Shear Strength Measurements in a Shock Loaded Alumina-Filled Epoxy Resin

The variation of shear strength with impact stress in an alumina-filled epoxy has been measured with lateral stress gauges. At lower stresses, a degree of hardening behind the shock front has been observed, which decreases as impact stress increases. It is believed that this is due to a transition from a viscous response dominated by the epoxy matrix, to a more viscoplastic response. The measured shear strength has also been observed to reach a near constant level, as was suggested in a previous work.