Fluoroptic thermometry: its potential for testing EED's against HERO

As is well known modern, weapon systems incorporating electroexplosive devices (EEDs) when exposed to intense RF environment, are vulnerable to HERO (hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance) effects due to current induced by electromagnetic coupling in the EED firing circuit. The EEDs in weapon systems therefore, need to be tested under specified worst case electromagnetic environment. Traditionally, a bimetallic (Bi-Sb) thermocouple temperature sensing technique has been adopted for instrumenting the EEDs. This technique has inherent drawbacks due to perturbations in measurement caused by conductive coupling. The same have been overcome by a fluoroptic thermometric technique for measuring the EED bridge wire induced current. This paper highlights the salient features of this measurement technique in the adaptation of tests on a pyrotechnic in an installation, its advantages and disadvantages and the methodology to be adopted with a brief generic description of the problems techniques and innovative measures used for instrumentation.