Dynamic Constitutive Equations and Behaviour of Brass at High Strain Rates

<jats:p> This paper presents an experimental study of the mechanical properties of brass at high strain rates. The brass tested is the copperzinc alpha-beta and beta two-phase alloy in the cold-worked state. Experiments were conducted using an extended tension split Hopkinson bar apparatus. It is found that, at lower strain rates, the stress-strain curve is smooth, exhibiting no well-defined yield stress, but at higher strain rates the stress-strain curve not only shows a well-defined yield stress but also displays a very pronounced drop in stress at yield. The flow stress is found to increase with increasing strain rate, but the increase is more significant for the yield stress than for the flow stress, showing that the yield stress is more sensitive to the strain rate than the flow stress away from the yield point. Based on the experimental results, empirical strain-rate-dependent constitutive equations are recommended. The suggested constitutive equations provide a reasonable estimate of the strain-rate-sensitive behaviour of materials. </jats:p>