Dynamic Response of Polymers Subjected to Underwater Shock Loading or Direct Impact

Abstract

During the last decade, our research has focused on developing experimental techniques to better understand the dynamic response of Navy relevant polymers. Two types of dynamic loading conditions were considered in this research: underwater shock wave loading and direct impact. The underwater shock load experiments utilized convergent water-filled sections of varying thickness and materials in which the fluid structure coupling during and after the shock event could be studied in detail using simultaneous strain gages and high-speed imaging techniques. The impact experiments were performed using a projectile launched from a gas gun that impacted the edge of the specimen. Also, in this case, detailed analysis was performed of the dynamic response using strain gages and high-speed imaging techniques. In particular, this later type of experiments was used to probe the mode-I and mode-II dynamic fracture response. The samples were either dry or had been subjected to an aging process while submerged in water thus leading to a significant water uptake, in some cases resulting in more than 1 wt%.