Geometrically necessary dislocation density distributions in cyclically deformed Ti–6Al–4V Original Research Article

Cross-correlation-based electron backscattering diffraction analysis has been used to map lattice rotations in Ti–6Al–4V polycrystals deformed by load-controlled fatigue and dwell fatigue including a hold at maximum load. The lattice curvatures were used to form lower bound estimates of the geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) density distributions. In all cases the density of 〈a〉-type GNDs was much higher than for 〈c + a〉-type GNDs. As for tensile deformation the GND density histograms were significantly skewed toward the high density side. Observations of interrupted fatigue tests suggested that the density of 〈a〉-type GNDs decreases during continued cyclic loading, presumably due to the formation of tightly bound dipoles and multipole structures. As has been proposed in models of facet fatigue formation, an example is presented of the accumulation, within a soft grain, of GNDs in a diffuse pile-up against a grain boundary with a hard grain.