Publications

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The use of uniaxial strain ramp loading experiments to measure strength at extremely high strain rates is discussed. The technique is outlined and issues associated with it are examined. Results for 6061-T6 aluminum are presented that differ from the conventional view of strain rate sensitivity in aluminum alloys. ©2010 Society for Experimental Mechanics Inc.

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The strain rate sensitivity of materials is measured through a combination of quasistatic, Hopkinson bar, and pressure-shear experiments. The pressure-shear technique has largely been limited to strain rates of order 1E6 1/s. Recent advances in laser and magnetically driven ramp loading have made it possible to achieve significantly higher rates, 1E5-1E8 1/s, under uniaxial strain compression. Strength in these experiments can be calculated by comparing the loading response to the hydrostatic (pressure-density) response of the material for the same density and temperature [Fowles, 1961]. This must be done accounting for the heating due to plastic work in the experiments. Experimental uniaxial strain data for aluminum for strain rates up to 1E8 1/s are examined and compared with existing data. The results are consistent with conventional views of the strain rate sensitivity of aluminum. However, when one considers the higher mean stress (pressure) present in the uniaxial strain experiments and, to a lesser extent, the pressure-shear experiments, one finds the material remains rate insensitive to about 1E7 1/s, two orders of magnitude higher than previously thought. Important caveats about determining strength in this manner will be discussed, and recommendations for future work will be made.

With component sizes approaching the mesoscale, conventional size microstructures offer insufficient homogeneity in mechanical properties, forcing microstructures to be reduced to the nanoscale. This work examines the effect of a nanocrystalline surface layer on the dynamic consolidation response of two different morphology Al 6061-T6 powders. Shock-propagation through equiaxed and needle morphology Al 6061-T6 powder beds initially at 73.5 and 75.0% theoretical density, respectively, is simulated at constant particle velocities ranging between 150 and 850 m/s. Shock velocity-particle velocity relationships are determined for powders both with and without the presence of a 2 μm high strength surface layer, which is representative of a nanocrystalline surface layer. Significant deviations in dynamic response are observed with the presence of the surface layer, especially at lower particle velocities. The equation of state (EOS) for both the homogeneous particles and those with a high strength surface layer are found to be best represented by a piecewise EOS. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

The behavior of a shocked tungsten carbide / epoxy mixture as it expands into a vacuum has been studied through a combination of experiments and simulations. X-ray radiography of the expanding material as well as the velocity measured for a stood-off witness late are used to understand the physics of the problem. The initial shock causes vaporization of the epoxy matrix, leading to a multi-phase flow situation as the epoxy expands rapidly at around 8 km/s followed by the WC particles moving around 3 km/s. There are also small amounts of WC moving at higher velocities, apparently due to jetting in the sample. These experiments provide important data about the multi-phase flow characteristics of this material.

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Nanocrystalline and nanostructured materials offer unique microstructure-dependent properties that are superior to coarse-grained materials. These materials have been shown to have very high hardness, strength, and wear resistance. However, most current methods of producing nanostructured materials in weapons-relevant materials create powdered metal that must be consolidated into bulk form to be useful. Conventional consolidation methods are not appropriate due to the need to maintain the nanocrystalline structure. This research investigated new ways of creating nanocrystalline material, new methods of consolidating nanocrystalline material, and an analysis of these different methods of creation and consolidation to evaluate their applicability to mesoscale weapons applications where part features are often under 100 {micro}m wide and the material's microstructure must be very small to give homogeneous properties across the feature.

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