Microstructure and Mechanical Strength Predictive Modeling in Al 5052-Trapezoidal Grooved SS 304 Explosive Cladding

Aluminum alloy plates were explosively cladded to stainless steel plates with trapezoidal grooves on the mating surface. The process parameters viz, loading ratio, standoff distance and flyer plate thickness were varied based on the Taguchi analogy. The variation in the process parameters alters the kinetic energy dissipation and the deformation work performed at the interface, and dictates the interfacial wave amplitude and the mechanical strength of the dissimilar explosive clad. The optimum level of process parameters for attaining higher tensile and shear strength is computed by signal-to-noise ratio. Further, a mathematical model is developed for calculating tensile and shear strength of the clad, based on the regression analysis using statistical software Minitab-16, and the level of fit is determined by analysis of variance.