Simulation and analysis of Magnetically-Applied Pressure-Shear (MAPS) experiments

Magnetically-Applied Pressure-Shear (MAPS) is a new experimental technique to measure material shear strength at high pressures and has been developed for use on MHD driven pulsed power platforms [1]. By applying an external static magnetic field to the sample region, the MHD drive directly induces a shear stress wave in addition to the usual longitudinal stress wave. Strength is probed by passing this shear wave through a sample material where the transmissible shear stress is limited to the sample strength. The magnitude of the transmitted shear wave is measured via a transverse velocity interferometry system (VISAR) from which the sample strength is determined [2]. This paper presents and analyzes the 2D MHD simulations used to design the MAPS experiments.