Erosion mechanism of low-alloy steel at simulated conditions for artillery firing environment.

This article focuses on investigating the thermo-mechanical erosion mechanisms affecting artillery barrel materials under simulated interior ballistic conditions. Using a specially designed erosion test rig, the study evaluated the erosion resistance of 30CrNi2MoVA low-alloy steel at temperatures of 600°C and 1000°C, replicating stress-temperature regimes close to actual firing environments. At 600°C, erosion involved adhesive and oxidative wear with the formation of an ultra-fined grain layer beneath a compact Fe3O4-rich oxide surface, while at 1000°C, complete austenitisation led to matrix softening and rapid formation of a thick, porous Fe2O3 oxide layer, causing severe deformation. The testing apparatus enabled efficient, low-cost assessment of barrel material erosion, providing detailed microstructural insights relevant to improving service life under extreme thermo-mechanical conditions.