Lateral stress measurements and shear strength in shock loaded tungsten carbide

Abstract

The shear strength of a monolithic tungsten carbide has been measured as a function of impact stress. Results show that it increases with stress, in agreement with the work of others. Interestingly, it has also been shown that lateral stress increases, and thus shear strength decreases behind the shock front. Potential mechanisms are discussed, including cracking within the shock front itself, and stress relaxation due to high velocity dislocation motion within the shock front, followed by dislocation multiplication behind it.