Chapter 2 - Materials Under Shock Waves

Abstract

Studies for understanding response of materials under dynamic compression that creates extreme conditions of pressure, temperature, and strain rates are challenging and very important since such studies provide the knowledge of phase transformations, the equation of state, and the dynamic deformation behavior of materials. Besides, such studies are fascinating since at reduced volume, the electronic structure changes can lead to novel phase transitions in materials. The state of extreme high pressures, high temperatures, and high strain rate in materials can be achieved by propagation of powerful shock waves into the materials. Experimental facilities required for shock wave research, which comprise various techniques for generation of shock pressures up to 100GPa with strain rates up to 108/s in well-controlled manner and associated diagnostics to examine materials response during a submicroseconds shock duration with a few nanoseconds time resolution are briefly described and their operating principles explained. Theoretical methods for examining stability of a crystal structure under compression and for generating the shock Hugoniot equation of state of materials from first principles are presented. Some examples are cited to illustrate the dynamic compression response of materials, such as phase transitions, equation of state, melting under shock compression, and mechanical properties at high strain rates.