Structure of a shell made from uranium alloyed with iron and germanium after explosive loading

This paper presents results of metallographic examination of a thick-wall spherical shell from uranium alloyed with iron and germanium. This shell is recovered after low-level explosive loading. Light microscopy, hardness measurement, scanning electron microscopy and X-Ray diffraction study were used to investigate the meridional section of the test shell as this section most completely exhibits the whole variety of structural features associated with explosive loading of the material. Processing, presentation, and analysis of experimental data on volumetric distribution of studied physical quantities were performed with the help of digital panning and color mapping.