Electron Microscopy of Shock Loaded Polycrystalline Beryllium

Abstract

Uniaxial compression tests and hydrostatic tests at pressures up to 27 kbars have been performed to determine operating slip systems in single crystal and polycrystal1ine beryllium. A recent study has been made of wave propagation in single crystal beryllium by shock loading to selectively activate various slip systems, and this has been followed by a study of wave propagation and spallation in textured, polycrystal1ine beryllium. An alteration in the X-ray diffraction pattern has been noted after shock loading, but this alteration has not yet been correlated with any structural change occurring during shock loading of polycrystal1ine beryllium.This study is being conducted in an effort to characterize the effects of shock loading on textured, polycrystal1ine beryllium. Samples were fabricated from a billet of Kawecki-Berylco hot pressed HP-10 beryllium.