FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bob Kavetsky (301) 934-0385 rkavetsky@etcmd.com ENERGETICS TECHNOLOGY CENTER SCIENTIST LEADS SHOCKWAVE AND DETONATION PHYSICS WORKSHOP Waldorf, Md., October 10 – Dr. Jerry Forbes, Senior Scientist for Energetics Technology Center, recently lead a workshop in Aberdeen, Maryland for members of the High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute (HSAI) on Multiscale Modeling of Reactive Materials (MSRM). This three-day workshop was facilitated by the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program User Productivity Enhancement and Technology Transfer activity. It began by covering the fundamental of shockwave physics or rather how a pressure wave that travels faster than the speed of sound can be similar to that occurring in the center of the earth, in weapons, or in stars. The second day of the workshop covered the ignition of explosives under shock compression and a thermodynamic model was presented to explain the detonation wave features. The third day covered thermal initiation of explosives, the physics behind safely storing explosive munitions, and a review of the Ignition and Growth model authored by Drs. Edward Lee and Craig Tarver from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. . “Jerry developed the curriculum to train modelers in the basic physics behind energetic material response to shock and thermal initiation,” said Dr. Betsy Rice, Senior Scientist for MSRM HSAI. “He did an outstanding job, making his presentations very clear, and resonating well with his audience. We feel this tutorial was crucial to advancing the goals of the HSAI.” The HSAI, awarded to Army Research Laboratory and US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command in February 2008 is part of a high-profile program sponsored by the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program, with the purpose building DoD expertise in computational modeling of problems. This HSAI has the goal of establishing, demonstrating and transitioning a suite of multi-scale computational tools to be used in the prediction of munition response to insult. Dr. Jerry Forbes is a senior scientist at Energetics Technology Center in La Plata, Maryland with over 40 years experience in shockwave and detonation physics. He retired from NSWC-Indian Head in 1996. He then spent seven years as Materials at High Pressure group leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. In addition to his position at Energetics Technology Center, Dr. Forbes is a visiting Professor at Center for Energetic Concepts Development in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Maryland (UMD). He enjoys teaching and currently teaches a two-semester web based course at UMD on shockwave and detonation physics. Dr. Forbes obtained his PhD in physics from Washington State University in 1976 under shock wave pioneer Professor George Duvall. The American Physical Society Shock Compression Award is named after Professor Duvall. Dr. Forbes was made a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 1992 for his work on phase transitions under shock compression and his contributions to the APS Shock Compression of Condensed Matter Topical Group. Energetics Technology Center is a private, non-profit enterprise dedicated to growing science and technology in Southern Maryland. It focuses on workforce and economic development in the region and is a catalyst for energetics research and development. Energetics Technology Center is currently based in La Plata, Maryland. # # #