Experimental and numerical analyses of the dynamic failure processes of symmetric Taylor impact specimens

Abstract

Failure processes encountered in the Taylor impact specimen are of two kinds, Mode II cracks initiating within adiabatic shear bands and tensile cracks. Because friction occurring with the single Taylor configuration influences the failure processes, it is necessary to use the symmetric loading procedure providing frictionless interfaces. Numerical simulations of the symmetric Taylor test have been conducted to reproduce the failure processes observed with a highly ductile nickel and a high strength tungsten alloy. Because the adiabatic shear failure process is occurring along a three dimension path, the 3D module of the hydrocode AUTODYN was used.