Laser cut hole matrices in novel armour plate steel for appliqué battlefield vehicle protection

During this research, experimental rolled homogeneous armour steel was cast, annealed and laser cut to form an appliqué plate. This Martensitic–Bainitic microstructure steel grade was used to test a novel means of engineering lightweight armour. It was determined that a laser cutting speed of 1200 mm/min produced optimum hole formations with limited distortion. The array of holes acts as a double-edged solution, in that they provide weight saving of 45%, providing a protective advantage and increasing the surface area. Data collected were used to generate laser cut-edge hole projections in order to identify the optimum cutting speed, edge condition, cost and deformation performance. These parameters resulted in the generation of a surface, with less stress raising features. This can result in a distribution of stress across the wider surface. Provided that appropriate process parameters are used to generate laser cut edges, then the hardness properties of the surface can be controlled. This is due to compressive residual stresses produced in the near edge region as a result of metallurgical transformations. This way the traverse cutting speed parameter can be adjusted to alter critical surface characteristics and microstructural properties in close proximity to the cut-edge. A relationship was identified between the width of the laser HAZ and the hardness of the cut edge. It is the thickness of the HAZ that is affected by the laser process parameters which can be manipulated with adjusting the traverse cutting speed.

Statistical variability and fragility assessment of ballistic perforation of steel plates for 7.62 mm AP ammunition

The paper describes field test results of 7.62×51 mm M61 AP(armour piercing) ammunition fired into mild steel targets at an outdoor range.The targets varied from 10 mm to 32 mm in thickness.The tests recorded penetration depth,probability of perforation(i.e.,complete penetration),muzzle and impact velocities,bullet mass,and plate yield strength and hardness.The measured penetration depth exhibited a variability of approximately±12%.The paper then compared ballistic test results with predictive models of steel penetration depth and thickness to prevent perforation.Statistical parameters were derived for muzzle and impact velocity,bullet mass,plate thickness,plate hardness,and model error.A Monte-Carlo probabilistic analysis was then developed to estimate the probability of plate perforation of 7.62 mm M61 AP ammunition for a range of impact velocities,and for mild steels,and High Hardness Armour(HHA) plates.This perforation fragility analysis considered the random variability of impact velocity,bullet mass,plate thickness,plate hardness,and model error.Such a probabilistic analysis allows for reliability-based design,where,for example,the plate thickness with 95% reliability(i.e.only 1 in 20 shots will penetrate the wall) can be estimated knowing the probabilistic distribution of perforation.Hence,it was found that the plate thickness to ensure a low 5% probability of perforation needs to be 11-15% thicker than required to have a 50/50 chance of perforation for mild steel plates.Plates would need to be 20-30% thicker if probability of perforation is reduced to zero.

Effect of Hardfaced Interlayer Thickness and Low Hydrogen Ferritic Capping on Ballistic Performance of Shielded Metal Arc Welded Armour Steel Joints

Armour grade quenched and tempered steel closely confirming to AISI 4340 is well known for its superior ballistic performance and hence used in the fabrication of combat vehicles. The traditional fillers like austenitic stain- less steel showed poor ballistic performance of these welded joints as compared to the base metal. Attempts have been made to deposit hardfaced interlayer between austenitic stainless steel weld metals. Though this method, mar-- ginal improvements in ballistic performance can be yielded, and cracks were observed in between base metal and hardfaced layer. Thickness of the hardfaced interlayer plays a vital role for the effective ballistic performance. Thus, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of hardfaced interlayer thickness on ballistic performance of ar- mour steel welds. The results of effect of buttering, low hydrogen ferritic （LHF） filler and three different hardfaced layer thicknesses （4, 5.5 and 7 ram） on ballistid performance of shielded metal arc welded armour steel joints were given.