Tensile Properties Over a Wide Range of Strain Rates and Penetration Strength in Abrasion-Resistant Steel

Abstract Evaluating the penetration resistance of steels is crucial to maintaining structural integrity. Abrasion-resistant (AR) steel, known for its high abrasion resistance and strength, is widely used in industries such as mining, construction, and heavy machinery. This study investigates the tensile properties and penetration resistance of Abrex400 steel with thicknesses of 6.2 mm and 9.0 mm. Tensile tests were conducted over a wide range of strain rates, including quasi-static (10−4–10−2 s−1), dynamic (10−1–102 s−1), and impact (around 6 × 102 s−1) conditions, to determine the stress–strain relationship and fracture strain. Penetration tests involved driving a solid cylindrical projectile into steel plates at various speeds to assess their resistance to penetration, cracking, and deformation. The results revealed that the stress–strain curves slightly depend on the strain rate, with the ultimate tensile strength increasing as the strain rate increases. The penetration tests identified the ballistic limit velocity for 6.2 mm and 9.0 mm AR-steel plates. The study concludes that the Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL) equation, commonly used to predict ballistic limit velocity, underestimated the experimental values, suggesting a need for adjustment in the material constant for AR-steel.