Role of phase transformation in chip segmentation during high speed machining of dual phase titanium alloys

Abstract

Chip segmentation during machining of titanium alloys is primarily due to adiabatic shear localization associated with thermally driven α–β phase transformation at extremely high speeds. Current constitutive material models used in simulating the machining process ignore the role of phase transformation in shear localization and its influence on the material associated dynamic response. This research presents a new phase approach to chip segmentation that includes a recently developed constitutive material model based on the self-consistent method (SCM) that accounts for material composition, as well as α–β phase transformation, during machining. This SCM-based model is implemented in the finite element framework to validate and predict the effects of starting material property, cutting speeds, uncut chip thicknesses, rake angles, tool radius, and friction coefficients on the strains, temperatures and β volume fractions in chip segmentation. It confirms that cutting speed and uncut chip thickness have great impact, rake angle has less effect, tool radius and friction coefficient have the least effects on chip segmentation. However, tool geometry as well as machining parameters have great influence on the machined surface in terms of temperature magnitude, affected depth and the associated α–β phase transformation.