Adiabatic shear localization in the impact of edge-notched specimens

Impact experiments are performed on edge-notched specimens in the two-dimensional punch geometry. Materials tested include 18Ni(350) maraging steel; S7 tool steel; 4340, 300M, HP 9-4-20 and D-Gac ultra high-strength steels; and Ti6Al4V alloy. These materials have shown a high susceptibility to dynamic shear failure in previous studies. Impact velocity ranged from 25 m/s to 45 m/s, and shear bands were found to form at the notch tip and at the die corner on the back side of the specimen for all materials tested. Metallurgical analysis confirms the existence of adiabatic shear bands followed by a crack propagating through the fully developed shear band. High-speed photography was used to observe the initiation of adiabatic shear bands shortly after impact. Laser-etched lines on the specimen surfaces allowed the determination of the time of impact and the initiation time of shear failure. The elapsed time between the two was used to estimate the stress intensity factor at the time of shear band initiation. Comparisons of shear band initiation stress intensity factors at the notch tip and die corner are made. It is seen that the shear bands initiate at approximately the same stress intensity factor at both the notch tip and die corner. Finite element simulations support the use of a square root singularity for the stress in the plate near the corners of a deformable punch or die.