The Image-Based Inertial Release (IBIR) Test: A New High Strain Rate Test for Stiffness Strain-Rate Sensitivity Identification

A key limitation of current moderate and high strain rate test methods is the need for external force measurement. For high loading rate hydraulic machines, ringing in the load cell corrupts the force measurement. Similarly, the analysis of split-Hopkinson bar tests requires the assumption that the specimen is in a state of quasi-static equilibrium. Recently, image-based inertial test methods have shown that external force measurement is not required if full-field measurements are available and inertial effects are significant enough. In this case the load information is provided by the acceleration fields which are derived from full-field displacement measurements. This article describes a new image-based inertial test method that can be used for simultaneous quasi-static and high strain rate stiffness identification on the same test sample. An experimental validation of the new test method is provided using PMMA samples. A major advantage of this new test method is that it utilises a standard tensile test machine and the only specialist equipment that is required is an ultra-high speed camera.