A new impact test for the identification of a dynamic crack propagation criterion using a gas-gun device

Abstract
The modelling of damage and fracture behaviour under high rates of loadings for metallic structures presents the more and more interests for engineering design, especially for crash phenomena. In order to perform a numerical simulation of such phenomena a crack propagation criterion must be identified using adapted laboratory tests. The objective of this paper is to present a new impact test intended for the identification of a cohesive crack criterion implemented into a home-made FEM code based on Extended Finite Element Method. Therefore, a double-notched specimen is impacted using a gas-gun device in order to obtain different crack paths depending on projectile speed. A post-impact macro-photographic observation allows to measure the crack path, the angles and the advancing length. These experimental results are used as input responses in the identification procedure for determining the crack cohesive criterion parameters. Some experimental results, for an aluminium alloy crack criterion identification, are presented to illustrate the proposed approach.