Characterization of fracture and deformation mechanism in a high strength beta titanium alloy Ti-10-2-3 using EBSD technique

In the present study, fracture toughness tested specimens in longitudinal (LT) and transverse loading (TL) directions of beta titanium alloy have been investigated using Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) technique. The orientation images captured at three different locations i.e. machine notch, fatigue pre-crack and final fracture have been compared. The LT sample exhibits with more facets than TL sample. The faceted aspect of the crack is generally associated with quasi-cleavage mechanism. The EBSD analysis clearly points out that in the LT specimen, the hexagonal orientation has moved towards near basal during the test. This may be the reason for the observance of facets in the LT specimen. The cracking in TL specimen might have been taken over by the bcc phase as it is oriented with harder planes of cubic {001} planes. Further, the Schmid factor has also been computed based on the defined loading conditions. Significant variation has been observed in the slip plane orientations and distributions at these three locations. The Schmid analysis has highlighted the significant contribution of different slip systems towards deformation and cracking in LT and TL specimens.