An investigation of balsa wood over a range of strain-rates and impact velocities

E. Palamidi; J.J. Harrigan

doi:doi:10.1051/jp4:2006134034

Numéro		J. Phys. IV France Volume 134, August 2006 EURODYMAT 2006 - 8th International Conference on Mechanical and Physical Behaviour of Materials under Dynamic Loading


Page(s)		225 - 230
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:2006134034
Publié en ligne		26 juillet 2006

EURODYMAT 2006 - 8th International Conference on Mehanical and Physical Behaviour of Materials under Dynamic Loading
J. Cirne, R. Dormeval, et al.
J. Phys. IV France 134 (2006) 225-230
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2006134034

An investigation of balsa wood over a range of strain-rates and impact velocities

E. Palamidi¹ and J.J. Harrigan^{1, 0}

¹ School of Mechanical Aerospace & Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK

Published online: 26 July 2006

Abstract
An experimental investigation of the mechanical properties of balsa wood under quasi-static and dynamic conditions is presented. Cylindrical balsa wood specimens were compressed quasi-statically and dynamically along their three principal axes. Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) tests were carried out to determine the importance of the material strain-rate. Balsa wood is a relatively low strength material of about 1.5 MPa in the weakest direction, depending on density. Consequently, the SHPB tests were carried out using low mechanical impedance Polymethylmethacrylate pressure bars. Tests at high strain-rates resulted in an increase in both initial crushing and plateau stresses. Direct impact (DI) tests were performed to measure both the proximal and distal end forces over a range of impact velocities. These results both reinforce the SHPB data and provide measurements for stress enhancement.