A CONTINUUM-MECHANICS CODE ANALYSIS OF STEADY PLASTIC WAVE-PROPAGATION IN THE TAYLOR TEST

Simple conservation relationships (jump conditions) in conjunction wit h postulated material constitutive behavior are applied to steady plas tic strain waves propagating in problems of uniaxial stress and Taylor Cylinder Impact. These problems are simulated with a two-dimensional Lagrangian continuum mechanics code for the purpose of numerically val idating the jump relationships as an accurate analytical representatio n of plastic wave propagation. The constitutive behavior used in this effort assumes isotropy and models the thermodynamic response with a M ie-Grunisen Equation-of-State and the mechanical response with the rat e-dependent Johnson-Cook and MTS flow stress models. The jump relation ships successfully replicate the results produced by continuum code si mulations of plastic wave propagation and provide a methodology for co nstructing mechanical constitutive models from experimental plastic wa ve speed information. Comparisons are also presented between experimen tal speeds from Taylor Cylinder Impact tests with jump relationships a nd continuum code predictions, indicating that the above mentioned flo w stress models may not accurately capture plastic wave propagation sp eeds in annealed and hardened copper. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.