Kolsky Bar for Dynamic Tensile/Torsion Experiments

In addition to the compression version of the Kolsky bar, there are bars that subject the specimen under tension, torsion, and combined torsion/ axial loading conditions to explore the high-rate response of materials under more diversified stress states. The work principles of these bars are similar to that of Kolsky compression bar. However, the loading mechanisms are more complicated than the simple bar-to-bar impact seen in compression experiments. The specimens in both tension and torsion experiments must be attached to the bar ends, which brings in the complication of gage-section identification in strain-rate calculations. This chapter describes various designs of Kolsky bars to conduct dynamic experiments for the specimen stress-strain response under uniaxial tension, pure torsion, combined tension/torsion, or compression/torsion. The designs of specimens will also be described. Examples of high-rate uniaxial tension experiments on polymers, bones, and high-performance fibers are provided.