Shock and Spallation Behavior of a Compositionally Complex High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel under Different Impact Stresses

Abstract

The shock and spalling behavior of a compositionally complex high strength low-alloy steel (HSLA) was studied using plate impact testing. The free surface velocity of the specimen in the range of 194~938 m/s was measured by a displacement interferometer system for any reflector (DISAR). The Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL), spallation fracture and microstructural evolution of the HSLA under an impact stress of 3.04~18.66 GPa were analyzed. Shock Hugoniots were obtained from the measured particle velocities and calculated shock velocities. The velocity curves show clear signs of HEL and velocity fallback, indicating a transition from elastic to plastic and spalling behavior. When the impact velocity exceeds 757 m/s, the particle velocity rises to the peak and then increases again, indicating that an α→ε phase transition occurred, with a threshold of 13.51 GPa. It was found that the impact velocity is linearly related to the particle velocity of the HSLA. As the impact stress increased, the HEL remained within the range of 1.32~1.50 GPa, while the spalling strength presented an upward trend with the increasing impact stresses. Metallographic analysis shows that the impact failure is dominated by brittle fracture at lower velocities, while more ductile fracture occurs at higher velocities.