Investigation of fused silica dynamic behaviour

Abstract
The survivability of the fused silica shields to shrapnel impacts is a key factor for the affordable operation of the intense laser irradiation future facility Laser Méga Joule (CEA-CESTA). This paper presents experimental data and computational modelling for LMJ fused silica upon shock wave loading and unloading. Gas-gun flyer plate impact and explosively driven tests have been conducted to investigate the dynamic behaviour of this material. Hugoniot states and the Hugoniot Elastic Limit of LMJ fused silica have been obtained. These experimental data are useful for determining some constitutive model constants of the “Crack-Model”, a continuum tensile and compressive failure model with friction based on Rubin M. B. and Attia A. V.'s work. This model has been improved by taking into account nonlinear elasticity. The numerical results obtained by performing computations of the previous tests and some ballistic impact tests are discussed. Further developments to simulate the permanent densification and the solid-to-solid phase transformation of fused silica are required.