Abstract: A new experimental technique has been developed for the performance of high temperature, high-strain rate tensile experiments in the self-designed tensile impact apparatus. This technique uses rapid contact heating method to heat the specimen to the desired temperature, thus avoids a significant temperature rise in incident and transmitted bars, and at the same time it is capable of retaining a nearly homogeneous temperature field within the specimen. As an illustration of its application, the hightemperature response of the forging die steel 5CrMnMo at high strain rates has been examined. Stress-strain curves are obtained for this material at strain rates ranging from 230s^-1 to 1200s^-1 and at temperature ranging from 25 to 606PC, respectively. For comparison, quasi-static experiments are performed over a slightly smaller range of temperatures.

Key words: elevated temperature, strain rate, tensile