Direct measurements of strain in shock-loaded glass specimens

Abstract

Direct measurements of the uniaxial strain behind wave fronts in shock-loaded glass specimens reveal several new aspects of their dynamic response. The measurements have been achieved by embedding longitudinal strain gauges in the shocked specimen in such a way that gauge length is along the shock propagation direction. Following the resistance changes of the gauges, we were able to find differences in the loading characteristics below and above the Hugoniot elastic limit of the glass, measure residual strains when shocked above this limit, and find interesting aspects of the strain histories behind the failure wave fronts.