Anisotropy in tensile properties of a high strength metastable β titanium alloy

High strength metastable β titanium alloys are widely employed in the aircraft industry due to their outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. While components can endure complex in-service mechanical loading, the anisotropy in tensile properties has been the subject of limited attention. In this study, its origin was investigated focusing on the role played by millimeter scale β grains as they were recently identified as a source of heterogeneous deformation. Tensile properties of Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al processed via different thermomechanical routes were assessed using multiple sampling directions. In particular, elongation values were observed to vary significantly depending on the testing direction. A combination of SEM, EBSD, µ-CT and in-situ DIC during tensile tests was employed to clarify the underlying causes of this behavior. Substantial differences in strain heterogeneity and localization were found related to features of β grains, including their crystallographic and morphologic orientations. Furthermore, multiple fracture mechanisms were observed to derive from the differences in deformation behavior, and eventually compete to trigger specimen failure. Elongation values are then determined by both the degree of strain heterogeneity and the operating fracture mechanisms. These findings provide a new understanding of the role of the microstructure in the tensile behavior of high strength metastable β titanium alloys.