Compressive split Hopkinson pressure bar testing

Abstract

Aluminium is a well-known material in the modern era with its high cost-performance ratio and exceptional material properties making it advantageous for applications in the aerospace and automotive industry as well as other industries. Although its aluminium data can be found online easily, its strain rate dependent data is difficult to find. To research and better understand the material behaviour under high strain rate conditions, the compressive Split Hopkinson Pressure bar (SHPB) technique is used in this project. The test is suitable for high strain rate testing with ranges from 102 to 104 s-1 . Before experiment testing, equipment such as strain gauges, pressure bars, strain meter & oscilloscope must be properly set up and calibrated. For enhanced accuracy, specimens must be machined and polished with precise dimensions. During the compressive SHPB experiment, strain gauges detect the impact and send signals which are received by oscilloscope and converted into data for analysis of stress, strain, and strain rate. After dry run tests, key parameters such as impact velocity, wave velocity and average strains were analysed. Comparison with past reports’ data, repeatability tests and calibrations were done to ensure accurate and consistent results of aluminium, Al6061-T6, are being recorded.