Water jet impact damage mechanism and dynamic penetration energy absorption of 2A12 aluminum alloy

This study aims to explore the waterjet cavitation impact (WCI) mechanism of 2A12 aluminum alloy and its dynamic penetration energy absorption after WCI treatment. The effects of WCI process parameters on the residual stress, surface quality, and microstructure of 2A12 aluminum alloy are investigated through experiment and simulation and, a dynamic penetration model of 2A12 aluminum alloy is established with ABAQUS software and finite element simulation is performed. The results show that WCI can greatly enhance the residual compressive stress of the target. Comprehensive evaluation of surface residual stress, surface quality, and plastic deformation layer reveals that a combination of small jet angle with large jet pressure, or large jet angle with medium jet pressure, delivers the best strengthening effect; the residual compressive stress and plastic deformation layer introduced by WCI can effectively increase the defensible performance of 2A12 aluminum alloy, making the projectile residual velocity far lower than before WCI treatment. •The strengthening mechanism of cavitation water jet with different inclination angles was studied.•The dynamic impact triaxial stress characteristics of water jet reinforced were studied.•The dynamic energy absorption characteristics of enhanced water jet were studied.