An experimental study is made of the plastic wave propagation in fully annealed and as received 1100-F aluminum subjected to axisymmetric constant-velocity free flight impact in the range of 200 in/sec (5 m/sec) to 3000 in/sec (76 m/sec).

The direct experimental measurements established the applicability of one-dimensional strain-rate-independent finite-amplitude wave theory. These dynamic strain profiles were used to determine a dynamic response function to describe the character of plastic wave deformation. The results show that there are distinct differences in the behavior when the strain levels are in between inner and outer yield limits and when strain levels are beyond the outer yield limit.