The localization of energy and plastic deformation in crystalline solids during shock or impact

Abstract

When crystalline solids are subjected to shock or impact the resulting plastic shear deformation is often concentrated in narrow-band-like regions. These regions are the sites of considerable energy localization and often determine the response of the crystal to the rapid deformation. Here, a theoretical account is given of this energy-localization plastic-deformation process. It is shown that the process is distinctly quantum mechanical. For mild shocks or impacts the energy dissipated within the bands can cause heating, material failure, and, where appropriate, chemical reactions. For high-amplitude shocks rapid multiphonon-stimulated internal molecular excitation can occur. This energy localization is responsible for both the initiation of chemical reaction in explosive crystals subjected to mild impact and the transition to detonation in these same crystals during high-amplitude shock loading.