Dynamic Strength in Polymethylmethacrylate

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is used in shock loading and dynamic applications as windows and as a standard material. A study by Bat’kov, et al. revealed a dramatic decrease in PMMA shear strength above 6 GPa. In this study, we use planar shock loading using gas gun drive to understand this phenomenon, in contrast to Bat’kov, et al. who used explosive loading. Two experiments above 6 GPa are combined with previous experiments on PMMA to validate the

decrease in shear strength.