Aluminium Alloy Armour Plates for Infantry Combat Vehicle
Al‐Cu‐Mg based AA2519 alloy is used in state‐of‐the‐art Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV). The AAAV is an amphibious armoured personnel carrier wherein this aluminium alloy is utilized to reduce the weight of the vehicle. The alloy contains high Cu and small amounts of Mg. Because of the presence of Mg, the procedure of melting and casting of the alloy differs considerably from those of the Mg‐free, Cu containing alloys.
Chemical Composition of AA2519 Alloy (wt %)
Major Alloying Elements (Balance Al) Impurities
| Cu | Mg | Mn | Ti | Zn | V | Zr | Fe | Si |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3–6.4 | 0.05‐0.40 | 0.1–0.5 | 0.02–0.10 | 0.10 max | 0.05–0.15 | 0.10–0.25 | 0.30 max | 0.25 max |
Technology Developed at DMRL
The technology developed at DMRL involves optimization of alloy composition, casting parameters, homogenization schedule and aging heat treatment for the production of plates for armoured vehicle applications. DMRL has also established a novel method of imparting cold work prior to artificial aging, which greatly reduces the difference in strength properties between longitudinal and long‐transverse directions of the peak‐aged plates.
The 15 mm thick plates of the alloy were subjected to ballistic tests against 7.62 x 54 mm AP (I) ammunition. The tests showed 6 % superior results with reference to MIL‐STD‐46192C (MR).
Tensile Properties of Indigenized AA2519‐T87 Plates
| Alloy & Temper | Orientation | 0.2 % PS (MPa) | UTS (MPa) | % Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA2519 – T87 | L | 430‐440 | 480‐485 | 13‐16 |
| (t = 15 mm) | LT | 415‐435 | 470‐480 | 12‐14 |
Applications
This technology has been developed and demonstrated at the industrial scale. The technology has been assessed in terms of ballistic tests against the prevailing threat level of the armoured vehicles. These alloy plates may be utilized in combination with other armour materials for similar applications.