In-situ radiography of a split-Hopkinson bar dynamically loaded materials

This paper presents a description and the demonstration results of a custom-designed bespoke Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHBP) which has been installed at the ID-19 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). Building upon recent advances in real-time x-ray imaging, this system enables the study of dynamic mechanical phenomena through ultra-high-speed x-ray phase-contrast radiographs captured every 528 ns with high spatial-temporal resolution. By adding synchronized strain gauges measurements in the same experiment, bulk stress-strain behaviour can be correlated to the local processes underlying deformation, damage and failure. This article briefly outlines the newly installed hardware and its design. Demonstration experiments showing damage development in dynamically loaded Ti-6Al-4V and concrete are presented to underline the potential of an SHBP to be used in combination with synchrotron-based high-speed hard x-ray imaging.