Response of boron carbide subjected to large strains, high strain rates, and high pressures

This article presents an analysis of the response of boron carbide (B4C) to severe loading conditions that produce large strains, high strain rates, and high pressures. Experimental data from the literature are used to determine and/or estimate constants for the JH-2 constitutive model for brittle materials. Because B4C is a very strong material, it is not always possible to determine the constants explicitly. Instead they must sometimes be inferred from the limited experimental data that are available. The process of determining constants provides insight into the constitutive behavior for some loading conditions, but it also raises questions regarding the response under other loading conditions. Several Lagrangian finite element and Eulerian finite difference computations are provided to illustrate responses for a variety of impact and penetration problems.