Elastic precursor decay calculation

We propose a characteristics scheme to compute the flow field behind the elastic precursor in plane impact. An important feature of the scheme is that the precursor path is one of the lines of the integration net. This enhances the accuracy and flexibility of the scheme. We use the scheme to conduct an extensive parametric investigation of the precursor decay flow field. We show that correct shapes of flow field profiles are reproduced only if a finite rate of dislocation generation is assumed. We demonstrate several effects that contribute to the resolution of the precursor decay anomaly.