On the inelastic shock profile in alumina

The dynamic response of alumina specimens, above their elastic limits, was studied using planar impact experiments with different tile thickness. Stress-time measurements with manganin gauges show a steady spreading of the inelastic portion of the shock profile with increasing tile thickness. Such behavior is typical of elastic waves moving at a constant speed that depends on their amplitude. This finding supports recent interpretations of the failure ramp, by which the elastic response of these materials should be extended to higher stresses than the initial jump. However, further analysis of these profiles raises some questions regarding the exact determination of the Hugoniot elastic limit.