Shock Compression of Porous Iron in the Region of Incomplete Compaction

Abstract

Shock loading of 4.44 and 5.32 g/cm³ pressed iron powder has been performed in the pressure region of incomplete compaction to solid density. Quartz gauges mounted in gas gun projectiles provided pressure‐particle‐velocity measurements at the impacted interface and standard quartz gauge instrumentation was used to record the transmitted waveform. Shock velocities were determined, from which pressure‐particle‐velocity states at the impact interface were estimated by the use of the Rankine‐Hugoniot equations. These states compared favorably with the same states obtained from the projectile quartz gauges. Severe attenuation of the constant‐velocity shock front, along with an anomalous behavior of the precursor wave, which did not immediately separate from the main shock, suggest that loading‐rate‐dependent processes are important for this porous material.