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Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Ballistic Performance of Ultra High Hard Armour Steel Joints Welded Using Shielded Metal Arc Welding Process and Austenitic Stainless Steel Electrode

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Abstract

This study involves experimental and numerical investigation on ballistic performance of ultra-high hard armour (UHHA) steel joints fabricated using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process and austenitic stainless steel (ASS) electrodes. The ballistic test of UHHA-steel butt joints involves subjecting welded joints to 7.62 mm armor-piercing (AP) small arm projectiles. The weld metal (WM) and the weld interface (WI) are the areas of interest for the impact in ballistic test. The simulation approach of finite element analysis (FEA) that incorporates the model of Johnson–Cook and Mie Gruneisen equation of state (EOS) for the equations of velocity—Shock Rankine-Hugoniot. The scanning electron microscopy was employed to analyze the microstructure and ballistically tested regions of UHHA-steel butt joints. The hardness of the different regions of UHHA-steel joint was estimated using Vickers microhardness test. The results disclosed that the AP projectiles were arrested at the WM and WI, each exhibiting distinct depth of penetration (DoP) and width of penetration (WoP). These results align well with the FE model predictions. During projectile impact, a ductile hole growth was observed as plastic deformation pushes the material outward. When an AP projectile strikes, striations appear on the target plate's surface, observed both experimentally and in FE simulations. Additionally, the AP projectile becomes lodged at the WM. At the interface, the WM absorbs the projectile's movement, while the harder heat-affected zone (HAZ) disrupts the trajectory due to the soft/hard (austenite/martensite) interface. This behavior is elucidated by examining the WoP in impact region within the FE model.

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Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.

Abbreviations

RHA steel:

Rolled homogeneous armour steel

UHHA steel:

Ultra-high hard armour steel

HIC:

Hydrogen induced cracking

SMAW:

Shielded metal arc welding

ASS:

Austenitic stainless steel

AP projectile:

Armour piercing projectile

FEA:

Finite element analysis

WM:

Weld metal

HAZ:

Heat affected zone

BM:

Base metal

WI:

Weld interface

SLR:

Self-loading type of rifle

IT:

Impact toughness

EOS:

Equation of state

DoP:

Depth of penetration

WoP:

Width of penetration

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Funding

The authors wish to record sincere thanks to the Directorate of Extramural Research & Intellectual Property Rights (ERIPR), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, New Delhi and Research Innovation Centre (RIC), DRDO, Chennai for the financial support rendered through an R&D Project No: EPIR/EP/RIC/2016/1/M/01/1630. The authors are grateful to the Director, Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), DRDO, Avadi, Chennai for providing base materials to carry out this investigation. The authors wish to thank the Director, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), DRDO, Hyderabad for granting permission to conduct the ballistic test.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Varicon Pumps & Systems Pvt. Ltd., Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600058, India

    S. Naveen Kumar

  2. Centre for Materials Joining and Research (CEMAJOR), Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, 608002, India

    V. Balasubramanian, S. Malarvizhi & Tushar Sonar

  3. Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), DRDO, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600054, India

    A. H. Rahman & V. Balaguru

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  1. S. Naveen Kumar
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  2. V. Balasubramanian
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  3. S. Malarvizhi
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Correspondence to S. Naveen Kumar.

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Naveen Kumar, S., Balasubramanian, V., Malarvizhi, S. et al. Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Ballistic Performance of Ultra High Hard Armour Steel Joints Welded Using Shielded Metal Arc Welding Process and Austenitic Stainless Steel Electrode. J. dynamic behavior mater. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40870-024-00421-1

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