Review of Investigations under Way on the Large-scale Tsniimash Ballistic Facility

The large-scale TsNIIMASH ballistic facility was built in 1992 through modernization of the large shock tunnel. Having 0.5 m caliber, the facility is 200 m long. Each experiment on the facility envisages an explosion of stoichiometric hydrogen-oxygen mixture, up to 300 cub. m by volume. In the air-evacuated ballistic channel 60 m long, the expanding explosion products of the detonating gas mixture boost gyrostabilized steel plates 0.5m in diam which travel along the channel on a magnetic suspension without a mechanical contact with the walls. The case is unique in combining the ballistic facility geometric dimensions with the plate high-precise motion. Results of experiments on graphite crystalline conversion into diamond are given. Investigations to use the shock tunnel for hypervelocity launch of compact projectiles are discussed.