Aluminum Alloy Advances for Ground Vehicles

In the study, ballistic properties of 2195 in the commercial off-the-shelf T8P4 temper (solution heat-treated, cold worked, and then artificially aged) were measured against armor piercing projectiles and fragment simulating projectiles. The T8P4 temper was originally developed to optimize cryogenic toughness. However, it was not a certainty that the temper developed for cryogenic properties would also be optimal for ballistic performance. This article describes a variety of ballistic tests of the materials. Results indicate that alloy 2195 in either the T8P4 temper or the optimized ballistic temper is suitable for lightweight armor applications.