Systematic approach to using isentropic stress reverberation techniques in approximating equation of state.

Isentropic stress reverberations are used to obtain multiple Hugoniot states from a single plate impact experiment using a layered plate geometry, where a low impedance inner layer is embedded within a high impedance bulk structure. The mathematical framework used in this technique uses the classical Rankine-Hugoniot equations in the method of impedance matching, where the bulk material is required to have a known Hugoniot. Factors including the wave velocities in the materials, input pulse duration, inner layer thickness, and diameter of the test samples affect the number of states that can be generated from a single experiment. Experiments using 6061 aluminum and polycarbonate, respectively, as the bulk material and inner layer, accurately generated six Hugoniot states for the polycarbonate. Experiments using A572 grade 50 structural steel as the bulk material accurately generated ten Hugoniot states for the polycarbonate. For each experiment, the method can be used to generate a Hugoniot equation defining the material response of the inner layer within the domain encompassed by the specific test. The method is also confined to the low to moderate stress regions, within which Hugoniot and isentropic representations of the material are almost identical.

On the validity and improvement of the ultrasonic pulse-echo immersion technique to measure real attenuation.

A fundamental assumption embraced in conventional use of the ultrasonic pulse-echo immersion technique to measure attenuation in solid materials is revisited. The cited assumption relies on perfect and immutable adhesion at the water to sample interface, a necessary condition that allows calculating the reflection coefficient at any interface from elastic wave propagation theory. This parameter is then used to correct the measured signal and obtain the real attenuation coefficient of the sample under scrutiny. In this paper, cases in which the perfectly cohesive interfacial condition is not satisfied are presented. It is shown also that in those cases, the repeatability of the conditions at the interface is always uncertain. This implies that the reflection coefficients are unknown, even when density is known. A new method of simultaneously measuring the reflection coefficients for both exposed interfaces that are normal to the transducer, and the attenuation coefficient of the specimen is developed and is presented here. The robustness of the new method is proven, as we demonstrate that the proper value of attenuation is achieved independently of the continuously varying interfacial conditions of these non-ideal cases.