Electron backscatter diffraction of a pre- and post-deformation Ti-6Al-4V Taylor impact specimen

Abstract

Titanium alloys have seen wide spread, and ever increasing, use in the aerospace industry, due to a high specific strength and good resistance to corrosion. However, current understanding of the deformation mechanisms of Titanium alloys under complex high strain rate loading is limited. In order to improve understanding in this area, post-deformation microstructural analyses of Titanium alloys loaded under well controlled, but complex, high strain rate loading conditions, such as the Taylor impact test, are required. This paper presents the initial results of a program of Taylor impact experiments carried out on heavily textured Ti-6Al-4V plate. An optical measurement technique was used to provide data on the anisotropic deformation of the specimen, providing a full strain path history along the axial length of the specimen. Electron backscatter diffraction analysis was performed on the pre and post-deformation specimen with comparisons made between the deformed and undeformed microstructures.