Dynamic compressive responses of intact and damaged ceramics from a single split Hopkinson pressure bar experiment

A novel dynamic compressive experimental technique has been developed based on a split Hopkinson pressure bar. This new method dynamically loads the ceramic specimen by two consecutive stress pulses. The first pulse determines the dynamic response of the intact ceramic materiaal and then crushes the specimen, and the second pulse determines the dynamic compressive constitutive behavior of the ceramic rubble. Precise pulse shaping ensures that the specimen deforms at nearly constant strain rates under dynamic stress equilibrium during the loading by both stress pulses. Pulse shaping also controls the amplitudes of loading pulses, the values of strain rates, the maximum strains in the rubble specimens, and the proper separation time between the two loading pulses. The feasibility of the new technique is demonstrated by the experimental results obtained on an AD995 alumina.