Microstructural investigation on an Al 6061 T6 alloy subjected to ballistic impact C

Abstract

Ballistic impact generates significant modifications in the microstructural patterns. High strain rate and local high temperature conditions work together in opposite way: the first causes strain hardening, while the second factor produces softening. Moreover, after the impact, the cooling process is responsible of other local modifications on the arrangement of dislocations and precipitates. Therefore an experimental analysis on Al 6061 T6 cut from the edge of a component subjected to ballistic impact has been carried on in order to investigate on the microstructural modifications. Considerations about the influence on the mechanical behavior and on the fracture propagation are reported. The crystallographic textures and the misorientation featuring the grains play in fact a significant role in the fracture mechanism. The comparison between the texture situation before and after the impact can allow to evaluate the localized straining of the material and to point out its dissipation efficiency as a function of the distance from the damaged surfaces