Dynamic Indentation of Fatigue Samples

Understanding the effect of damage on fatigue life of aerospace components is of significant industrial and economic importance. This damage can often occur through dynamic loading. This paper looks at methods for producing controlled levels of dynamic damage in specimens that are subsequently able to be used for fatigue tests. It discusses many of the difficulties that arise in trying to achieve this using a Hopkinson Bar set-up including wave reflections, impedance mismatches and eliminating multiple impacts and bending of samples. The repeatability of the damage is demonstrated, along with methods for characterisation though 3D optical microscopy techniques.