Dynamic tensile strength of glycerol

Abstract

By use of a tensile stress wave 0.1 to 0.4 μsec in duration, generated by pulsed electron−beam energy deposition, the dynamic tensile strength (TS) of glycerol was determined in the 220−350 K temperature range. The TS curve is clearly divided into high− and low−temperature segments at about 262 K. Above this temperature, the TS decreases uniformly from 250 MPa (2.5 kbar) to 34 MPa at 350 K and failure appears to occur by void nucleation and growth. The experimental results are explained by a theory of homogeneous bubble nucleation which takes into account the non−steady−state nature of the experiment. Below the transition temperature, the TS is constant at about 250 MPa and failure is believed to occur by crack nucleation and growth.