G.R. Johnson

The failed strength of ceramics subjected to high-velocity impact

This article addresses the response of failed ceramics. Under high-velocity impact, ceramics transition from a solid intact material to a fragmented and granular material. This process is often referred to as “damage and failure” and is a complex phenomenon. Because ceramics are very strong in compression, it is difficult to perform laboratory experiments that produce conditions similar to those produced during projectile impact, where the ceramic transitions from an intact material to a granular (failed) material. This limitation generally requires the damage and failed strength to be inferred from computed results that provide good agreement with ballistic penetration experiments. Previous work by the authors [J. Appl. Phys. 97, 093502 (2005)] has suggested a relatively low failed strength for silicon carbide (∼200 MPa) that is generally lower than other published data (although the data vary significantly). Work presented here provides additional evidence for a low failed strength for silicon carbide (...

An improved computational constitutive model for glass

In 2011, Holmquist and Johnson presented a model for glass subjected to large strains, high strain rates and high pressures. It was later shown that this model produced solutions that were severely mesh dependent, converging to a solution that was much too strong. This article presents an improved model for glass that uses a new approach to represent the interior and surface strength that is significantly less mesh dependent. This new formulation allows for the laboratory data to be accurately represented (including the high tensile strength observed in plate-impact spall experiments) and produces converged solutions that are in good agreement with ballistic data. The model also includes two new features: one that decouples the damage model from the strength model, providing more flexibility in defining the onset of permanent deformation; the other provides for a variable shear modulus that is dependent on the pressure. This article presents a review of the original model, a description of the improved model and a comparison of computed and experimental results for several sets of ballistic data. Of special interest are computed and experimental results for two impacts onto a single target, and the ability to compute the damage velocity in agreement with experiment data. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Experimental testing and modelling of brittle materials at high strain rates’.

DETERMINATION OF SIMPLE CONSTITUTIVE MODELS FOR BOROSILICATE GLASS USING PENETRATION‐VELOCITY DATA FROM BALLISTIC EXPERIMENTS

Constitutive models for brittle materials such as glass can be very complex as they are dependent on strains, strain rates, pressures, temperatures, damage and other parameters. There may also be significant (pressure‐dependent) strength after failure such that the constitutive response is much different for intact material and failed material. A large number of laboratory tests is required to develop a comprehensive constitutive model. Another approach is to develop simple models by using penetration‐velocity data obtained from ballistic experiments. Here various functional forms of simple models (with a limited number of constants) can be used to (computationally) match the penetration velocity over a range of impact velocities. This allows for the determination of the most important parameters and it provides an approximation of the stresses that occur during penetration. This article presents several simple computational models for borosilicate glass, including single‐state models and dual‐state model...