Stress wave propagation through a thin plate sandwiched between two bars

By one-dimensional theoretical analysis and two-dimensional finite element simulation, the stress wave propagation through a thin plate sandwiched between two bars is investigated. Firstly, the expressions of reflected and transmitted waves were derived by the theory of one-dimensional elastic stress wave. Then examples were used to analyze the influences of plate thickness on wave propagation. Secondly, finite element simulations were performed and the results agree with the one-dimensional analysis. Also, the influences of different plate-bar interactions on wave propagation were studied in the numerical simulations. The results show that; the thinner the plate is, the less the wave propagation is influenced; the thinner the plate is, the better the stress in plate agrees with the stress in the bars; and thin plate/film transducers can be used to measure weak stress signals in SHPB tests.