Thermographic studies on IMI-834 titanium alloy during tensile loading

Abstract

To study the material deformation kinetics under monotonic loading conditions, infrared radiation thermography (IRT) has been used in the present investigation. Studies were performed on IMI-834 titanium alloy, which is used in the compressor module of an aeroengine. The compressor has variable states of stress triaxialities at different locations. The effect of stress triaxiality on material deformation was investigated with the use of smooth and axisymmetrically notched round tensile specimens of the alloy. Instantaneous surface temperatures were measured on specimens during tensile deformation through IRT technique. The notched specimen exhibited localized and higher rate of temperature evolution during loading. Using surface temperature evolution curves, thermoelastic and inelastic regions were identified for smooth and notched specimens. With the help of Lord Kelvin's equation, stresses were predicted for thermoelastic region. A good correlation was found between the predicted and experimental stresses for this region.