Influence of energetic-driven “Taylor-Wave” shock-wave prestraining on the structure/property response of depleted uranium

The influence of shock prestraining, via direct energetic “Taylor-wave” (triangular wave) loading, on the post-shock structure/property behavior of depleted uranium (DU) was studied. Samples were shock prestrained within a “soft” shock recovery fixture composed of momemtum traps and a spall plate to assure 1-dimensional loading. The DU samples exhibit roughly a 30% increase in yield strength following shock prestraining to ∼45 GPa. The texture evolution in DU was quantified using electron-backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Detailed quantification of the substructure evolution following shock prestraining revealed high volume fractions of {130}, `{172}', and {112} deformation twins. The volume fraction of {130} twins was found to be ∼10x the volume fraction of `{172}' and {112} twins. Details of the twin system activation and volume fraction relative to the local Schmidt factor within grains are presented. The influence of HE-driven shock prestraining on the structure/property response of DU is compared and contrasted to that seen in 304SS and 316SS subjected to “Taylor-wave” shock prestraining.