The Mechanical Behaviour of Ultra Fine Grained Titanium Alloys at High Strain Rates

Abstract

Within this study the mechanical behaviour of ultra-fine grained Ti-6-22-22S titanium alloy was investigated and compared to coarse grained material. By severe plastic deformation using the cyclic channel die compression process, grain sizes between 300 and 500 nm were obtained. The mechanical behaviour was studied over a wide range of strain rates from 10^(-3) - 107 s^(-1) under compressive loading using different experimental techniques. A significant increase of flow stress with decreasing grain size compared to the coarse grain state was found. An evaluation of the strain hardening behaviour of the UFG material shows a significant increase of the strain hardening coefficient at high strain rates for low plastic deformation. The strain rate sensitivity of the material is found to be constant within a range of strain rates from 10^(-3) to 106 s^(-1) but increases at higher plastic strains. However, compressive deformability is nearly constant up to 102 s-1 and decreased disproportionately at higher rates of strain. With decreasing grain size a significant decrease of compressive deformability was found. The strength at failure is increased with increasing strain rate.