Transient deformation modes of square plates subjected to explosive loading

The phenomenon of transient deformation of square plates under intense dynamic loading has not been studied fully, either in experiment or theory. In this paper the experimental method for obtaining transient deformation profiles of square plate under explosive loading is demonstrated and evaluated. An optical technique proved to be reliable and accurate in obtaining the transient deformation mode of the square plate. Elastoplastic numerical analysis which includes finite deflection, material elasticity and strain hardening was carried out for one of the tests on an aluminium alloy plate to reproduce the transient response of the plate under measured pressure. The transient deformation profiles have also been obtained successfully by the numerical method and show good agreement with the experimental results. Numerical results are also presented for the impulsively loaded rectangular plates tested by Jones et al. [Jones, N., Vran, T. and Tekin, S. A. (1970). Inf. J. Solids Strucfures 6, 1499-15121. The combined experimental and numerical investigations provide valuable information for the understanding of transient behaviour of thin plates under explosive loading and for the development of an approximate procedure using the Rigid Plastic Method.