COMPRESSION TESTS AT HIGH-STRAIN RATES US ING A BALLISTIC TESTING SYSTEM

Dynamic compression tests at strain rates phi between 10(3) s(-1) and 10(4) s(-1) and high temperatures were performed by means of a ballist ic testing system. The equipment allows the determination of stress st rain curves. Because the specimen can be quenched immediately after th e deformation process, microstructural investigations (optical microsc opy, TEM, X-ray analysis etc.) are possible. The compression of cutted specimens allows the application of visioplastic methods. In the pres ent work the results of dynamic compression tests of Copper and Alumin ium are presented and compared with such of quasistatic tests.