A NEW METHOD FOR SEPARATING LONGITUDINAL WAVES IN A LARGE DIAMETER HOPKINSON BAR

This paper outlines various methods for separating fundamental longitudinal waves propagating along a Hopkinson pressure bar. Advantages and disadvantages of the different methods are presented and discussed in detail. A new method is then proposed for separating the fundamental waves in the frequency domain. This new method is based on the assumption that wave propagation can be adequately described by the first mode of the Pochhammer-Chree theory. The method requires two-point strain gauge measurements on the pressure bar. Fourier components of the positive wave at one gauge location are determined either from the corresponding Fourier components of the measured strain histories or from their derivatives. The method also makes use of the derivative of the wave number with respect to the circular frequency of the pressure bar. Important points of the implementation of the technique are described. Numerical accuracy of the proposed method is verified by considering a simple example with analytical solution and by comparing measured data derived from a large diameter Hopkinson pressure bar. The proposed method will find application in dynamic material tests using the split Hopkinson pressure bar technique.