High Strain-Rate Characterisation of Vanadium

• Published in: Journal of dynamic behavior of materials 2023-09, Vol.9 (3), p.315-328
• Main Authors: Whiteman, G., Lea, L. J., Quinn, R. M., Cox, M. J., Hooper, P. A., Williamson, D. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BCC metals; Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Mechanical analysis; Mechanical properties; Metallic Materials; Research Paper; Solid Mechanics; Strain rate sensitivity; Vanadium; Velocimetry
• ISSN: 2199-7446; 2199-7454
• DOI: 10.1007/s40870-023-00387-6

The mechanical response of the body centred cubic metal vanadium has been studied across a wide range of strain-rates through uniaxial stress compression. Samples of polycrystalline material have been tested up to strain-rates of 10 5  s −1 using miniature split and direct impact Hopkinson bars. The strain-rate sensitivity of the yield strength is shown to be significant with an apparent increase around 10 2 –10 3  s −1 and another increase ~ 10 5  s −1 . This later increase is discussed as being consistent with uniaxial strain experiments and shown to compare favourably with a Preston-Tonks-Wallace model modified to fit data out to strain-rates of ~ 10 7  s −1 . The benefits of the miniatured direct impact Hopkinson bar experiment are discussed along with the importance of velocimetry diagnostics and the requirement to understand and correct for friction at these high rates. Multiple repeat experiments and comparison of data taken with different loading platforms and different sample sizes are shown to produce a consistent and reliable data set which is complementary to existing sparse data on vanadium.