Grain Size and Pressure Effects on Spall Strength in Copper

We are executing a systematic study to quantify the effects of specific microstructural features on the spall behavior of 99.999% copper. Single crystals with [100] orientation, polycrystals with three grain sizes, and internally oxidized single crystals are shocked with Cu flyers at velocities from 300 to 2000 m/s using a 35-mm single/two-stage light gas gun. VISAR measurements of the free surface velocity are used to characterize the spall pullback signal and details of the ringing. The high purity single crystals exhibit the highest spall strength followed by the large, medium and small grain size polycrystalline samples. Cu-0.15 wt.% Si single crystals have been internally oxidized to produce a fine dispersion of 350 nm silica particles. These samples exhibit the lowest spall strength, a factor of two and greater below the high purity single crystals.