Response characteristics of shear stiffening elastomers under shock waves: Numerical and experimental study

As an energy-absorbing viscoelastic material, shear stiffening elastomer (SSE) has been widely used in personal protection. To expand its applications, this study focuses on its dynamic response under shock wave loading. Based on the generalized Maxwell model and the time-temperature equivalence principle, a viscoelastic constitutive model of the material is established. Using Fluent software to construct a shock wave flow field, two-way fluid–structure interaction simulations are conducted, systematically revealing the influence of dynamic material boundaries on shock wave evolution. Combined with digital image correlation technique, the displacement field distribution of specimens is obtained experimentally. The results show that the shock wave propagation behavior of SSE is regulated by the shear stiffening gel (SSG)/methyl vinyl silicone rubber ratio. Increasing SSG content shifts the material from hyperelastic to viscoelastic, enhancing energy absorption and attenuating the reflected wave. When the wall shape changes from flat to curved, the stress wave front evolves from single to dual, with displacement becoming more concentrated, and the Mach stem height first increases and then decreases. Reducing material thickness increases the modulus and restricts displacement due to wave superposition, but delays the transition from Mach reflection to transitional regular reflection. This study systematically reveals the dynamic response mechanism of SSE under shock waves for the first time, providing a combined numerical and experimental basis for the design of protective structures based on viscoelastic materials and research on shock wave propagation.