On the propagation of stress waves in viscoelastic rods for Hopkinson bar studies

The propagation of stress waves in long polymer rods forms the basis of two major experimental techniques. The first is a modified Split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) arrangement that employs polymer Hopkinson bars (as opposed to metallic bars) in order to determine the high strain-rate mechanical properties of soft materials. The second experimental technique consists of a group of methods for determining the viscoelastic properties of polymer rods within a frequency range of 20 Hz to 30 kHz. An experimental, analytical and finite element study of stress waves propagating in viscoelastic rods is reported. A propagation coefficient is used to account for the attenuation and dispersion of stress waves propagating in polymer rods. Through experimental investigations, an optimal experimental arrangement is used to determine the propagation coefficient of a PMMA rod with an improved level of accuracy in comparison with results available in the open literature. Analytical investigations show difficulties associated with experimental arrangements as well as the numerical procedure adopted which tend to reduce the accurate frequency range of the determined propagation coefficient. The FE analysis of stress waves propagating in polymer rods suggests end effects are important; these end effects are not accounted for in any analytical bar wave theory. The high strain-rate mechanical properties of Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) are measured via a viscoelastic SHPB set-up. A scheme for processing the strain signals from the tests that allows for large strain measurement (approximately 60%) is presented. The use of viscoelastic SHPB set-up is able to produce a more sensitive measurement when compared with test results in the literature which are obtained using conventional metallic bars. A Finite element model of a viscoelastic Hopkinson bar set-up is developed. The applicability of the model in viscoelastic SHPB testing is validated.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo