This study conducted by Uğur Gürol and colleagues investigates the mechanical and ballistic performance of an innovative sandwich joint design used in welded connections of armor steels. Armor steels stand out particularly in the production of armored vehicles due to their mechanical and ballistic performance. However, in welds made with austenitic stainless steel (ASS) wires, a decrease in ballistic performance can occur due to material incompatibility. This issue has been addressed with a sandwich layer design in which low hydrogen ferritic (LHF) filler layers are placed between softer ASS weld layers.
Experimental Findings:
Mechanical Properties: Evaluated by hardness, tensile strength, and Charpy V-notch impact tests. Impact toughness in the WM and HAZ regions was measured as 31.4 J and 65 J, respectively. These values are higher than the 20 J measured for the base material.
Ballistic Performance: Depth of penetration (DoP) was determined as 7.2 mm, and width of penetration (WoP) as 12.5 mm. These values indicate improved resistance of the weld area against ballistic threats while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Microstructural Analyses:
Analyses conducted using stereo, optical, and scanning electron microscopes showed that the sandwich structure design optimizes toughness and ductility properties.
This innovative sandwich joint design offers an effective method to enhance ballistic performance and reinforce weak areas in welded connections of armor steels.
#armorsteels | #sandwichjoints | #mechanicalproperties | #ballisticperformance | #weldingdesign
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