FRACTURE STRENGTH OF ALUMINIUM ALLOYS UNDER RAPID LOADING CONDITIONS

: Spall fracture strength and dynamic yield strength of aluminium alloys have been measured at high strain rates generated in plate impact experiments carried out at different impact velocities ranging from 174 m/s to 560 m/s using single stage gas gun facility. In each experiment, the free surface velocity history of the sample plate of aluminium alloy has been derived from time resolved Doppler shift measured employing indigenously developed velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR). The free surface velocity history so determined has been used to evaluate the spall fracture strength and dynamic yield strength of the target material.