Miyambo, Mangalani EKotole, Dieketseng MMokalane, Mzwandile EReinecke, John DClarke, Anria2025-07-212025-07-212024-01979-8-3313-0861-2http://hdl.handle.net/10204/14285To address the mitigation of blast and ballistic threats, the characterisation of materials under high strain rates is essential for developing precise material failure and impact event simulations. Traditional iterative experimental evaluations are time-consuming and expensive, especially with local constraints on the cost and availability of armour steel. High-fidelity simulation models expedite development, necessitating accurate material models for impact event simulations. In this study, commercially pure copper test specimens, with well-documented properties, served as a pilot for validating experimental materials testing methods. The widely used Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) generated test data to parameterise constitutive material strength models; namely, the JohnsonCook (J-C) model. Material model parameterization for pure copper, based on curve fitting, required validation before application. Quasi-static compression tests established J-C model parameters. To ensure the robustness of the material model, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) adopted an approach involving testing at various rates, verified by using a finite element model (FEM) of the SHPB. An LS-DYNA FEM model of the SHPB incorporated Gruneisen Equations of State (EOS) and the J-C material model for the copper specimen material. Experimental SHPB results for commercially pure copper at an average strain rate of 1 533 s-1 were compared to the SHPB FEM and published literature results, providing valuable insights into high-strain-rate material behaviour.AbstractenBallistic threatsBlast threatsSplit Hopkinson Pressure BarSHPBConference Presentationn/a