Modifications of the Response of Materials to Shock Loading by Age Hardening

The shock response of two age-hardened alloys, aluminum 6061 and copper-2 wt pct beryllium (CuBe), has been investigated in terms of their microstructual state; either solution treated or age hardened. While age hardening induces large increases in strength at quasi-static strain rates, age hardening does not produce the same magnitude of strength increase during shock loading. Examination of the shocked microstructures (of 6061) indicates that the presence of a fine distribution of precipitates throughout the microstructure hinders the motion and generation of dislocations and hence reduces the strain-rate sensitivity of the aged material, thus allowing the properties of the solution-treated state to approach those of the aged. It has also been observed that the shear strength of solution-treated CuBe is near identical to that of pure copper. It is suggested that this is the result of two competing processes; large lattice strains as beryllium substitutes onto the copper lattice inducing a high degree of solution strengthening acting against a reduction in shear strength caused by twinning in the alloy.