On some principal features of data processing of spall fracture tests

A method for processing the results of dynamic spall fracture tests, based on the exact solution of the wave equation, and its commonly used simplified version based on the assumed unique relation between the free surface velocity drop and the ultimate medium fracture stress, are analyzed. Using the considered exact solutions of the wave technique, tensile stress pulses during spalling are determined. The obtained stress levels at the fracture point are compared with the spall strength calculated by the velocity drop technique. The cases of agreement and disagreement of the results obtained using both techniques are shown. By the example of differently shaped loading pulses, possible scenarios of sample fracture are presented, in particular, the probability of the fracture delay effect is shown, which can be lost in the simplified processing method.