Use of a shock tube to determine the bi-axial yield of an aluminum alloy under high rates

This paper presents a method for extracting the bi-axial rate dependent mechanical properties of thin homogenous materials, using a shock tube, demonstrated here using an aluminum alloy sheet. Rate dependence determination techniques such as Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) have long been used for determining uniaxial properties. Recent advances have led to modification of the SHPB to include a bulge cell to develop a so called “dynamic bulge test”. Due to the relative fixed nature of the SHPB, it is difficult to obtain lower strain rate response without significantly modifying the test fixture. Using shock wave loading, and a flat, circular thin plate specimen, a state of biaxial tensile stress is created at the center of the crown during intermediate to high rates of loading. An inverse modeling technique in conjunction with a finite element (FE) simulation technique is used to determine the rate dependent constitutive properties of the plate material. This work demonstrates the applicability of the shock loading method for extracting rate dependent properties of materials available in thin sheet form by using commercial grade aluminum. A finite element model of the shock response is used to determine the strain rate dependent mechanical properties using an optimization algorithm and an inverse modeling method. The results were found to be in agreement with previous literature and good correlation between the model and experimental results are presented here.

► The rate dependent multiaxial yield stress of thin aluminum sheets was determined. ► Shock wave loading proved to be repeatable and give comparable results to bulge test. ► The inverse modeling technique determined yield stresses between 200 and 850/s. ► Rate dependent data compared well with previous determined data shown in literature.