Detection of local heating in impact or shock experiments with thermally sensitive films

Abstract

Materials undergoing shock or impact loading experience heating due to that loading. This heating, frequently localized in the form of hot spots, can play a significant role in determining the physical and chemical response of the material to the load. To date this phenomenon has been inadequately investigated due to, at least in part, a lack of experimental techniques. Here we present a simple method for obtaining both spatial and temperature information of the heat generated in shocked or impact-loaded materials. We present some results showing the spatial heat patterns that result when NaCl crystals undergo impact loading.