Split Hopkinson

Pressure Bar
High Strain Rate
Material Testing

A Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) is used to obtain high

strain rate material properties. The bar is used to impose a dynamic
load on a material specimen akin to loads the material will experience in
service. Determining how the material properties change under service loads
can yield critical performance data.
REL's precision-made Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar includes sophisticated
yet intuitive technology to simplify the process for the operator. Use of the
latest data recording devices and strain gauges ensure accurate measurements of material properties at a variety of strain rates.

The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar by REL, Inc.

can be found throughout the world and under the
direction of research institutions, government labs,
private businesses and a wide variety of
material testing agencies.
REL, Inc. has provided SHPB equipment or
material testing to the following organizations:
Johns Hopkins University Youngstown State University University of Florida Oak Ridge National Laboratory -

SAMPLE MATERIALS
SPECIMEN
i

Contact REL, Inc. at

(906) 337-3018
to discuss your
material analysis
requirements.

INCIDENT BAR

TRANSMISSION BAR

Io
r

i = initial pulse
r = reflected pulse

Positive x
Direction

t = transmitted pulse

I o = specimen length
TENSILE SPECIMEN
APPROXIMATELY:

0.375"W x 2.50"L x 0.125"H

REL, Inc. offers a tension

Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar design
that uses a machined tensile specimen for
obtaining the most accurate test data.

REL, Inc. manufactures steel and polymer Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar
systems that are configurable to test compression, tension and torsion
samples. Sample sizes can range in diameter from 0.125" up to 3.000"
and consist of a variety of materials, including:
Metal Alloys
Composite and Ceramics

Foams and Plastics

Bio-tissue

* Deformed sample shown for comparative purposes.

Deformation of tested samples will vary depending on the material.

COMPRESSION
SPLIT HOPKINSON
PRESSURE BAR
DESIGN

SPLIT HOPKINSON
PRESSURE BAR
OPERATION
The purpose of Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar
testing is to obtain high strain rate material
properties.
( A ) To initiate high strain rate testing of a
material, a specimen is loaded between the
incident and transmission bars. ( B ) Next,
the striker bar launcher is pressurized with
helium or nitrogen. When fired, the launcher
releases the gas and propels a striker bar
into the end of the incident bar. The collision
creates a compression pulse, or stress wave,
that propagates through the bar toward the
specimen. (C) The incident wave is recorded
by the incident strain gauge. Once the wave
reaches the specimen, it splits into two
smaller waves. ( D ) The transmitted wave
travels through the specimen and into the
transmission bar where the energy is
recorded by the transmission strain gauge.
The second wave is reflected away from
the specimen and travels back down the
incident bar. (E) At the end of the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, a stop bar absorbs the
impact of the transmission bar to complete
the test. (F) Both strain gauges measure the
strain duration and amplification in the bars.
The reflected (tensile pulse) recorded by the
incidence strain gauge is used to calculate
strain. The portion of the compression pulse
that continues through the specimen is
recorded by the transmission gauge and
is used to calculate stress. Data from the
strain gauges is routed through amplifiers
and an oscilloscope to a laptop computer
where it is stored.

OSCILLOSCOPE GRAPH
Figure 1 shows how a typical oscilloscope
output graph is displayed on a computer.
The incident wave, transmitted wave and
reflected wave are simultaneously collected
and presented in a graph of Voltage (y-axis)
versus Time (x-axis).

BAR SUPPORT
The incident, transmission and stop bars
are precision aligned using a series of bar
supports. Each bar support moves laterally
along an alignment key and is secured to the
mounting rail using built-in screw clamps.
To further assist with leveling, the supports
glide on top of a blanchard ground surface.
Proper bar alignment is critical for obtaining
accurate test results and minimizes the
amount of noise in your recorded data.

DYNAMIC
STRAIN GAUGE
REL uses high-precision
bonded resistance strain
gauges to capture energy
from stress waves. The
gauges are adhered to
the surface of the incident
and transmission bars.
Signals transmitted from
the bar to the gauge are
captured and converted
by RELs proprietary data
acquisition system.

OSCILLOSCOPE & BRIDGE AMPLIFIERS

The strain gauges are routed through bridge
amplifiers (shown in yellow) and an oscilloscope. Data from each gauge is conditioned
and amplified for multi-channel, simultaneous
dynamic recording and display. The oscillo-

scope converts the measured data

from an analog signal to digital.
RELs proprietary software further
converts the signal into a dynamic
stress versus strain curve (Fig. 2).

STRIKER BARS
Striker bars can be made
from steel or polymers and
supplied at different diameters (0.25" up to 3" or
custom) and lengths (3" up to 24"). Various length
striker bars will produce different loading durations.

STRIKER BAR LAUNCHER

The velocity of the striker bar projectile is controlled by pressurized helium or nitrogen that
is forced into the launch chamber. The type of
material being tested and the construction of
the striker bars in use generally determine
operating pressure.

STRESS -VS- STRAIN GRAPH

Data collected from the REL Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (See Fig. 1) is
processed through a series of formulas to obtain final data (shown above).
REL includes an intuitive graphical user interface for the operator to quickly
acquire dynamic material properties.

LAUNCHER CONTROLS
The striker bar launcher controls include
a gas fill valve (yellow handle), gas release valve (silver lever) and a breech
load adjustment control (large black dial).
Turning the dial moves a positioning rod
inside of the launcher, which pushes the
striker bar forward in the breech.

EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS

*EXAMPLE COMPRESSION DESIGN

SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY
- System Type (Compression, Tension or Torsion)
- System Material Construction (Steel, Polymer, etc.)
- Total Length of System
- Incident, Compression and Stop Bar Diameter
- Incident, Compression and Stop Bar Length
- Striker Bar Diameter and Length
- Striker Bar Launcher Pressure Range Requirement

- Strain Gauge Type and Construction

- Momentum Trap Inclusion
- Acquisition System Inclusion
(Computer, Amplifiers & Oscilloscope)

* REL Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar dimensions shown for example compression
design only. Complete system build requirements will determine final dimensions
and equipment specifications.
REL, Inc. reserves the right, under its Continuous Improvement Policy, to change
construction or design details and furnish product when so altered without
reference to illustrations or specifications used herein.
Copyright 2012 REL, Inc. All rights reserved.

Litho in U.S.A. Form No. 1000-06-12

MATERIAL TESTING
AND ANALYSIS
REL, Inc. offers comprehensive
Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar testing
with complete material analysis.
For more information, contact
an REL material specialist at
(906) 337-3018 or visit the
company web site at
www.relinc.net

REL, Inc.
57640 North Eleventh Street | Calumet, MI 49913
906.337.3018 tel 906.337.2930 fax rel@relinc.net
www.relinc.net