In-situ MHz X-ray phase contrast imaging of fragmentation of composite and rock materials under high strain rate compression under low temp

Low cryogenic temperatures can influence the failure and fragmentation mechanisms under high-rate loading. While in rock materials this relates to meteorite impact on icy planets, in composite materials are crucial to the transportation and aerospace industries, yet they are prone to sudden failure. In this study, we aim to utilise MHz-rate X-ray imaging to directly uncover the relationship between ply delamination in composites exposed to aerospace conditions and fragmentation of Mg-rich orthosilicate peridotite. Specimens will undergo high strain-rate loading via ID19 SHPB system and temperature variations (-50 to 23°C) using thermal conditioning systems already used in MA5286 and MA5715, with real-time in-situ X-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI) tracking the evolution of critical damage evolution.