Influence of microstructures on fatigue damage mechanisms in Ti-15-3 alloy

In this study, the fatigue behavior of Ti-15-3 alloy thin plate specimens with two different microstructures was determined. Two kinds of specimens were prepared with different heat treatments: solution treatment (S) and solution treatment followed by aging (S+A). The effects of the microstructures on the fatigue properties and fatigue crack growth behavior were significant in both specimens. The fatigue crack in both specimens propagated in transgranular mode. In the specimen S+A, crack propagation has occurred on non-crystallographic and was closely connected with the configuration of the α-phase platelet, which was caused by the heat treatment. The damage was characterized by dislocation debris clustering ahead of the crack tip.