Shock‐Wave Deformation and Fracture of Zirconium Dioxide Ceramics of Various Fractional Composition and Porosity

The paper reports results from measurements of free‐surface velocity profiles of shock‐loaded zirconium dioxide ceramics with a porosity of 16–22% produced from compositions with a size of the coarse fraction of 0.5–2.0 mm. Shock‐wave loading of ZrO2 samples 5–20 mm thick was performed by aluminum impactors 3–12 mm thick with a velocity of 10–100 m/sec. The measured free‐surface velocity profiles were used to assess the dynamic compressive and tensile strengths of the ceramics and thedamping properties of the ceramics.