Effects of tungsten content on cylinder expansion process of tungsten heavy alloys under explosive loading

Cylinder expansion process of tungsten heavy alloys containing 90wt% to 97wt%W was investigated by GSJ high speed photography test technology and cylinder explosive test. The results show that adiabatic shear sensitivity falls, and cylinder expansion velocity and initial velocity of fragment increase with increasing of tungsten content on the experimental condition. The increase of shear strength can inhibit the unloading caused by the shearing crack sprouting and propagating of the inner wall, and is beneficial to uniform plastic deformation of the cylinder, resulting in increasing of the initial velocity of tungsten heavy alloy fragments.