Abstract The dynamic compressive behavior of ice is investigated using a large-sized (37 mm in diameter) modified aluminum split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) with pulse shaper at the strain rate from 500 s-1 to 1200 s-1. A series of relatively stable experimental results of dynamic compressive strength versus strain rate and a linear fitting curve have been obtained by controlling data scatter within 25%. The composition of incident wave has been discussed. The effects of pulse shaper diameter and velocity of striker bar have been tested. The properties and principles of incident wave in different stage has been elaborated when using pulse shaper. A theoretical analysis of pulse shaper and bar size effects on the rising time of incident wave has been conducted. Results show the thickness of pulse shaper is proportional to the rising time. Enlarging the diameter and reducing the velocity of the striker bar could increase the rising time and suppress the dispersion. The diameter and wave impedance of bars also contribute to the rising time.

Dynamic compressive and tensile properties of mortar under impact loading were investigated experimentally by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus with pulse shaping technique. Firstly, the basic principle, experimental limitations and some feasible improvements/modifications of SHPB technique used for dynamic tests on concrete-like materials were summarized briefly. And then the dynamic compressive strength, stress versus strain response, and failure modes of mortar were discussed and analyzed. Finally, a dynamic Brazilian disc test was conducted to obtain the splitting tensile property of mortar, and some typical experimental results were presented. Both compressive and splitting tensile results show that mortar is a strain-rate sensitive material. Either compressive or tensile strength enhances with the increase of strain rate, especially when the strain rate is greater than the transition strain rate, which is around 20 s-1 for the dynamic compression and 2.0 s-1 for the splitting tension, respectively. These findings are helpful to guide the design and application of concrete structures.