai Zhang1,*, Huangwei Zhang2, and Zheng Chen3

  • *Contact author: pikai@kth.se
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 113201 – Published 12 November, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/pxtc-m7bp

Abstract

Aluminum (Al), owing to its high energy density and favorable storage characteristics, has been widely used in energetic materials and propulsion-related applications. Al-particle detonations involve strong coupling among shock compression, interphase transport, and particle surface reactions. In this study, two-dimensional simulations of Al–air heterogeneous detonations are performed using a two-way Eulerian–Lagrangian framework to examine the effects of off-stoichiometric particle loading, particle diameter, and longitudinal particle-loading modulation on cellular dynamics and heat-release pathways. For uniform particle distributions, fuel-lean and fuel-rich detonations exhibit distinct frontal structures. Under fuel-lean conditions, the induction and reaction zones remain relatively uniform, resembling gaseous cellular detonations. Under fuel-rich conditions, intense localized heat release develops along triple-point trajectories, whereas excessive particle accumulation behind the Mach stem suppresses surface reactions through strong convective heat absorption, leading to reduced stability. For nonuniform particle distributions, increasing the imposed loading wavelength enlarges and distorts the cellular structure, induces large-scale peak-pressure modulation, and promotes local reinitiation events. Larger particles and fuel-rich loadings amplify these destabilizing effects, while smaller particles and fuel-lean mixtures show greater resistance to loading-induced perturbations. These results clarify how particle response, interphase momentum loss, and localized surface reactions jointly control nonuniform Al–air heterogeneous detonation dynamics.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 113201– Published 12 November, 2026
  • Received 23 June 2026
  • Accepted 28 October 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by Bibsam.

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