Correlation between the accuracy of a SHPB test and the stress uniformity based on numerical experiments

Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) has become a frequently used technique to measure the uniaxial compressive stress–strain relation of various engineering materials at high strain rate. Using the strain records on incident and transmitter bars, the average stress, strain and strain rate histories within the specimen can be calculated by SHPB formulae based on one-dimensional wave propagation theory. The accuracy of a SHPB test is based on the assumption of stress and strain uniformity within the specimen, which, however, is not always satisfied in an actual SHPB test due to the existence of some unavoidable negative factors, e.g., friction and specimen size effects. Two coefficients are introduced in the present paper to measure the stress uniformity in axial and radial directions of the specimen in a numerical SHPB test. It is shown that the accuracy of a SHPB test can be correlated to these two stress uniformity coefficients. An assessment and correction procedure for SHPB test results is illustrated through a numerical example.