Pressure measurements correlated with electrical explosion of metals in water

Time profiles of underwater shock wave pressure, current, and voltage were measured for exploding aluminum, aluminum-lithium alloy, and copper wire in water when an inductive energy store was discharged through the wire. A linear relationship existed between the peak voltage across exploding wire and the underwater shock wave pressure generated by the wire. The aluminum-lithium alloy reached a highly resistive state more quickly than pure aluminum wire at the same heating rate. The chemical reaction between the exploding wire material and the surrounding water plays a small role in the generation of detonation wave.