Microscale investigation of dynamic impact of dry and saturated glass powder

The response of particulate materials to impulsive loading includes complex interactions between grains due to fracture and comminution and the presence of interstitial material. The quasi-static strength of saturated powders is related to the concept of “effective stress” in which the fluid stiffens the material response and reduces the shear strength. However, detailed information regarding the effects of saturation under dynamic loading is lacking since static equilibrium between phases cannot be assumed and the interaction becomes more complex. Recent experiments on the IMPULSE (IMPact System for ULtrafast Synchrotron Experiments) capability at the Dynamic Compression Sector (DCS) of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) have captured in-situ X-ray phase-contrast images of shock loaded soda lime glass spheres in dry and saturated conditions. Previous investigations have observed reduction of fragmentation attributed to “cushioning” of an interstitial fluid in impact recovery experiments. The differences be...