Ballistic Testing of Australian Bisalloy Steel for Armor Applications

Abstract : The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and Australian Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) have ballistically baselined a range of armor steels (277-321HB to 477-534HB) manufactured by the Australian company, Bisalloy Steels. Plate was tested in thicknesses from 10 mm to 20 mm and ARL and DSTO ballistically tested the plates against 0.30 caliber and 0.50 caliber armor piercing projectiles, 0.50 caliber and 20 mm Fragment Simulating Projectiles (FSPs) and the 14.5 mm BS41. Ballistic performance was compared for armor steels over a range of hardnesses and toughnesses, and results compared with the minimum ballistic requirements of MIL-A-12560H and MIL-A-46100D.