Hypervelocity impact damage to Ti–6Al–4V meshes reinforced Al–6Mg alloy matrix composites

An Al–6Mg alloy matrix composite reinforced with Ti–6Al–4V meshes was fabricated by pressure infiltration method; its damage behaviors impacted by hypervelocity aluminum projectiles were investigated. Results showed that the thin Tif/Al–6Mg composite target exhibits better protection efficiency and energy absorption ability than Al–6Mg alloy target. With projectile sizes increasing, bulge and spallation were observed on the back of the composite target. The Ti–6Al–4V meshes were tensed and deformed drastically in the spallation region, where micro-damages such as interfacial debonding and cracks were dominant. Shear localization was the primary failure characteristic for thin Al–6Mg alloy target. The adiabatic shear bands were observed near the crater of Al–6Mg alloy, not in Tif/Al–6Mg composite target. It was ascribed to the Ti–Al interfacial bonding strength and the high temperature strength for Ti–6Al–4V alloy.