This award is for the purchase of two pieces of equipment that are essential for the overall research program in mechanics of materials, particularly on high strain rate research. The first is electrodischarge machining equipment that can be used to cut samples of advanced materials to a high degree of precision. The second is an argon ion laser to be used for interferometric monitoring of the stress waves induced during plate impact testing. The new equipment significantly strengthens the existing experimental infrastructure for research in mechanics of materials and provides new capabilities for further research developments. The new equipment provides new materials processing and monitoring capabilities and will have a catalytic effect on the existing research program by providing a missing link in a comprehensive effort to synthesize advanced materials, characterize their microstructures, measure their mechanical response, and analyze the resulting changes in microstructure.
