Deformation heating and flow localization in Ti-15-3 metastable β titanium alloy subjected to high Z deformation

Flow softening in Ti-15-3 metastable β titanium alloy under conditions of high Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z) deformation was investigated. Thermal softening due to deformation heating was determined. The occurrence of flow localization was predicted by means of the flow localization parameter and instability criteria based on dynamic materials model. It was found that deformation heating resulted in significant flow softening on the flow curves at high Z. In addition, the predictions based on both the flow localization parameter and instability criteria demonstrated relatively good agreement with microstructural observation.