The mechanical behaviors and energy absorption mechanisms of Al–Cu–Mn alloy under dynamic penetration at wide temperature ranges and large angles

Abstract

The dynamic behaviors of 2A12 aluminum alloy under dynamic impact and its energy absorption mechanisms under dynamic penetration at wide temperature ranges and large angles were examined using experiments, simulations and theoretical model predictions; a mathematical dynamic energy absorption model was established based on the results of these experiments and simulations. The results indicate that, at impact temperatures lower than 150 °C, the strain rate hardening of the material prevailed; at impact temperatures higher than 250 °C, the strain rate hardening of the material appeared to be regionalized. At different penetration angles, the bullet displayed different degrees of deflection and the bullet hole also appeared in different forms: At penetration angles lower than 20°, the bullet was inversely deflected and the bullet hole was V-shaped; at penetration angles higher than 40°, the bullet hole looked like a convex or concave thumb. Errors between the simulated and numerically calculated energy absorption efficiencies were within the permissible limit of error in all cases, and were all smaller than 10% when the penetration angle was higher than 30°. This suggests that our mathematical dynamic energy absorption model is more accurate in predicting larger penetration angles.