Effect of crystal density on dynamic deformation behavior of PBX

Abstract

Polymer bonded explosives (PBX) are heterogeneous materials that contain solid loading varying from 80 to 95 % and bound together by 5-20 % soft binder. An experimental investigation is performed to study the effect of crystal solid loading on the failure process of PBX subjected to dynamic loading at different strain rates. Model materials, with sugar crystals and binder, are fabricated with solid loading varying from 80 to 95 %. Then dynamic compression experiments are performed on each specimens using split Hopkinson pressure bar. During loading, the deformation is captured using the high-speed camera at 1 million frames/s. Digital image correlation technique is used to obtain the local and full field deformation and strain fields at each strain rate. Based on the local deformation field and the load data, the failure process of each sample are investigated, and the effect of solid loading on the strain localization and failure mode of the PBX is discussed.