Publication

Survivability
2021

FLASH® 600 ULTRA HIGH HARD: ROOM-TEMP ER120S-1 WELDABILITY TEKKEN, H-PLATE, BALLISTIC, & FSP DATA FOR IMPROVED SURVIVABILITY

by Gary M Cola

Abstract

Survivability of a welded vehicle hull is directly tied to the performance of the grade of steel armor used. Selecting the highest performing grade of armor that can be welded into a specific location on a vehicle will improve survivability. While rolled homogeneous armor is the simplest to weld, challenges in welding high hard, and especially ultra high hard, are well known. Preventative measures to avoid weld cracking in vehicle structures can lead to increased costs during fabrication. Cracking of welds, both seen and unseen, in deployed vehicles directly impacts the survivability of the vehicle. Weld cracking during deployment further magnifies repair costs and leads to non-mission capable status. This analysis examines the weldability, ballistic/blast performance, and underlying metallurgy of Flash® Processed steels that have been tested by Army, Academia, and Industry.