Publications Details

Dynamic fracture toughness test using Hopkinson bar

Lu, Wei-Yang L.; Song, Bo S.; Gwinn, Kenneth W.

Various loading and measuring configurations have been developed in Hopkinson bar fracture toughness experimental techniques. It is well known that several fundamental issues, such as force equilibrium, pulse shaping, stress-wave propagation, etc., must be evaluated in order to obtain a reliable measurement. In our previous work of characterizing Mode II dynamic fracture toughness of a woven composite, highly sensitive polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) force transducers were employed to check the forces on the front wedge and back spans in a SHPB ENF experiment. The results show that proper pulse shaping is necessary so the specimen can achieve stress equilibrium before the crack starts to propagate. This study addresses the issue that stress wave propagates through the non-uniform section, which is between the incident and transmission bars including the specimen, loading wedge, and supporting fixture. The transmitted signals are compared with PVDF measurements, and also with numerical simulations of stress waves propagate through supporting fixture and down to the transmission bar. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2013.