Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar

A compressive Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, SHPB, enables testing at high strain rates to determine material properties during dynamic events. At these high strain rates, material properties can differ from their quasi-static testing values. The Rutgers Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, specifically, has successfully tested material between 1000 -7000 s^-1. The SHPB was designed and manufactured as a masters thesis of a graduate student. Samples up to half an inch can be tested in the apparatus. A variety of materials have been tested, including composites and metals such as aluminum. Currently, the SHPB is under development to convert the compression testing into a shear frictional load.