Computational design of recovery experiments for ductile metals

Previous work on the shock loading of metals, has shown that one-dimensional strain histories may be only be approximated in a loaded sample if it is to be recovered at late times to examine microstructure. This proceeds through the use of a system of partial momentum traps and soft, shock-recovery techniques. However, limitations in the degree of uniaxial loading, and on the trapping of tensile pulses, have led to redesign of the target. In the current paper the technique is first assessed, and then modifications are explored to further refine it. Additionally it is illustrated how it may be applied to successfully recover targets of lower innate fracture toughness than has been previously documented. In the first part of the paper, the authors review work undergone to shock recover metals, and highlight associated constraints. In the latter part of the paper, a series of hydrocode simulations is presented to illustrate the design of an improved shock recovery technique that has now been adopted.