Influence of shock-wave profile shape (triangulai- "Taylor-wave" versus square-topped) on the spallation response of 316L stainless steel

Abstract
Shock-loading of a material in contact with a high explosive (HE) experiences a "Taylor wave" (triangular wave) loading profile. Samples of 316L stainless steel were shock loaded to several peak pressures to examine the influence of square-topped and triangular ("Taylor-wave")-shaped pulse loading on spallation behavior. The 316L SS sample loaded to 6.6 GPa using a square-topped pulse with a pulse duration ouf 0.9  sec displayed incipient spallation while the sample loaded to the identical peak shock pressure but with a triangularshaped loading pulse (which immediately unloads the sample after the peak Hugoniot stress is achieved) exhibited no damage. To achieve an approximately equivalent level of incipient spall using a triangular-shaped loading pulse, an ~ 2X increase in the peak Hugoniot stress was required. Detailed metallographic and microtextural analysis of the damage evolution in spalled 316L SS samples as a function of loading pulse shape and the peak Hugoniot stress is presented.