Experimental methods at high rates of strain

The subject area covered by this review is a large and important one and to do it full justice would require a larger format than is available here. However, an attempt is made to outline the history of some of the more important developments and to include most major techniques. Taylor impact, Hopkinson bar testing in its various forms and 1-D plate impact are all considered in some detail. High-speed photography, particularly when used in association with optical techniques, is a key area and recent advances are discussed.