Application of Ausforming Techniques to Track Shoes

Sections approximately the size and shape of the load bearing portions of a standard track shoe for military track laying vehicles have been produced by an ausforging process. These sections were ausforged from H-11 consumable vacuum melt, H-11 conventional melt, and SAE 4340 conventional melt steel. Tensile strength ranged to 330,000 psi. Reduction of area ranged to 40%. Limited fatigue testing indicated a considerable increase in fatigue life over SAE 4340 steel. This paper covers the development program undertaken in preparation for the ausforging of complete track shoes.