Shock-induced mechanical response and spall fracture behavior of an extra-low interstitial grade Ti–6Al–4V alloy

The mechanical response and spall fracture behavior of an extra-low interstitial (ELI) grade Ti–6Al–4V alloy are systemically investigated during one-dimensional shock loading. The effects of oxygen content on the shock response and dynamic failure characteristic of Ti–6Al–4V are also shown through the comparison of the obtained results with those for commercial Ti–6Al–4V. The measured Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL) of Ti–6Al–4V ELI is lower than that of commercial Ti–6Al–4V. While the fitted shock parameters and the measured Hugoniot in the stress-particle velocity space of Ti–6Al–4V ELI are found to be almost identical to those of commercial Ti–6Al–4V. These results indicate that the oxygen content can significantly affect the HEL of Ti–6Al–4V, but has little or no influence on the shock response of this alloy beyond the HEL. The postshock Ti–6Al–4V ELI does not display shock-induced strengthening during quasistatic and dynamic compression tests. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses reveal that the lack of high density dislocations or dislocation cells limits the shock-induced strengthening effect, although dislocation multiplication and tangles lead to increased yield strength and strain hardening rate of the reloaded material. Finally, Ti–6Al–4V ELI is demonstrated to spall in a ductile manner, and has similar spall strengths to those of commercial Ti–6Al–4V under different shock loading conditions. The oxygen content exerts no effect on the spall fracture manner of Ti–6Al–4V, although reducing the oxygen content enables this alloy to endure more micro-damages.