The response of a carbon-fibre phenolic resin composite to one-dimensional shock loading

The Hugoniot of a carbon-fibre-phenolic composite has ben measured via plate impact, using manganin stress gauges as the main diagnostic. The shock velocity has a linear response with particle velocity, but the velocity itself is higher than in similar aerospace composites. Consequently, the Hugoniot in terms of shock stress is also higher than in conventional carbon composites. Differences between the measured stress and calculated hydrodynamic pressure suggest that the shear strength of this material also increases with pressure.