Effects of geometry and intermetallic bonding on the mechanical response, spalling and fragmentation of Ni–Al laminates

Conventional uniaxial tension tests and laser-shock experiments were carried out to investigate the mechanical properties of aluminum–nickel laminates under quasi-static (∼10−3 s−1) and dynamic (∼105 s−1) loading conditions. A finite-element code was used to model the experiments and provide insights into the laminates’ mechanical response. It was demonstrated that the geometry of the laminate constituents (i.e. the aluminum and nickel laminae) and the interlaminar bonding are the two critical parameters in determining the accuracy of the numerical calculations. These results are also useful to those interested in improving the mechanical properties of this class of materials since we demonstrate that a material with “perfect” laminae and “perfect bonding” is substantially stronger than the experimental material.