Modified Kolsky Formulas for an Increased Measurement Duration of SHPB Systems

The so-called incident, reflected and transmitted strain histories are typically recorded during standard Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) experiments. Subsequently, the stress-strain curve for the specimen material is determined based on these recordings. Unless wave deconvolution techniques are employed, the reliable measurement of the reflected wave requires an input bar which is at least twice as long as the striker bar (of equal impedance). The present brief technical note elucidates the advantages of a simple alternative configuration which has only been seldom used in the past. Based on the assumption of quasi-static equilibrium at the specimen level, we present a modification of Kolsky’s formulas such that the stress-strain curve for the specimen material can be obtained from the measurement of the incident and transmitted strain histories only. As a result, the measurement of the reflected wave may be omitted and a much shorter input bar can be chosen. Conversely, a much longer striker bar may be used for a given input bar length, thereby increasing the valid duration of standard SHPB experiments by up to 100 % through the use of the modified Kolky formulas. An example experiment is shown where the duration of valid measurements has been increased by more than 70 %.