Weld Quality Analysis of High-Hardness Armored Steel in Pulsed Gas Metal Arc Welding

As improving fuel economy and performance through weight reduction in vehicles are recognized as important tasks, the defense industry is researching ways to reduce the weight of armor plates for combat vehicles and increase bulletproof performance and durability. Most armor plates in combat vehicles are manufactured using weld joints. High-hardness armor (HHA) is used to make armor plates; however, its mechanical properties deteriorate because of hydrogen embrittlement and high-temperature softening during welding. Welding defects, such as pores and cracks, occur frequently. In this study, HHA steel was subjected to single-pulse gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and the welding performance of the shielding gas and heat input was analyzed by the United States army tank-automotive and armaments command (TACOM) standard. The specimen cross-section was visually examined, and hardness, tensile, and impact tests were used to identify the mechanical properties based on the welding conditions. Additionally, flux cored arc welding (FCAW) and GMAW were used and compared, and spatter image analyses were used to assess the integrity of the welding process of the HHA plate applied to a combat vehicle. As a result of the experiment, as the CO₂ content and heat input increased, the mechanical strength of the welded zone and the integrity of the welding process deteriorated.