Original ArticleVisualizing shear bands in 3-D using axisymmetric sample: An experimental study

In this study a qualitative description of the occurrence of shear bands produced by a sudden impact on an axisymmetric specimen made of medium carbon steel 0.45% C is given. A simple experiment was developed aimed at producing a pinch shear stress in the front side of the test sample in order to visualize shear bands in 3-D. Curve fitting using MATLAB was employed based on the points taken from the images of the front section of the test sample. The predictions of the curve fitting suggests a hyperbolic section leading to the conclusion that within the sample there is a double cone region of material where the shear band region is located on its outer surface. The formation of the shear band is explained by the fact that the interaction of the stress wave front with the free surface of the test sample produces reflection waves that attenuate the incoming stress wave inwards leading to a stress gradient in the plane of the front side of the specimen that causes shear localization. Also, the progressively increasing cross sectional area of the test sample causes the expansion of the wave front, which also results in a stress gradient in the normal direction of the front side of the specimen. So the formation of shear bands depends not only on the impact momentum and strain rates but also on the sample's geometry.