National Projects
ULTRA-PAN – Development of technology and production of perforated armour plates made of ultra-strength nanobainitic steel
Title:
ULTRA-PAN – Development of technology and production of perforated armour plates made of ultra-strength nanobainitic steel
Name of the programme: Targeted Grants
Executive Agency: Łukasiewicz Centre
Co-financing for Łukasiewicz-GIT from the funds of the Łukasiewicz Centre: PLN 598,217.00
Total value of the project: PLN 2,185,550.00
Start: 01.02.2021 / End: 31.01.2023
Consortium:
- Łukasiewicz Research Network – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology [Leader],
- Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals,
- Łukasiewicz Research Network – Poznań Institute of Technology.
Project Manager:
Bogdan Garbarz, BEng, PhD, DSc, ProfTit
Tel.: 32 2345 249
E-mail: bogdan.garbarz@git.lukasiewicz.gov.pl
Objective:
The aim of the project was to develop industrial technology and produce a trial series of ultra-durable armoured perforated plates with properties comparable to or better than this type of products with the highest parameters currently available on the world market.
Plates with thicknesses of 4, 6 and 8 mm were made of ultra-strength nanobainitic steel (steel composition and its heat treatment according to patents of Łukasiewicz Research Network – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology).
Perforation in the protective plate in the form of openings with the shape, dimensions, and arrangement suitable for individual types of projectiles, with specific properties and thickness of the plate, reduces or eliminates the destructive effect of the projectile impact.
The second effect of perforation is to reduce the surface weight of the armoured plate by 25-40%. The armoured perforated plate is also characterised by a much lower tendency to crack propagation.
The perforated plates developed in the ULTRA-PAN project are intended to produce layered armour and composite armour walls for military and civilian use. The protective effectiveness of the perforated plate – apart from material and geometric and dimensional factors – depends on the method of forming the openings, which affects the quality of the cutting surface, the shape of the edges, and the microstructure and properties of the layer adjacent to the cutting surface.
The opening-forming technology must be suitable for industrial use and meet economic criteria. The parameters of two opening-forming methods were tested: mechanical punching using chip processing (milling, drilling) and hot punching on a press using a punch and a die. These technologies were compared with the effects of laser cutting, and the type of technology intended for industrial use was proposed. The final verification of the correct selection of technological parameters and the obtained properties of perforated plates was based on the results of firing tests; the obtained data allowed to determine the final parameters of the production technology.
The solution resulting from the project has reached the 7th level of technological readiness. Currently, activities are underway to launch an application project. More technical information on armoured perforated plates made of nanobainitic steel developed in the project can be found in the publication: Garbarz B., Marcisz J., Burian W., Kowalski A., Borowski J., Szkudelski S., Walicki M., Zając K.: “Methods for increasing the protective performance of add-on perforated armour plates made of ultra-strength nanobainitic steel”. Problems of Mechatronics, Armament, Aviation, Safety Engineering 14 (1), 2023, pp. 23-60.
