A detailed discussion of high strain-rate tensile testing is presented. A c
omparative analysis of different ways to measure stress and strain is made.
The experimental stress-strain curves have been suitably interpreted to di
stinguish between the real behaviour of the material and the influence of t
he testing methodology itself.
A special, two sections flat specimen design was performed through FEA comp
uter modelling.
The mechanical properties as function of strain rate were experimentally ob
tained and the measurement system limitations were evaluated.
The strain rate material law was simulated and a good correlation between e
xperimental and simulated engineering stress-strain curves was reached.