This electronic flyer highlights our capabilities and activities in Characterization of Dynamic Material Response. Please sign our guestbook. For additional information, e-mail Dr. K. A. Dannemann, Southwest Research Institute®.

Characterization of Dynamic Material Response 

The performance of materials at high strain rates is of interest for various applications (e.g., structural, military and sports). Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) has a long history in characterizing the high strain rate response of materials, and has the capability to perform high rate tests in tension, compression, torsion and three-point bend. The SwRI High Rate Test Facility is equipped with instrumentation for measuring, recording and analyzing test data for strain rates approaching 5000 s-1. High-speed imaging systems are also available to record the high rate response. Microstructural characterization of tested material can be accomplished to determine deformation and failure mechanisms. The facility is staffed with experienced personnel who can adapt test conditions to meet unique requirements.

Dynamic Test Capability

  • Tension (έ ≤ 2 x 103 s-1)
  • Compression (έ ≤ 5 x 103 s-1)
  • Torsion (έ ≤ 2 x 102 s-1)
  • Fracture toughness

Materials Testing Experience

  • Metals
  • Porous materials
  • Ceramics
  • Concretes
  • Polymers
  • Rocks and soils
  • Composites
  • Powders

SwRI High Rate Test facility.

Dynamic Test Equipment

  • Split Hopkinson pressure bar systems
    • Environments: vacuum, air, Ar, N
    • High temperature (T ≤ 1000°C)
  • High-speed torsion actuator
  • Nicolet high-speed data acquisition system
  • High-speed strain gage amplifiers (10 MHz)
  • High-speed imaging systems
    • IMACON ultra high-speed digital camera (up to 108 frames/second)
    • Kodak high-speed video system
  • Displacement mapping system (DISMAP)
  • Confining pressure apparatus (pressures ≤ 300 MPa)

Dynamic mechanical test specimens

Materials Characterization

  • Deformation response: stress-strain curves
  • Strain rate sensitivity
  • Failure mechanism determination
  • Shear band identification
  • Deformation measurements (DISMAP) – measures post-test deformation in strained material
  • Constitutive model development

Strain field image showing damage in a metal foam following high strain rate compression testing

Support Facilities

  • Metallurgical laboratory
    • Scanning electron microscopy
    • Energy dispersive spectroscopy
    • Auger spectroscopy
    • Optical microscopy
    • X-ray diffraction
  • Ballistics and explosives range
  • Mechanical test laboratory
    • Low strain rate material characterization
    • High-temperature testing
    • Testing in extreme environments
  • Full-service machine shop
 

Compressive shear band and associated local microcracking in a tungsten alloy tested at a high strain rate


This flyer was published in April 2009. For more information about Characterization of Dynamic Material Response, contact K. A. Dannemann, Ph.D., Phone (210) 522-2523, or J. D. Walker, Ph.D., (210) 522-2051, Mechanical Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510.

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