Calibration of split Hopkinson pressure bar system with special shape striker

In order to present basic guidance for system calibration of split Hopkinson pressure bar （SHPB） with the special shape striker, wave characteristics and dynamic responses of SHPB under striker impact were analyzed. Stress generated by the special shape striker tends to have a half-sine waveform and has little wave dispersion during its propagation. Impact velocities of the special shape striker and peak values of generated stress still have linear relation but with a different coefficient from that of cylindrical strikers. From stress histories on the surfaces of the input bar impacted by the special shape striker off-axially and obliquely, it is found that the misalignment impacts usually trigger wave distortion and amplitude decrease, which can be used to identify the poor system adjustment. Finally, the system calibration of SHPB with the special shape striker can be classified into four steps： system adjustment, wave distortion identification, measurement calibration and transmission calibration, where the measurement calibration factor and transmission calibration factor are elaborated and redefined.