Method and apparatus for forming multi-layered metallic armor

A method of forming a multi-layered metallic part, comprising:

• forming a plurality of ductile layers made of a metallic material having a first ductility;
• forming at least one high-strength powder layer made of a powdered metallic material having a second ductility higher than the first ductility;
• assembling the plurality of ductile layers and the at least one high-strength powder layer in an alternating and stacked formation to form a multi-layered metallic assembly;
• and
• oscillating a crystallographic phase of the powdered metallic material of the at least one high-strength powder layer between a first crystallographic phase and a second crystallographic phase, while the at least one high-strength powder layer is alternatingly stacked with the plurality of ductile layers to form the multi-layered metallic assembly, to consolidate the at least one high-strength powder layer by repeatedly changing the crystallographic phase of the powdered metallic material from the first crystallographic phase to the second crystallographic phase and from the second crystallographic phase to the first crystallographic phase by either repeatedly raising and lowering a temperature of the at least one high-strength powder layer or repeatedly raising and lowering a phase transformation temperature of the at least one high-strength powder layer.