AR225 & AR400 Abrasion Resistant Steel Plate

[Tripp]

I am designing a bullet protection system for an existing structure that will use 1/4" and 3/16" AR225 and AR400 steel plates. I have never specified abrasion resistant plate before, so I have a few questions about it (see below). If anyone could provide some answers or point me to another source for answers it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Tripp Howard


QUESTIONS:

1. Are there any special requirements for using fillet welds to attach A36 steel elements to AR225/400 plate? Are E70XX electrodes appropriate?

2. Can AR225/400 plate be rolled to a 13ft+/- radius? Also, can it be bent to form 120 degree angles? How about 90 degree angles?

3. Can ordinary (i.e. Hilti, etc.) powder actuated fasteners be used to attach thin gauge metal to AR225/400 plate?

4. Can self-tapping screw be used to attach to AR225/400 plate?

5. What size sheets is AR225/400 typically available in? 4ftx8ft?


Tripp Howard

 

[rustbuster1]

You would be advised to ask the suppliers for anwers.

Sources are

http://www.leecosteel.com,

http://www.fordsteel.com

and

http://www.centralsteel.com

They typically list plate sizes, indicate that there is a formable version of AR400 - probably formed before it is heattreated - and have comments about weldability.

Use of E7018 electrodes is common for these hardened materials because their low-hydrogen nature helps avoid base metal cracking. Preheating to at least 200F is always good practice to dry the base metals and to better manage residual stresses.
The "art" of welding is to design the joint for the expected loads. If these plates will simply be held in position, the weld size can be smaller than if the welds are load-bearing, etc. as I'm sure you realize.

These materials are hard but not very tough. Are you sure you're providing the correct properties for bullet protection?

 

[ssabuk]

Contact one of the following contacts for your enquiries.

SSAB Swedish Steel Inc.
4700 Grand Avenue
PITTSBURGH, PA 15225
Tel: +1 - 412 - 269 21 20
Fax: +1 - 412 - 269 21 24
E-mail: rnorden@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX CORPORATION
Corporate Office
4700 Grand Avenue
PITTSBURGH, PA 15225
Tel: +1 - 412 - 269 32 31
Fax: +1 - 412 - 269 32 51
E-mail: lbolen@ssabusa.com
cgasper@ssabusa.com
Ehappe@ssabusa.com
Lweichert@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX CORPORATION
Philadelphia Office
906 Ivy Lane
WYOMISSING, PA 19610
Tel: +1 - 800 - 783 - 83 21
Fax: +1 - 610 - 678 - 9755
E-mail: dujcich@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX Corporation
Indiana Office
18016 Forreston Oak Drive
Noblesville, IN 46060
Tel: +1 - 317 - 773 - 8090
Fax: +1 - 317 - 773 - 8099
E-mail: Jgoad@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX Corporation
6813 Valley View Drive
Downers Grove, IL 60516
Tel: +1 - 630 - 434 - 7740
Fax: +1 - 630 - 434 - 7750
E-mail: jspeta@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX Corporation
Tulsa Office
2705 West Quincy
Broken Arrow, OKLAHOMA 74012
Tel: +1 - 918 - 258 - 9212
Fax: +1 - 918 - 259 - 0612
E-mail: mmitrik@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX Corporation
Atlanta Office
113 Courtyard Terrace
Roswell, GA 30075
Tel: +1 - 888 - 283 - 3301
Fax: +1 - 770 - 645 - 9321
E-mail: twheeler@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX Corporation
Kansas Office
11300 W. 143rd Terrace
Overland Park, KS 66221
Tel: +1 - 913 - 851 - 0639
Fax: +1 - 913 - 851 - 0597
E-mail: trolofson@ssabusa.com

SSAB HARDOX Corporation
Minnesota Office
#002 6145 Chasewood Parkway
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Tel: +1 - 800 - 245 - 6649
Fax: +1 - 952 - 988 - 0889
E-mail: ckirby@ssabusa.com

These companies distribute abrasion resistant plate in the US and will be able to help you.

 

[Tripp]

Thanks for the help rustbuster1. I looked around those web sites and pretty much got all my questions answered. The welds that I'm specifying are very lightly loaded so I don't think I need to specify preheating. The sites seem to indicate that there are different grades of AR plate which are more formable than others and seem to be adequate for my project.

We've had tests performed on these plates with the ammo that will be used at the training facility to verify it's bullet protection capabilities. They should work just fine.

I quess I wasn't really thinking things through before in regards to using powder actuated fasteners and self-drilling screws. If it stops a 0.762mm high power rifle round, I don't think either of those fasteners would actually make a dent. The Hilti rep told me to warn him before hand if I tested powder actuated fasteners on the plates so he could run for cover