Debris Cloud Ejection From Shock-Loaded Tin Melted on Release or on Compression

A triangular shock‐wave of sufficient intensity propagating in a metal sample may induce melting. When it reaches the free surface, tensile stresses are generated in the liquid state and lead to the creation of an expanding cloud of liquid debris. This phenomenon called micro‐spalling consists in a dynamic fragmentation process in the melted material. Plate impact experiments, associated to the so‐called Asay window technique, have been performed on tin to investigate this phenomenon.