Polyurea coated aluminum plates under hydrodynamic loading: Does side matter?

•A simple 3D-DIC technique based on a single ultra-fast camera is presented.•Hydrodynamic bulge tests of polyurea-coated 6061 aluminum alloy plates were conducted•The side of the polyurea coating affects the plate's response.

We report on the dynamic behavior of a polyurea-coated 6061 aluminum plate under hydrodynamic loading condition. The plate's deflection was measured using ultra-fast stereoscopic photography, and analyzed using 3D-DIC (digital image correlation) technique. The residual deformation of the plate after several shocks was measured using conventional cameras and the DIC technique. The experimental results show the benefits of the polyurea coating, with a clear indication that polyurea will better mitigate the shock if positioned on the side in contact with water.