EFFECT OF BASE PLATE THICKNESS ON WAVE SIZE AND WAVE MORPHOLOGY IN EXPLOSIVELY WELDED COUPLES

The influence of plate thickness on the wave morphology generated in explosive welding is analyzed by the use of mild steel base plates machined into steps of different thicknesses and a constant-thickness mild steel flyer plate, to ensure similar impacting conditions. It is found that wave shape, at the same distance from the collision point, remains unchanged for the different thicknesses. However, wavelength and wave amplitude are observed to decrease for thinner base plates, while the incubation distance for stable wave generation is observed to increase with decreasing base plate thickness. Previously suggested mechanism for explosive wave generation are analyzed in terms of the present experiments. It is apparent that most of the theories proposed to date for wave formation are in one way or another incomplete.