Dynamic Properties of Materials

Understanding the behavior of materials under dynamic loading conditions continues to be of significant interest both to the Laboratory's mission and to an international scientific community. DE-9's research in this area focuses on the design, execution, and analysis of dynamic experiments, leading to a fundamental understanding of the behavior of materials, principally metals.

We collaborate with researchers and scientists from around the world, including the United Kingdom's Atomic Weapons Establishment, the Russian Federal Nuclear Center for Experimental Physics, the Russian Federal Nuclear Center for Theoretical Physics, Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Washington State University. Primary focus supports the execution of dynamic plutonium experiments, including the development of new capabilities, diagnostics, and facilities. Responsibilities include the execution of experiments and the development of

• multi-phase equations of state, strength, and damage models,
• on- and off-Hugoniot behavior of materials, and
• phase-change kinetics.

The diagnostic tools used to explore these dynamic properties of materials include

• photon doppler velocimetry,
• x-ray diffraction,
• proton radiography,
• velocity interferometer of any reflector (VISAR) (sub-ns resolution), and
• Argonne Lab's APS synchrotron radiation source.

Techniques used to drive compression of the material include gas and powder guns (velocities of 0.15 to 8 km/s), explosive charges, and magnetic drives. Computational tools used to understand material response and build models include hydrodynamic wave codes (one- and multi-dimensional) and molecular dynamics.