Velocity of Torsional Waves in Metals Stressed Statically into the Plastic Range

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the determination of the velocity of propagation of torsional plastic waves in metals stressed statically into the plastic range. A new method was developed in which a tubular test specimen together with a concentric bar of a brittle material was twisted slowly such that when the specimen was stressed beyond its yield the brittle bar broke suddenly and transmitted a plastic torsional stress increment along the specimen. It was found that the velocity of propagation both in copper and mild steel was the same as the elastic shear wave velocity. Although consistent with the strain-rate dependent theory, the result can be explained in terms of the strain-rate independent theory provided the stress-strain curve for the appropiate strain rate is used.