Publications
Measuring strength at ultrahigh strain rates
The strain rate sensitivity of materials is measured through a combination of quasistatic, Hopkinson bar, and pressure-shear experiments. The pressure-shear technique has largely been limited to strain rates of order 1E6 1/s. Recent advances in laser and magnetically driven ramp loading have made it possible to achieve significantly higher rates, 1E5-1E8 1/s, under uniaxial strain compression. Strength in these experiments can be calculated by comparing the loading response to the hydrostatic (pressure-density) response of the material for the same density and temperature [Fowles, 1961]. This must be done accounting for the heating due to plastic work in the experiments. Experimental uniaxial strain data for aluminum for strain rates up to 1E8 1/s are examined and compared with existing data. The results are consistent with conventional views of the strain rate sensitivity of aluminum. However, when one considers the higher mean stress (pressure) present in the uniaxial strain experiments and, to a lesser extent, the pressure-shear experiments, one finds the material remains rate insensitive to about 1E7 1/s, two orders of magnitude higher than previously thought. Important caveats about determining strength in this manner will be discussed, and recommendations for future work will be made.