Strategies for manipulating shock waves using metallurgical metamaterials

Recent research has shown the potential for exploiting volume reduction during phase transformations to manipulate shock waves. Volume-changing phase transformation in metals can be described as metastable crushing at the atomic scale, which can reverse transform upon unloading, is stable for finite-amplitude shocks, and occurs on the nanosecond time scale. Modifying the composition alters the transformation pressure. By constructing a sample with a gradient in composition, shock wave behavior can be controlled. Through a finite element framework, we explored how Fe-xMn laminates with spatially varying composition can be used to achieve shock wave manipulation in 1-d shock waves. Specifically, we examined configurations for a Fe-xMn target which could disperse or focus a shock wave. Configurations for a Fe-xMn flyer which could induce spall at different locations was also investigated.