CRITERIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE THRESHOLDS OF SPALL-TYPE FRACTURE OFFLAT METALLIC SPECIMENS BY THERMAL-SHOCK

Critical average amounts of released energy, specific absorbed energy, and dynamic strength of flat test specimens were determined as functi ons of the specimen thickness (and optical mass) and resistance time t o tensile stress (durability); these are the controlling functions of the fracture thresholds of optically thin flat specimens of copper, ni ckel, titanium, molybdenum, tantalum, brass, or bronze subjected to th e thermal shock by a short-term X-ray pulse generated by a nuclear exp losion.