Polarization response characteristics of 6061Al and PMMA sheets under impact load

• Published in: International journal of impact engineering 2023-08, Vol.178, p.104632, Article 104632
• Main Authors: Tang, Enling, Wang, Dongbao, Li, Lei, Peng, Hui, Han, Yafei, Chen, Chuang, Chang, Mengzhou, Guo, Kai, He, Liping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6061Al; Flexoelectric effect; Impact polarization; PMMA
• ISSN: 0734-743X; 1879-3509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2023.104632

•The impact polarization characteristics of thin plate materials under complex impact stress are rarely reported.•The local impact induced mechanoelectric response characteristics of metal and polymer thin plates are investigated with the help of a first-stage light gas gun.•The temperature and strain gradient distribution laws are obtained by numerical simulation of mechanoelectric characteristics of thin plates under corresponding working conditions.•The impact polarization response characteristics of 6061Al and PMMA materials were explored based on the flexoelectric effect. The material will induce shock polarization under the action of shock wave. Aluminum alloys (such as 6061Al) are used as the main material for spacecraft skins, panels and frames. The impact polarization effect generated during the cratering deformation (compression and shearing) of space debris will induce the surface discharge of the orbiting satellite. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) materials are often used in combination with electronic devices of weapon equipment. Under high overload, PMMA will produce shock polarization effect, electromagnetic interference on electronic devices, and even trigger by mistake. Therefore, it is of great significance to reveal the impact polarization characteristics of different types of materials (metal, polymer) for improving the bulletproof protection ability of in-orbit satellites, protective armor and electronic devices. In this paper, the 6061Al and PMMA thin plates were taken as the research object, and the universal testing machine combined with LCR was used to measure the capacitance and resistance of 6061Al and PMMA under different given loads by combining theoretical analysis, experiment and simulation. At the same time, the first stage light gas gun is used to study the local impact induced electro-mechanical response of metal and polymer sheet materials. On this basis, the AUTODYN-ABAQUS/Explicit-COMSOL co-simulation under corresponding experimental conditions was carried out to obtain the distribution rules of temperature and strain gradient. Based on the theory of flexoelectric effect, the impact polarization response characteristics of 6061Al and PMMA materials were clarified, respectively. The results show that the impulse polarization voltage of 6061Al thin plate increases first and then gradually decreases with time. The impulse polarization voltage is proportional to the thickness. The polarization voltage of single-electrode PMM