MEASUREMENT OF THE BEHAVIOR OF HIGH-PURITY COPPER AT VERY HIGH-RATES OF STRAIN

Published measurements describing the high strain rate constitutive be haviour of oxygen-free high-conductivity (ORIC) and commercially pure copper are limited and show considerable scatter. To provide additiona l data, a direct impact compressive split Hopkinson bar was miniaturiz ed to utilize specimens, 640 mu m in diameter and 686 and 292 mu m in length. This paper describes the design of this apparatus and results for OFHC copper. Good agreement is shown with results from pressure sh ear plate impact experiments.