Pour une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes d’explosions de nuages réactifs hétérogènes, la dispersion de particules solides par choc ainsi que la détonabilité des mélanges diphasiques aluminium-oxygène ont été étudiés expérimentalement et numériquement.La dispersion des particules solides est réalisée par l’explosion en champ libre de charges sphériques composées d’un explosif solide central entouré par une couche de particules solides inertes. Les données expérimentales sont obtenues à l’aide de capteurs de pression, d’un piège à particules et d’une caméra rapide.La compaction puis la décompaction de la couche est suivie de la formation d’agglomérats, tandis que certaines particules sont brisées par le choc. Le choc frontal est retardé et l’effet de souffle nettement réduit. Les particules sont réparties dans le nuage en fonction de leur taille. Les simulations numériques 1D sont en accord raisonnable avec les résultats expérimentaux.La détonabilité de mélanges diphasiques oxygène-particules d’aluminium en suspension a été étudiée en initiant une détonation divergente non confinée, dont on enregistre l’évolution temporelle de la pression et la structure cellulaire. Lors d’un amorçage avec 200-250g d’explosif solide (C4), la détonation se forme à une distance  1,6m. Les caractéristiques maximales sont observées à une distance de 2,3m (limite du nuage expérimental) et sont en accord avec les caractéristiques théoriques CJ. La structure cellulaire a été mise en évidence pour la première fois dans ce type de mélange ; sa taille est 10-15cm. Les simulations numériques 2D cylindriques, effectuées avec le code EFAE, donnent une taille de cellule légèrement supérieure. / Explosive dispersal of solid particles and detonability of two-phase oxygen-aluminum particles mixtures have been investigated experimentally and numerically in order to get a better understanding of the mechanisms governing the explosion of reactive heterogeneous mixtures.Solid particles were dispersed by the free-field explosion of spherical charges made of a central booster of solid explosive surrounded by a loose-packed density shell of inert particles. Pressure gauges, a particles trap and a high frame rate camera were used to gather experimental data. Compaction and decompaction of the layer are followed by the formation of particle agglomerates, whereas some other particles are burst by the shock. The leading shock is delayed and the blast effect is strongly damped. Particles are spread into the cloud accordingly to their size. 1D numerical simulations agree in general with the experimental results.The detonability of two-phase oxygen-aluminum particles mixtures was studied by initiating an unconfined diverging detonation, during which the temporal pressure evolution and the cellular structure were recorded. The detonation wave formed at 1,6m. With an ignition charge of 200-250g C4, the maximal values of pressure and velocity recorded at a radial distance of 2,3m (corresponding to the border of the cloud) are consistent with the CJ values. The cellular structure was observed for the first time in this kind of mixture with a cell size of 10-15cm. The cell size calculated with a 2D cylindrical simulation (performed with the EFAE code) is slightly larger.

Heterogeneous mixtures have the potential to be used as synthetic substrates for antenna applications giving the antenna designer new degrees of freedom to control the permittivity and/or permeability in three dimensions such as by a smooth variation of the density of the inclusions, the height of the substrate and the manufacture the whole antenna system in one process. Electromagnetic, fabrication, environmental, time and cost advantages are potential especially when combined with nano-fabrication techniques. Readily available and cheap materials such as Polyethylene and Copper can be used in creating these heterogeneous materials. These advantages have been further explained in this thesis. In this thesis, the research presented is on canonical, numerical and measurement analysis on heterogeneous mixtures that can be used as substrates for microwave applications. It is hypothesised that heterogeneous mixtures can be used to design bespoke artificial dielectric substrates for say, patch antennas. The canonical equations from published literature describing the effective permittivity, ε_eff and effective permeability, μ_eff of heterogeneous mixtures have been extensively examined and compared with each other. Several simulations of homogenous and heterogeneous media have been carried out and an extraction/inversion algorithm applied to find their ε_eff and μ_eff. Parametric studies have been presented to show how the different variables of the equations and the simulations affect the accuracy of the results. The extracted results from the inversion process showed very good agreement with the known values of the homogenous media. Numerically and canonically computed values of ε_eff and μ_eff of various heterogeneous media were shown to have good agreement. The fabrication techniques used in creating the samples used in this research were examined, along with the different measurement methods used in characterising their electromagnetic properties via simulations and measurements. The challenges faced with these measurement methods were explained including the possible sources of error. Patch antennas were used to investigate how the performance of an antenna may be affected by heterogeneous media with metallic inclusions. The performance of the patch antenna was not inhibited by the presence of the metallic inclusions in close proximity. The patch measurement was also used as a measurement technique in determining the ε_eff of the samples.