Development and characterization of adiabatic shear prone tungsten heavy alloys. Final report, 1 October 1991-31 January 1993

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:5729104

Bose, A; Lankford, J; Couque, H

Depleted uranium (DU) is currently the top-performing kinetic energy penetrator, followed closely (but not matched) by several tungsten heavy alloy variants. Because of the adverse environmental impact associated with DU, it is extremely desirable to determine a means of upgrading the ballistic performance of heavy alloys to a level at least comparable to that of DU. It is thought that the reason for the improved ballistic performance of DU-0.75 Ti alloy is embedded in its ability to self sharpen during armor penetration, and it is further postulated that this self-sharpening ability is due to the susceptibility of DU to adiabatic shear during penetration events. The contrasting inability of current tungsten heavy alloys to localize shear during penetration causes mushrooming at the head of the projectile, thus, decreasing the depth of penetration. Consequently, there is a great urgency to develop new tungsten alloys that will exhibit localized, unstable shear failure, and associated self sharpening during armor penetration. Tungsten heavy alloy, Alloy development, Mechanical properties, Adiabatic shear.

• Research Organization: Wyman-Gordon Co., Worcester, MA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5729104
• Report Number(s): AD-A-270477/3/XAB; SWRI--06-4601; CNN: DAAL04-91-C-0065
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103* -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450000 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense
ADIABATIC PROCESSES
ALLOYS
ENERGY
KINETIC ENERGY
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PENETRATORS
PROJECTILES
SHEAR PROPERTIES
TITANIUM ADDITIONS
TITANIUM ALLOYS
TUNGSTEN ALLOYS
TUNGSTEN BASE ALLOYS