Experimental results and strength model identification of pure iridium

The main goal of this study is the investigation of the mechanical behaviour at different temperatures and strain-rates in tensile loading condition of pure iridium. A series of tests at room temperature at different strain-rates (from 10−3 s−1 up to 104 s−1) was performed in order to obtain information about strain and strain-rate sensitivity of the material. In addition, a series of tests at different temperatures in both quasi-static and high strain-rate loading conditions was performed in order to obtain information about the thermal softening of the material (from room temperature up to 1250 °C). The experimental data were used to identify a strength model able to predict the material behaviour over wide ranges of variation of the variables of interest.