The response of metals with different crystal structures to high strain rate loading and other mechanical tests

The effect of cold-rolling prior to shock loading was investigated in copper and tantalum. Annealed copper was shocked at a peak pressure of 5.08GPa; cold-rolled copper was shocked at peak pressures of 5.87GPa, 5.96GPa and 9.60GPa; as-received tantalum was shock loaded at a peak pressure of 7.20GPa, and cold-rolled tantalum was shocked at a peak pressure of 7.20GPa. The microstructures of the materials were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the mechanical responses were investigated using compression and hardness testing. The effect of varying temperature and strain rate on tantalum during compression was investigated. Tantalum was compressed at 20°C at 10⁻³s⁻¹, 10⁻¹s⁻¹ and 2x10³s⁻¹, and at 10⁻¹s⁻¹ at -40°C and 170°C. Quasi-static compression tests applied 70% strain to the samples and the higher strain rate sample, compressed by Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB), was compressed to 19% strain. The microstructures of the materials were investigated using (SEM) and (TEM), and the mechanical responses were investigated using hardness and compression testing. The microstructures of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) produced by firing a shaped projectile from a single stage gas gun to cause the collapse of a thick-walled cylinder (TWC). The propagation of the ASBs along the cylindrical axis of the TWC was Also investigated. The microstructure was investigated using (SEM), (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM).