High Strain Rate Tests by a 90 m Long Tension-Torsion Hopkinson Bar

This work describes the design, construction, and first experimental results of an innovative device of the Hopkinson bar type with a length of 90 m for performing high strain rate tests on metals in a combined tension-torsion state. Analogously to the classic split Hopkinson bar technique, the system configuration consists of three bars: a pre-stressed bar, an input bar, and an output bar; the measurement is also based on the classical three-wave method, where the incident, transmitted, and reflected waves are measured. The length of the bars is designed so that the tensile wave reaches the sample from the output bar side at the same time as the torsion wave comes from the input bar. A successful test has been conducted on a hollow aluminum sample; it has been possible to measure the tension-torsion stress-strain curves; in addition, the dynamic equivalent stress-equivalent strain curves have been evaluated.