Effect of shock-induced martensite transformation on the postshock mechanical response of metastable β titanium alloys

•The shock-induced martensite transformation seriously worsens the ductility of the preshocked metastable β titanium alloy.•Deformation mechanism of β phase converts from formation of SIM into slip during shock loading as the molybdenum equivalent increases.•The shock Hugoniot of a metastable β titanium alloy Ti–10Mo–8V–1Fe–3.5Al is first reported.

Two metastable β titanium alloys, Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al (Alloy 1) and Ti–10Mo–8V–1Fe–3.5Al (Alloy 2), were subjected to one-dimensional shock loading and reloaded under a strain rate of 10−3 s−1 and about 3 × 103 s−1, respectively. The results show that the shock-induced β-to-α″martensite phase transformation dramatically influences the postshock mechanical properties of these alloys. The residual acicular martensite phases seriously worsen the ductility of the preshocked alloy, although they strengthen the material to some extent. Considering the severe deterioration in ductility of the postshocked alloy, this martensite transformation should be controlled in metastable β titanium alloys used as structural materials that need to withstand repeated shock loads. The shock Hugoniot for Alloy 2 was also determined in terms of shock wave velocity, particle velocity, and stress.