Experimental study on thermomechanical behaviour of polyurea under dynamic compressive loading

Polyurea is one kind of protective materials, which has been extensively used to enhance the survivability of structures under blast loading. To study the thermomechanical behavior of polyurea, compressive tests are conducted using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus at high strain rates. An infrared thermograph is employed to observe the temperature rise. The experimental results show that the compressive stress strain response of polyurea presents a sensitivity of strain rate and strain. In addition, the deformation energy can transform to heating resulting in temperature increases under dynamic loading. Thus, the thermal softening decreases the mechanical behavior of polyurea, corresponding to temperature rise. The strain rate and length of strike bar can remarkably influence the variation about temperature rise.