Ballistic assessment of a low-cost Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy

Abstract

Titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V, produced via a new low-cost Electron-Beam Cold-Hearth Single-Melt Process, was ballistic limit tested against 12.7 mm projectiles. A brief overview is given of the emergence of low-cost titanium as a real option for armour applications as well as the characteristics of the tested Electron-Beam Single-Melt Titanium. Simple plasticity-based analytical models are used to predict the ballistic limit for the non-deforming projectile case and to illustrate how important it is to understand the detail of target deformation and failure. The work provides essential background to future studies that will better characterise the ballistic deformation and damage in the target plate to further improve predictive modelling efforts

Keywords:

• Ballistic Assessment
• Ti-6Al-4V
• Titanium
• Low-Cost
• Single Melt
• Armour Piercing.