Spallation of polycarbonate under laser-driven shocks

Laser driven shocks have been used to investigate dynamic failure (spallation) of polycarbonate under uniaxial tensile loading at very high strain rate, of the order of 10 s. First, uninstrumented recovery shots have been performed, post-test examination of the fracture damage has been carried out, and the influences of the experimental parameters (loading conditions and target thickness) have been analyzed. Then, an attempt to model the response of polycarbonate to plane shock loading has been made. On one hand, in-situ measurements have been performed in polycarbonate samples submitted to the plane detonation wave of a strong explosive, and the results have led to content with simple constitutive relations. On the other hand, piezoelectric measurements under laser shocks have provided a characterization of the loading pressure pulse, and comparisons of the measured and computed signals have confirmed the ability of the model to describe wave propagation in polycarbonate. Finally, the spallation experiments have been simulated. A spall strength has been estimated, on the basis of the experimental data, and the predictive capability of the model has been tested. Received: 18 February 1997 / Accepted 1 April 1997