Abstract
This investigation examined the role of microstructure and surface finish on the high cycle fatigue (HCF) performance of TIMETAL LCB (Ti-6.8Mo-4.5Fe-1.5Al). The as-received microstructure of LCB consisted of elongated β grains with a semicontinuous grain boundary α layer. In contrast, a fine equiaxed β + spheroidized α LCB microstructure was achieved by hot swaging and solution (recrystallization) anneal. The latter modification of the prior β grain structure, together with the size, morphology, and distribution of the primary α phase, resulted in a significant enhancement in the tensile and HCF properties. Furthermore, prestraining (PS), as would be expected during the fabrication of an automotive coil spring, and prior to aging for 30 min at temperatures between 500 and 550 °C, led to additional increases in tensile strength. In contrast, the HCF performance was always reduced when PS prior to aging was included in the overall processing procedure. Finally, shot-peening and roller-burnishing both resulted in an increased fatigue life in the finite life regimen; however, significant reductions in the 107 cycle fatigue strengths were observed when these procedures were used. These observations have been explained by including the effect of process-induced residual tensile stresses in the fatigue analysis, resulting in subsurface fatigue crack nucleation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. Sherman and S. Seagle, Torsional Properties and Performance of Beta Titanium Alloy Automotive Suspension Springs,Beta Titanium Alloys in the 1980’s, R.R. Boyer and H. Rosenberg, Ed., The Materials Society, 1984, p 281–293
P.J. Bania, Beta Titanium Alloys and Their Role in the Titanium Industry,Beta Titanium Alloys in the 1990’s, D. Eylon, R.R. Boyer, and D.A. Koss, Ed., The Materials Society, 1993, p 3–14
C. Sommer and D. Peacock, Mass Production Methods for Titanium Automotive Components,Titanium ’95, P.A. Blenkinsop, W.J. Evans, and H.M. Flower, Ed., The University Press, Cambridge, 1996, p 1836–1843
P.G. Allen, P.J. Bania, A.J. Hutt, and Y. Combres, TIMETAL LCB: A Low Cost Beta Alloy for Automotive and Other Industrial Applications,Titanium ’95, P.A. Blenkinsop, W.J. Evans, and H.M. Flower, Ed., The University Press, Cambridge, 1996, p 1680–1687
O. Schauerte, Titanium in Automotive Production,Titanium and Titanium Alloys, C. Leyens and M. Peters, Ed., Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2003, p 467–482
D. Kalish and H.J. Rack, The Structure and Properties of Thermomechanically Treated BETA-III Titanium,Metall. Trans., Vol 3, 1972, p 1885–1892
A. Boettcher, Diploma thesis, Clausthal University of Technology, 2005
H. Kockelmann, Mechanical Methods of Determining Residual Stresses, Residual Stress Measurement, Calculation, Evaluation, V. Henk, H. Hougardy, and E. Macherauch, Ed., DGM Inform. Oberusel, 1990, p 37–52
H.J. Rack and T. Headley, Phase Transformations in Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Zr-4Mo,Metall. Trans. A, Vol 10, 1979, p 909–920
S. Azimzadeh and H.J. Rack, Phase Transformations in Ti-6.8Mo-4.5Fe-1.5Al,Metall. Trans. A, Vol 29, 1998, p 2455–2467
J. Kiese, J. Zhang, O. Schauerte, and L. Wagner, Shot Peening to Enhance Fatigue Strength of TIMETAL LCB for Application as Suspension Springs,Shot Peening, L. Wagner, Ed., Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2003, p 380–385
M. Kocan, T. Ludian, M. Ishii, H.J. Rack, and L. Wagner, Optimization of Microstructure of TIMETAL LCB for Application as Suspension Springs,LiMAT-2003, W.E. Frazier, Y.D. Han, N.J. Kim, and E.W. Lee, Ed., Center for Advanced Aerospace Materials, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 2004, p 417–424
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kocan, M., Wagner, L. & Rack, H.J. Fatigue performance of metastable β titanium alloys: Effects of microstructure and surface finish. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 14, 765–772 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1361/105994905X75583
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1361/105994905X75583