Dynamic behavior of tungsten carbide and alumina filled epoxy composites

The dynamic behavior of a tungsten carbide filled epoxy composite is studied under planar loading conditions. Planar impact experiments were conducted to determine the shock and wave propagation characteristics of the material. Its stress-strain response is very close to a similar alumina filled epoxy studied previously, suggesting that the response of the composite is dominated by the compliant matrix material. Wave propagation characteristics are also similar for the two materials. Magnetically driven ramp loading experiments were conducted to obtain a continuous loading response which is similar to that obtained under shock loading. Spatially resolved interferometry was fielded on one experiment to provide a quantitative measure of the variability inherent in the response of this heterogeneous material. Complementing the experiments, a two-dimensional mesoscale model in which the individual constituents of the composite are resolved was used to simulate its behavior. Agreement of the predicted shock and release wave velocities with experiments is excellent, and the model is qualitatively correct on most other aspects of behavior.