The limits of strength in materials in the condensed phase

There is a range of thresholds in loading for the response of condensed phase matter, starting with inelastic deformation at the yield stress. Beyond this point compression continues until the material bond strength is overcome and becomes so-called warm dense matter. In this regime formulations of solid mechanics derived in the ambient state no longer apply. Between these two limits lies a boundary that differentiates weak-from strong-shock dynamic loading. This work examines these thresholds and shows a correlation between the theoretical strength of the material and this weak shock limit for a range of metals.