Stratification dynamics and the development of electrothermal instability at the wire explosion

The stratification dynamics at wire explosion of copper and nickel wires (25 and 50 mu m) in air is studied under current dwell conditions. Experimental and theoretical data are presented for the stratification of a core due to electrothermal instability. The evolution of strata during the quasi-adiabatic expansion of the core is studied, and it is shown that the elongation of strata and their dynamics are well described in terms of a model of electrothermal instability for conductors with different diameters.