Influence of shock-wave profile shape on dynamically induced damage in high-purity copper

Studies of the creation of damaged regions leading to failure are conducted using flat-top and triangular shock waves generated in gas-gun experiments as well as quasi-isentropic ramp waves. Shock waves are used to generate release waves, both behind the shock and on reflection at the free surface. It is the interaction of these release waves that places the material in a state of tension which can ultimately result in damage and possibly complete failure. The peak tensile stress and its location in the material are determined by the wave shape. Damage evolution processes and localized behavior are studied under flat-top, triangular, and ramp wave loadingunloading using time-resolved free-surface velocity interferometry and post-experiment metallurgical analysis of the soft recovered samples.