The behaviour of a SiO2–Li2O glass ceramic during one-dimensional shock loading

Abstract

The shock response of a Li2O–SiO2 glass ceramic has been studied by the technique of plate impact. The Hugoniot in terms of impact stress and particle velocity has been measured using embedded stress gauges, showing an increasing complexity of behaviour as impact stress increases. Back surface measurements have revealed the presence of a reload signal, indicating the presence of a moving damage front behind the main shock—the so-called failure wave. This has been confirmed by stress gauges mounted so as to be sensitive to the lateral component of stress. Results show that the shear strength ahead of the failure wave is near elastic in its response. Behind the failure wave, shear strength drops, but is still higher than the equivalent results in silicate glasses, suggesting that this material has superior ballistic resistance.