Experimental method to determine fragmentation properties of materials

Abstract
Computer code implementation of the theories that are used to analyze the effects of dynamic fragmentation by high-velocity impact or explosion needs knowledge of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of materials over a wide range of shock loading conditions. The fragmentation process of cylindrical shells that were made from different metals has been studied as a function of initial shock pressure. The 3-D patterns of fragmentation and dispersion of tested shells has been recorded with application of flash X-ray facility and high-speed framing camera. Obtained experimental results are allowed determining, in terms of the Grady-Curran' concept, of the fragmentation properties, such as dynamic yield stress, spall strength, specific surface energy and fracture toughness. In the present paper, these parameters have been determined for carbon steel, aluminium alloy, copper, lead and indium, at strain rates ~10 ⁵s ^-1 and for shock loading stress up to ~50GPa.