Explosive welding of TA2-SiC-AW5083 composite armor

Abstract

This study investigates the use of explosive welding to encapsulate SiC between TA2 and 5083, aiming to achieve large-area, high-efficiency, and low-cost fabrication of ceramic composite armor. A new weldability window was established, and six configurations of ceramic composite armor were devised. Ten sets of experiments were conducted to explore the influence of explosive welding parameters, ceramic fracture, and different configurations of composite complate on mechanical properties, macro-deformation, welding interface morphology, and energy absorption and conversion. The research revealed that the fracture of ceramic influences the welding quality, the propagation of the blast wave, and the kinetic energy utilization of the flying plate, while the crevices between the ceramic and the groove on the base plate do not influence the welding quality. When the ceramic remains intact, the kinetic energy utilization rate of the flying plate can be calculated using the η = E1(1-A1/A)/Ef, and when the ceramic penetratively fractures, the kinetic energy utilization rate of the plate can be calculated using the η=(E1-E4) (1-A1/A)/Ef. Finally, we recommend adding a suitable interlayer as a buffer between the flying plate and the ceramic, and the static parameters for explosive welding should strictly adhere to the “Lower bound principle."By analyzing the energy conversion and absorption during the explosive welding process, the macro-deformation and mechanical properties of the composites, the interface morphology, and the level and characteristics of the ceramic fracture, the energy source of the ceramic fracture was found, and the effects of ceramic fracture and structural characteristics of composites on gap airflow, kinetic energy utilization of face plate, explosive wave propagation path, and welding quality were analyzed. Finally, we propose that the explosive welding static parameters of ceramic composite armor should strictly adhere to the " The principle of lower explosives limit."