Effects of Strain Rate on Fragmentation Performance of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation of Notched Cylinders

Abstract

Notched cylinders were explosively driven to dynamic fracture and fragmentation to determine the effects of explosive charges (loading strain rate) on fragmentation performance (fragment shape, average fragment mass, and fragment mass distribution). Fragments of the cylinders were carefully recovered and sorted according to fragment shape and fracture mechanisms. The experimental results revealed that shear fracture was more pronounced in the fragmentation of notched cylinders with higher strain rate. The average fragment mass of controlled fragmentation was discussed in connection to Mott wave theory; this value decreased with increasing loading strain rate. Additionally, the fragment mass distribution of controlled fragmentation was analyzed, which appeared more dispersed with the increasing strain rate. The normalized cumulative fragment number of controlled fragmentation approached a statistical distribution with increasing loading strain rate.