Shock wave decay and spall strength in laser-matter interaction

Abstract
A new experimental method was developed in order to estimate the decay of the laser-generated shock waves and the dynamic spall pressure. Experiments were performed on aluminum, copper, and unidirectional carbon fiber epoxy composites with impact strain rates of the order of 107 s−1. The following values for dynamic spall pressure and pressure gradient were obtained (to an accuracy of a factor of two): aluminum [25 kb (kb=kilobars), 60 kb/mm]; copper (20 kb, 180 kb/mm); carbon fiber epoxy composite (0.3 kb, 15 kb/mm) perpendicular to the fiber direction; and (7 kb, 100 kb/mm) when the impact is parallel to the fiber direction.