High Strain Rate Mechanics of Materials

This lecture introduces the study of material behavior under rapidly applied forces, focusing on wave propagation, dynamic deformation, and fracture of metals and ceramics. The course covers topics such as stress waves, dynamic stress-strain responses, and the impact-induced damage in transparent materials. The instructor discusses examples of dynamic behavior in various materials, including the rate-sensitive response of skin and the behavior of non-Newtonian fluids. Students are expected to understand the differences between quasi-static and dynamic loading, as well as the effects of high strain rates on material properties. The lecture also explores the propagation of stress waves and the decay of different types of elastic waves in solids.