Transient stresses in axisymmetric bodies of varying area

The purpose of this paper is to report on an experimental and theoretical investigation of one-dimensional stress-wave propagation in axisymmetric bodies of varying area. An experimental investigation of elastic waves produced by the axial collision of strikers with truncated 7075 aluminum cones and conical shells with a half angle of 5 deg was performed using an air gun. Strain distributions along the 5-deg conical specimens were obtained by strain gages mounted on the specimen. The method of characteristics was utilized in the theoretical analysis of the propagation of elastic stress waves. Procedures of numerical integration along the characteristic directions are established and carried out for all the experimentally tested cases on a digital computer. Good agreement between the data and the results of calculations based on the analysis was obtained.