Shock wave propagation in the solid argon by molecular dynamics simulation: Effect of initial strain

In this study, the method of molecular dynamics simulation is performed to investigate the shockwave propagation in a solid. The simulation cell contains 51840 atoms at 5 K interacting by means of a pairwise potential. The shockwave is generated using the motion of a piston with different velocities in the solid and the resulted shockwave velocity is in good agreement with the experimental data and the Hugoniot curve. The piston hited the sample from one side of the simulation box, at speeds ranging from 1.2 to 1.3 times the speed of sound in solid argon at the chosen density. Some thermodynamics properties such as density, temperature and pressure are measured during propagation of shockwave. It is found that those thermodynamics properties (density, temperature and pressure) are remarkably and significantly increase when the shockwave passed through the solid. We also show that creating initial strain in the solid up to 6.5% can enhance the pressure increment in the solid up to 9%. The results can be useful in enhancing of the shockwave power by giving a detailed microscopic description of the process.