Gas Metal Arc Weldability of Ramor 500 Ballistic Armor Steels

Abstract

Ramor 500 armor steel is classified as high strength ballistic protection steel produced in the hardness range 490-506 HB. They are preferred and used in armored vehicle manufacturing due to their high hardness, resistance to ballistic explosions and abrasion. Armored military vehicles are frequently subjected to impact and dynamics loads. Therefore, mechanical properties of armor steel and their weldment must be determined. In this study, Ramor 500 armor steels were joined by gas metal arc welding, (GMAW), method. The weldments were subjected to a radiographic examination by X-ray radiographic inspection method. Tensile, Charpy V notch-impact and bending tests were carried out for determining the mechanical properties of the weldment. The fractures of tensile test sample were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The microstructural examinations of the weldments were also carried out and hardness distributions were determined. Results confirm that the Ramor 500 armor steels have been successfully joined by the automated GMAW method. The strength and ductility of the joints are found within the acceptable range. The weld metal impact notch absorption energy of the GMAW joint was found to be higher than the base metal. However, the weld metal strength was found to be lower than the base metal. The lowest hardness of the weldment is determined in the HAZ next to the base metal due to softening.

Keywords

• Ramor 500 armor steel
• GMAW
• Weldability
• Mechanical Properties
• Fracture type

Ramor 500 Balistik Zırh Çeliklerinin Gaz Metal Ark Kaynağı ile Birleştirilebilirliği

Abstract

Ramor 500 zırh çeliği 490-506 HB sertlik aralığında üretilen yüksek mukavemetli balistik koruma çeliği olarak sınıflandırılır. Yüksek sertlikleri, balistik patlamalara ve aşınmaya karşı dirençleri nedeniyle zırhlı araç imalatında tercih edilir ve kullanılırlar. Zırhlı askeri araçlar sıklıkla darbeye ve dinamik yüklere maruz kalmaktadır. Bu nedenle zırh çeliğinin ve kaynaklı birleştirmelerinin mekanik özelliklerinin belirlenmesi gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Ramor 500 zırh çelikleri gaz altı ark kaynak (GMAK) yöntemi ile birleştirilmiştir. Kaynaklı birleştirmeler X-ışını radyografik muayene yöntemi ile radyografik incelemeye tabi tutulmuştur. Birleştirmelerin mekanik özelliklerini belirlemek için çekme, Charpy-V çentik darbe ve eğme testleri yapılmıştır. Çekme testi numunelerinin kırılma yüzeyleri taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM) ile incelenmiştir. Birleştirmelerin mikroyapı incelemeleri de gerçekleştirilerek, sertlik dağılımları belirlenmiştir. Sonuçlar, Ramor 500 zırh çeliklerinin GMAK yöntemiyle başarılı bir şekilde birleştirilebildiğini doğrulamaktadır. Birleştirmelerin dayanım ve sünekliği kabul edilebilir aralıkta bulunmuştur. GMAK birleştirmesinin kaynak metali çentik darbe emme enerjisi ana metalden daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Fakat kaynak metali mukavemeti ana metalden daha düşük olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Birleştirmelerde en düşük sertlik değerlerinin, ITAB yumuşaması nedeniyle ana metale yakın ITAB bölgesinde oluştuğu tespit edilmiştir.

Keywords

• Ramor 500 zırh çeliği
• GMAK
• Kaynaklanabilirlik
• Mekanik Özellikler

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