Review of the development of the split Hopkinson pressure bar
Mangalani Edward Miyambo, Daramy Vandi Von Kallon, Thanyani Pandelani, John D Reinecke
Abstract
This paper reviews a range of published literature on the history of various techniques that have been used for the development of a split Hopkinson (Kolsky) pressure bar, as applicable for high-strain rate material testing. A qualitative approach was applied by conducting a wide study of published literature to understand the basic principles for the development of a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). According to published literature, it is evident that the methods that were used by groundbreaking researchers in the early nineteenth century to characterize various materials at high strain rates are currently still used to determine the mechanical properties of materials. Although experimental test, measurement, and evaluation techniques have advanced from contact to non-contact measurements, the same basic principles remain unchanged, thus proving that the use of conventional test methods combined with SHPB for high strain rate material characterization has stood the test of time.