A Comparison of the Deformation Flow and Failure of Two Tungsten Heavy Alloys in Ballistic Impacts
Abstract
Ballistic tests were conducted with sub-scale long rod penetrators of two different processing conditions of the same tungsten heavy alloy. The liquid-phase sintered composite of 90% tungsten-9% nickel-1% cobalt (by weight) was tested in its low strength, as-sintered and heat-treated condition, and in a high strength, 50% cold-worked (by swaging) and aged condition. Small, but consistent, differences in the ballistic performances of the two lots of penetrators were observed in depth of penetration tests, in thick armor steel targets, and in limit velocity determinations against finite thickness steel targets. Metallographic examinations were conducted on the residual penetrators recovered from sectioned steel targets. Using the tungsten particles in the nickel alloy matrices of these residual penetrator materials as embedded strain gauges, the strain distributions, deformation gradients, and flow and failure behaviors of these two tungsten heavy alloy lots were examined. Correlations were sought between the flow and failure behaviors of these two lots and their ballistic performances.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA451390
Entities
People
- Brian E. Schuster
- Bryan P. Peterson
- Lee S. Magness
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory