Dynamic behaviour of dry and water-saturated sand under planar shock conditions

Plane shock-wave experiments were performed on dry and partially water-saturated sand, using three water contents, in order to validate predictive models of material behaviour at stress levels between 1 and 10 GPa. Gas and powder guns were used to load the sample under uni-axial strain conditions at low and high stress levels, respectively. Wave motions were detected by piezoelectric pins in the samples and a VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector) recorded the free-surface velocity on the back target. This study presents both experimental and simulated results. Experimental data are used to determine shock Hugoniot states. Significant differences are observed in the dynamic response of the materials under various water-saturated conditions, and are reproduced with good agreement by numerical simulations using the ARMORS (A Rheological MOdel of Rocks Saturated) model.