CYCLIC PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION OF EXPLOSIVELY WELDED INTERFACES.

There is no theoretical characterization of the pulsating nature of the interfacial pressure that occurs during explosive welding. This approach to interfacial wave formation is substantiated by experimental evidence giving support to the stress wave mechanism as being responsible for the morphology of the bonded interface in explosive welding. This mechanism was tested with the use of a flyer plate consisting of cylindrical steel wires sequenced at a predetermined separation and obliquely impacted onto an aluminum base plate. The explanation of the mechanism of wave formation is given in terms of a dynamic plasticity model. Wavy and waveless interfaces were also produced with several bi-alloy tandems, with or without an electrodeposited tracer on the base plates. The nature of the interfaces observed in the coagulation of the tracer metal and/or the formation of bi-metal intermetallics induced by heat treatment give support to the model.