Numerical and experimental investigation on aluminum 6061-V-grooved stainless steel 304 explosive cladding

This study attempts to analyze the microstructure and interface behavior of aluminum 6061 (Al 6061)-V-grooved stainless steel (SS304) explosive cladding by numerical and experimental methods. Numerical simulation was performed by Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) technique, in ANSYS AUTODYN, and the results are correlated with experimental outcome. The machining of V-grooves on the base plate transform the melted layer formed in conventional cladding (without grooves on the base plate) into a smooth undulating interface, for a similar experimental condition. The flyer plate and collision velocities, observed in numerical simulation, are in good agreement to the analytical expectations. The pressure developed in the flyer plate is higher than the base plate and the maximum pressure is witnessed at the collision point irrespective of grooved base plate or otherwise. The temperature developed in the collision point of conventional explosive cladding exceeds the melting point of both the participant metals, whereas, it exceeds the melting point of aluminum alone, in case of V-grooved base plate cladding. The shear and impact strengths of the V-grooved base plate clads are higher than the conventional clads and the fracture surfaces exhibit mixed modes of fracture.