STRUCTURAL RESPONSE TO INTENSE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

Abstract

An Exploding Wire Facility was used as the source of electro-magnetic radiation. Power levels of 10 to the 7th power watts were deposited in the wire and the radiation pulse was focused on small specimens of selected materials through reflection in an ellipsoidal mirror. For glass samples, the surface crazed to a depth of 1/1000 cm. Photo-micrographs and profilometer measurements of the surface are presented to support the following conjectures as to the cause of cracking: the energy radiated by the hot wire is absorbed by a thin surface layer of the glass, the associated temperature rise generates thermal stresses, flaws below the glass surface form stress raisers according to the Griffith crack theory, and the cracks subsequently propagate to the surface. The theoretical derivation of the adapted thermoelastic stress theory predicts the dimensions of the cracks and the power levels required if the absorption coefficient is at least 1000 reciprocal centimeters. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 28, 1962
Accession Number
AD0275042

Entities

People

  • Robert C. Jr. Good

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Coefficients
  • Coefficients
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Exploding Wires
  • Hot Wire
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Power Levels
  • Radiation
  • Stresses
  • Structural Response
  • Thermal Stresses
  • Wire

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.