AR225 & AR400 Abrasion Resistant Steel Plate 1

[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

 

[MikeMilburn]

Hi Tripp,
I just drew up a spreader/dump body and ran into a few problems specing AR400 plate when it came time to actually have it fabricated.
1: E70xx electrodes are fine, as is GMAW (mig)under 2" tickness no preheat is necessary under no restraint conditions, under high restraint 165 deg. preheat is recommended
2: a: Not knowing for sure I would say a 13' radius is possible, again this is a guess looking at the performance of the plate in other situations.
b: Against what the specs said for the plate, any bend past 30 deg would show signs of cracking, past 45 deg fractures would definetly occur, after that, forget it, you're looking at shrapnel.
3: A guess, no, to be sure check with Hilti, if you decide to try it yourself, let me know so I can duck
4: After drilling holes in the plate for attachment of cheaterboards I think you'd be in for a battle. Granted the holes I was drilling were 1/2" dia but they drilled hard.
5:Usually any size normally available in regular plate as far as I know, check on delivery dates though.
Another thing to watch out for is cutting, shearing is next to impossable, especially if the company cares about their gear. The sounds coming out of the shears was cruel.

 

[evelrod]

Fabricating with AR400 and AR plate in general was difficult in the old days. Carbon arc works, but is time consuming, messy and, requires excessive clean up. Oxy-Acetelene is next to impossible. With the advent of inexpensive plasma cutters the job has become much easier. Nice clean cuts, no clean up if the work is done by a competent journeyman. Just about any of the low hydrogen fluxed rods are usable along with some of the nickle alloy and stainless rods. Normal hardface tecniques work well, too.



Rod