This work deals with the response of high strength and high purity ceramics to high rate loading. In particular the aluminum oxide AD-99.5 is investigated. Bar impact experiments that subject this material to a one-dimensional stress state are presented.

These experimental results, together with data from other kinds of experiments from other researchers, is used to develop a constitutive model for AD-99.5. The model is incorporated into a finite element code which is used to simulate the experiments used in developing the model. The computational results are in good agreement w ith the experiments.

The code is then used to model penetration experiments performed with AD-99.5. The results of the depth of penetration calculations and calculation of average penetration velocities are found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental results. Phenomena such as interface defeat, which has been observed in penetration experiments involving several types of ceramic, is also investigated in this work.