Improved High Strength Armor Steel through Texturing

The mechanical and ballistic properties of a high hardness armor material specially processed to develop an increasing 112111 type texture has been established. Results indicate that the ballistic properties of textured armor, 0.5 in. nominal thickness, is substantially higher than that of uncontrolled or random textured armor of equal hardness at all obliquities tested up to 45 degrees against the cal .50 AP M2 ammunition. The effect of texture on critical material characteristics such as fatigue, impact energy, fracture toughness, transition temperature, and uniaxial tension were determined. Mechanical property enhancement was developed by texturing. Textured material displayed increased strength, stiffness, fracture toughness, and lower transition temperature. Improved fatigue life with specimen orientation was established. Various notch orientations were examined. Face-notched specimens were up to fifty percent superior in toughness compared to identical edge- notched material. Results indicate that since most engineering design applications involve a single critical property in one principal direction it should be possible to take advantage of anisotropic mill products to produce more efficient and reliable vehicles and structures.