Plate Impact Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability Experiments on Vanadium, Molybdenum and Niobium

The dynamic strength of three body-centred cubic metals (vanadium, molybdenum and niobium) has been investigated using plate impact driven Richtmyer-Meshkov instability experiments. This paper presents the data from these experiments with impact stresses in the range ~ 9 -20 GPa and free surface sinusoidal shaped perturbations of wavelength ~ 250 µm and amplitudes in the range 24 – 86 µm. This technique is a sensitive method to infer the dynamic strength of materials in a high strain-rate, low pressure regime. Lagrangian hydrocode simulations with a PTW strength model have been used successfully to simulate the peak spike velocities and the determined dynamic strength is also discussed with relation to dynamic tensile (spall) strength determined from the same materials. ​​​UK Ministry of Defence © Crown Owned Copyright 2022/AWE.