Impact energy absorption by a rate-dependent locking target

The impact by an elastic cylindrical piston on a thin plate-like target resting on a rigid foundation is considered. The relationship between force F acting on the target and displacement x is given by F=kx+q dx/dt provided dx/dt≥0 and 0≤x<d (k, q and d≥0). When x=d locking occurs, and F can assume any value ≥kd without increase in x. The displacement is assumed to be completely irreversible. The motion of the impactor is assumed to be governed by the elementary wave equation and, since the target is thin, wave motion in the target is neglected. The energy W=εFdx and its components W _k=kεx dx (the energy absorbed in a corresponding quasistatic process) and W _q=qε(dx/dt)² dt (the excessive energy because of the rate-dependence) are determined in terms of the impact energy as functions of non-dimensional parameters representing k, q and d. With the aid of diagrams, it is shown under what circumstances locking occurs, and under what circumstances W _k or W _q, or both, are large.