Abstract
This article presents an innovative testing machine for determining fracture toughness in double-notched cylindrical and prismatic test specimens loaded in shear over a wide range of applied strain rates and superimposed pressures. The equipment makes use of an electromagnetic actuator that is capable of accelerating the shearing punch against the specimens, with excellent repeatability and very precise control of the impact velocity, by means of the high pressure that is generated in a transient magnetic field produced by passing a pulse of electric current through a series of coils. Experiments performed in technically pure lead and aluminium AA1050-O give support to the presentation and allow understanding the influence of the loading rate and pressure on fracture toughness of ductile metals.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.