Ballistic-Failure Mechanisms in Gas Metal Arc Welds of MIL A46100 Armor-Grade Steel: A Computational Investigation

Abstract

In our recent work, a multi-physics computational model for the conventional Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) joining process was introduced. The model is of a modular type and comprises five modules, each designed to handle a specific aspect of the GMAW process, i.e.: (i) electro-dynamics of the welding-gun; (ii) radiation-/convection-controlled heat transfer from the electric arc to the workpiece and mass transfer from the filler-metal consumable electrode to the weld; (iii) prediction of the temporal evolution and the spatial distribution of thermal and mechanical fields within the weld region during the GMAW joining process; (iv) the resulting temporal evolution and spatial distribution of the material microstructure throughout the weld region; and (v) spatial distribution of the as-welded material mechanical properties. In the present work, the GMAW-process model has been upgraded with respect to its predictive capabilities regarding the spatial distribution of the mechanical properties controlling the ballistic limit (i.e. penetration resistance) of the weld. The model is upgraded through the introduction of the sixth module in the present work in recognition of the fact that in thick steel GMAW weldments, the overall ballistic performance of the armor may become controlled by the (often inferior) ballistic limits of its weld (fusion and heat-affected) zones. To demonstrate the utility of the upgraded GMAW process model, it is next applied to the case of butt-welding of a prototypical high-hardness armor-grade martensitic steel, MIL A46100. The model predictions concerning the spatial distribution of the material microstructure and ballistic-limit-controlling mechanical properties within the MIL A46100 butt-weld are found to be consistent with prior observations and general expectations.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 12, 2014
Accession Number
ADA614695

Entities

People

  • Bryan A. Cheeseman
  • C.‐F. Yen
  • J. S. Snipes
  • Mica Grujicic
  • R. Galgalikar
  • R. Yavari
  • S. Ramaswami

Organizations

  • Clemson University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arc Welding
  • Dispersion Hardening
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding
  • Grain Boundaries
  • Grain Size
  • Hardening
  • Heat Transfer
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanical Working
  • Mechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Phase Transformations
  • Solid Solutions
  • Welding
  • Welds

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Metallurgy