Investigation of the Al alloy armor materials: A review

Abstract

Al alloys have garnered profound scholarly interest for their utilization in armored vehicles and an array of military components, owing to their noteworthy properties which encompass high specific strength, exceptional fracture toughness, unparalleled corrosion resistance, and remarkable ballistic characteristics. Additionally, their exceptional formability coupled with economic feasibility enhances the prospects for large-scale production and deployment, thereby positioning them as a highly preferred material option. The ballistic impact mechanism in Al alloys is an intricate mechanical process, intricately intertwined with the target material’s strength, hardness, ductility, density, toughness, and thickness, as well as the projectile’s characteristics. Currently, a range of lightweight Al alloy armor materials have been engineered to possess superior strength and ductility, rendering them ideally suited for a diverse array of ballistic impact applications. This study aims to consolidate current research findings on Al alloy armor materials, with a keen focus on three pivotal dimensions: ballistic resilience, stress corrosion cracking resistance, and weldability. By integrating insights from diverse research endeavors, we endeavor to deepen our comprehension of these key properties, ultimately laying a solid theoretical and experimental groundwork for the progression of Al alloy armor materials.