Discussion on determining Young's moduli by conventional split Hopkinson bar

Computer simulations of conventional split Hopkinson bar tests were implemented by one-dimensional elastic stress wave theory. The accuracies of measured (reconstituted) stress-strain curves were investigated, combining with an actual test. The results show that reconstituted stress-strain curves don't agree with the input curves, especially in a limited range of strain, because the assumption of uniform stress is introduced in the governing equations of conventional split Hopkinson bar theory. Therefore, the Young's moduli of materials measured by conventional split Hopkinson bar technique are not reliable, which implies that carefulness will be specially reguired in using this conventional method in practice.