Nanosecond thermophysics (review)

A review of highly nonequilibrium states generated in solids and liquids by a short shock-wave action is presented. States with large deviator stress components, large negative pressures, overheating of the solid phase, supercooling of the liquid phase, and issues of viscosity of liquids (including metal melts) and solids at strain rates up to $10^8$ s$^{–1}$ and high pressures are considered. The dynamic tensile strength (cavitational strength) of metal melts, fast polymorphic transformations, and a new rule for selecting the detonation velocity of explosives are discussed.