Influence of strain rate and phase history on the spall failure of single and polycrystal tin

Journal article

Spall occurs when materials are subjected to shock impacts; under this loading, the material properties can be modified through microstructural changes and phase transitions. The effect of these changes on subsequent spall has been underexplored. The anisotropy of tin’s ambient crystal structure and the accessibility of the β → γ solid-solid phase transition under shock loading means that tin offers a rich domain in which to study spall failure. Through testing single-crystal and polycrystal samples shocked above and below this transition, the effects of these variables on the deformation behaviour of tin can be determined. Although no orientation dependent spall behaviour is observed, unusual strainrate-dependent behaviour is observed, indicating likely mechanisms for the high-rate behaviour of tin.

Authors: Threadingham, JG; Liang, X; Leggett, E; Smith, LC; Millett, JCF

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Journal: Journal of Applied Physics
• Volume: 139
• Issue: 21
• Article number: 215103
• Publication date: 2026-06-01
• Acceptance date: 2026-05-12
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0336695
• EISSN: 1089-7550
• ISSN: 0021-8979
• Language: English