Chapter 2

PROPAGATION OF STRESS WAVES IN METALS

M.A. MEYERS
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering,
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,
Socorro, New Mexico, USA
and
L. E. MuRR
Oregon Graduate Center,
Beaverton, Oregon, USA

2.1. DYNAMIC PROPAGATION OF DEFORMATION

The application of an external force to a body is, by definition a dynamic

process. However, when the rate of change of the applied forces is low,
one can consider the process of deformation as a sequence of steps in
which the body can be considered in static equilibrium. Figure 2.1 shows
how the distance between the atoms changes upon the application of an
external force F. For each of the stages of deformation shown in Figs.
2.l(b) and 2.1(c), the body can be considered under static equilibrium
and one can apply the methods of mechanics of materials to determine
the internally-resisting stresses (by the method of sections). Hence, a
section made at AA or BB will yield identical stresses.
However, the internal stresses are not instantaneously transmitted
from the force-application region to the different regions of the body. The
stresses (and strains) are transferred from atom to atom at a certain
specific velocity. Figure 2.2(a) shows the application of a force at a rate
dP/dt such that the stresses (and attendant strains) vary from section to
section. Section BB has not 'seen' the ,application of the force at time t 1 ,
while, at section AA, the se}'Jaration between the atoms varies from point
to point along the bar. One could establish a preliminary criterion for
17

T. Z. Blazynski (ed.), Explosive Welding, Forming and Compaction

© Applied Science Publishers Ltd 1983
 0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
(A)

A B

F,- ~~:?~~~~~~~
0~0000~00
(B)

(C)

FIG. 2.1 Effect of application of force F on structure of solid (elastic deformation)

under quasi-static conditions.

A B

ootoo
---00 00 o'o
00000 0
00 ooOOO 0
A B

(A)

(f)
(f)
w
~ a-,
(f)

DISTANCE

(B)

FIG. 2.2 (a) Wave propagation (elastic) in solid when rate of application of force
is high. (b) Stress versus distance showing propagation of a general disturbance
with velocity v.