Spall Experiments Using the Atlas Z-Pinch Facility
Abstract
The spall experimental series conducted on the twenty-four megajoule capacitor bank, Atlas, is described. These experiments are intended to demonstrate the proof-of-principle of the technique of using a Z-pinch to investigate spall, and to determine whether there are qualitative differences between spall phenomena in convergent and planar geometries. Spall, which arises as a result of intersecting release waves putting a material into tension, can be a complicated function of shock amplitude, shock profile, and shock duration. However, quantifying differences attributable to these factors is difficult. Often the best one can do is obtain the "spall strength" of the material. This constitutive parameter is inferred from laser interferometry measurements (VISAR) of the "pull back" velocity of the free surface of a shocked sample. In this talk the experimental technique is described, and the results of the first experiments discussed, including measured pull back velocities and radiographic data of the spalled aluminum target. Simulations of the liner target interaction will also be presented along with a brief discussion of the Atlas facility.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002APS..DPPKO2001K