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There is a recent interest in the response of thermoplastics to shock. Previous work on three simple hydrocarbons has indicated that the shear strength increases with the complexity of the side group. Strength values have been calculated using lateral stress measurements with manganin gauges that have been recalibrated for use in the low stress regime. The present work aims to investigate the effect of the configuration of the thermoplastic’s chain when side groups are added. In particular, whether steric effects are present when the groups become larger. Results show that whilst polyethylene has the lowest shear strength, polypropylene and polystyrene have similar values. In all cases the strength of polymer increases with time after the shock has passed. As the applied stress increases, polystyrene and polypropylene strengthen to a higher degree when compared with polyethylene. Explanations are offered in terms of microstructure and tacticity of the chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the shock properties of the silicate glass, LACA has been carried out using manganin stress gauges. The principal Hugoniot has been measured and found to have significantly higher values than for other common silicate glasses. Gauges mounted on the rear of the target (supported with a block of polymethylmethacrylate) show reloading signals superimposed on the main compressive shock pulse. This has been interpreted as evidence of dynamic compressive failure (the failure wave or front). Manganin gauges mounted so as to be sensitive to the lateral component of stress support this hypothesis. Finally, failure front velocities, measured using known lateral gauge separations increase with increasing shock stress, tending towards the shear wave speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]