New Electrode Design for GEPI Shot to Test Curved Sample

This study is relative to material behaviour characterization using the GEPI pulsed power device. First, the GEPI device will be briefly described. At the moment, only planar samples can be tested on GEPI. However, it is very attractive to test curved samples to comply with operational requirements. The adaptation of GEPI to curved sample would allow the characterization of material samples directly extracted from operational cylindrical structures. The GEPI performance is mostly based on high-precision electrode manufacturing. The feasibility study is conducted with the help of LS-DYNA magneto hydrodynamic modelling. The influence of geometrical defects is studied. To insure the success of this kind of test, the gap between electrodes must be tightly controlled. Electrodes must be machined with a tolerance lower than ten microns.