Technique for studying dynamic tensile failure in liquids: application to glycerol

A new experimental technique has been developed for the study of the dynamic tensile strength of liquids. The liquid is confined between a solid plate and a stretched aluminized Mylar film. Pulsed electron beam deposition in the plate generates a stress wave which traverses the liquid and gives a high tensile stress during reflection at the Mylar-covered free surface. Interferometric analysis of the motion of the Mylar film provides a sensitive measure of the stress-wave-liquid interaction. The technique has been used to determine a dynamic tensile strength for glycerol at room temperature of 0.6±0.1 kbar from 5 to 23 kbar/μsec. No variation of tensile strength with stress rate was found.