Application of wire dynamics models to nested array implosions on Z

Summary form only given. A practical wire dynamical model (WDM) treats the individual wire segments of an array load as a self-consistent electrical and mechanical ensemble. From a mechanical viewpoint the segments are mutually interacting particles driven by Biot-Savart force to attract or repel one another according to the currents each carries. Electrically, the segments are viewed as mutually inductive circuit elements that remain connected in parallel to the driving circuit but are otherwise free to move about the solution domain and free to partition the input current among all the parallel paths. Complete electrical and mechanical self-consistency is an absolute requirement for the accurate modeling of an experiment. In the particular WDM used here, extensive use is made of rotational symmetry to exploit existing experimental geometries, minimize the number of floating point operations, and introduce regular initial perturbations for stability studies. The model is also amenable to several wire-to-wire collision models, as well as wire heating and expansion models, which will be discussed. The model was applied to detailed models of nested array loads recently investigated with the Z driver at Sandia National Laboratory.