Shock wave paradigms and new challenges

Modem shock wave applications require prediction of material response under complex loading conditions and are often solved with numerical simulations. Even though many of the fundamental problems have been addressed, there are still a large number that cannot be solved from a first-principles approach. To attain a fully predictive capability for these phenomena, it is necessary to understand the physical processes occurring during the shock process itself and to critically examine the fundamental postulates used to interpret shock wave phenomena. This paper examines the basic assumptions for describing shock processes in solids.