Axisymmetric Elastic-Plastic Wave Propagation in 6061-T6 Aluminum Bars of Finite Length

Abstract

The axisymmetric impact of two identical 6061-T6 aluminum bars is experimentally and analytically studied. Experimental records are obtained from foil strain gages and thin quartz crystal gages located near the impact end, and at distances of one, two, and three radii from the impact end of a bar with a total length of four radii. These measurements are compared with the numerical solution of the “exact” equations of two-dimensional axisymmetric motion obtained by using the artificial viscosity approximation. The constitutive relation employed in the numerical solution is strain-rate independent with linear isotropic strain hardening.