Impact and Shock Mechanics Group, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford

The Impact and Shock Mechanics Laboratory is world-leading in the design of bespoke experiments aimed at observation and quantification of pressure, temperature and rate dependent deformation and failure mechanisms in naturally occurring and man-made materials. We utilise a comprehensive array of loading platforms, from intermediate- to high-rate to hypervelocity impact systems, to collectively access dynamic conditions extending from a few MPa to 100s GPa, and are routinely innovating new methods to generate complex states of loading. 

We conduct and offer a wide range of experimental testing facilities, covering conditions from quasi-static loading to high strain-rate impact and shock testing. Our research focuses on understanding material and structural behaviour across this full spectrum of strain rates. The laboratory is equipped with advanced testing systems and diagnostic tools to characterize deformation, damage, and fracture evolution under extreme conditions, enabling the study of materials and structures subjected to extreme loadings.

We conduct numerical research across a range of dynamic material behaviours, including impact, explosion, and shock phenomena. Our work in computational mechanics focuses on developing advanced numerical methods and simulation techniques to study how materials and structures respond under extreme loading conditions. By using principles from mechanics, mathematics, and computer science, we aim to model complex physical processes efficiently and accurately, providing deeper insight and predictive capabilities for dynamic material behaviour.