Nonuniformity of Fatigue Properties of Two-Sided Electron Beam Welded Joint of Superthick Titanium Alloy

Abstract

The TC4 titanium (Ti) alloy has been widely utilized in various industries such as aerospace and shipbuilding, owing to its numerous advantages. Its exceptional properties have made it a material of choice for applications requiring high performance and reliability. The total weld thickness was 140 mm, and microstructures and high-cycle fatigue properties were investigated at three different layers within the 140-mm section. Experimental results show that the overlap area at two weld roots has the highest microhardness and largest nonuniformity of the overall joints, so the area is found to have the poorest high-cycle fatigue properties. The microstructures in every layer of the weld metal of the joints were analyzed to determine the causes of the poor fatigue properties in the overlapping area at the weld roots. Significant amounts of α′ acicular microstructure are present in the weld metal of joints, while the overlap area at weld roots contains more α′ acicular microstructure with a finer size. Compared with other layers, the weld metal and base metal in Layer 2 (overlap area) have the largest microhardness gradient, where the stress concentration is more serious in the fatigue experimental process. Heat dissipation conditions was a critical factor for the inhomogeneity of microstructure and mechanical properties along the thickness direction of 140-mm double-sided electron beam welding joint. Fatigue damage (micropore) is formed at β phases in priority, and fatigue cracks propagate via series connection of micropores, indicative of transgranular ductile cracks.