Properties and structure of X30MnAlSi26-4-3 high strength steel subjected to dynamic compression processes

The paper presents the results of investigation on X30MnAlSi26-4-3 austenitic steel subjected to dynamic compression using the split Hopkinson pressure bar. The strain rate was 3700 s^-1. The compression test was also carried out without the use of breaking rings and then true strain was about 0.3. The split Hopkinson pressure bar test take only few milliseconds to complete during which time it is impossible to transfer the excess heat out of the specimen, therefore the test must be carried out in adiabatic conditions and so the increase of the temperature caused by the work of plastic deformation had to be calculated. The stepping load method was used in order to evaluate the effect of adiabatic heating on the properties of steel which allowed to maintain the isothermal deformation conditions. The paper presents the comparison of results obtained during deformation under adiabatic and isothermal conditions in correlation to structure changes occurring in course of dynamic compression.