Experimental study of anisotropic constitutive behavior of β-HMX crystals via nanoindentation and small-scale dynamic impact

For energetic crystals such as HMX, the sensitivity of the material to shock, the possibility of initiation, and the subsequent reaction is known to be controlled by processes occurring at the crystal level. The anisotropic nature of β-HMX can be critical in determining the performance of HMX based polymer bonded explosives, which are widely used across multiple industries as propellant or explosives. In this work, we experimentally obtain constitutive parameters for characterizing the response of multiple crystalline planes of β-HMX crystals to external loading. Nanoindentation and small-scale dynamic impact experiments were performed on multiple planes of β-HMX crystals to comparatively measure the indentation moduli in multiple orientation directions. Anisotropic material behavior, involving constitutive elastic and non-elastic parameters, was measured and studied. Findings regarding material properties for the (100), (010), (001), {110}, and {011} planes of β-HMX are presented and compared with literature data.

Theoretical Calculation Method for the Hugoniot Elastic Limit of Hard Rock Based on Ideal Elastoplastic Model

To study the theoretical calculation method of the HEL for hard rock, the major factors determining the strength of rock under dynamic loadings are firstly discussed. Secondly, the calculation method of the HEL of hard rock is suggested based on the Lundborg strength criterion, and the parameters influencing the HEL are analyzed and discussed. Thirdly, the HEL obtained by theoretical calculation, numerical modeling, and experiments are compared. Fourthly, the abnormal decreasing or increasing of the HEL in plate impact experiments of hard rock is explained. This research shows that the HEL increases with Poisson’s ratio, the shear strength at zero pressure, the coefficient of internal friction and the plastic limit, and Poisson’s ratio and the plastic limit could be the most important factors. The simplified model of this work can give a rational and practical prediction of the HEL of hard rock in theory, and the complicated interaction between the “damage front” and the diffuse elastic precursor is assumed to explain two special effects of the HEL in plate impact experiments of hard rock, where Poisson’s ratio related to damage levels seems to be the dominant factor.

HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT RESPONSE OF STITCHED CFRP LAMINATES

In this study, hypervelocity impact experiments were performed on both unstitched and through-thickness Vectran™-stitched laminates. Both laminate types were fabricated from DMS-2436 class-72 warp-knit multiaxial carbon fabric, infused with API-1078 resin using a Controlled Atmospheric Pressure Resin Infusion (CAPRI) process. The laminates were impacted by 4 mm diameter, spherical, Nylon 6/6 projectiles at nominal velocities of 4 km/s using a two-stage light gas gun. The primary measures of the performance of the composite at protecting against impact were in plane hole damage areal comparisons and the comparison of the target back-face debris cloud (BFDC) velocities relative to the incoming projectile velocities. Additional post-shot forensics include characterization of damage morphology and analysis of high-speed videos. Initial inferences about the damage produced in the laminate indicate that the Vectran™ stitching can effectively arrest in-plane damage propagation; impacts at or near a stitchline resulted in no damage propagation across the stitchline boundaries.