Investigation of the Thermomechanical Coupling Strength in Titanium Alloys

Modeling of the coupling between the mechanical and thermal fields is extremely important in the computational analysis of dynamic deformation processes. Fundamental physical quantity that governs this coupling is the fraction of plastic work converted into heat, i.e., beta factor. The present study describes an experimental procedure in which classical split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique is integrated with a high-speed IR detector-optics system that enables the direct measurement of beta factor through high-strain-rate adiabatic experiments. Preliminary results for titanium alloys are reported and discussed.