Experimental and numerical investigation on deformation and formability behavior of laminated metal composites

In this study, the microstructure, and mechanical properties as well as the formability and deformation behavior of Ti-Al laminated metal composite plates (LMCs) produced by sequential consolidation of Ti and Al metal foils (127 µm) via ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) and metal intermetallic laminates (MILs) obtained by heat treatment of these plates under compressive stress have been extensively investigated. The mechanical properties such as yield strength, tensile strength, and ductility of Ti-Al LMC plates were obtained as the average of the properties of Ti and Al alloys due to their composite nature. While the mechanical properties of Al are independent of the strain rate, the Ti layers are the reason for the strain rate dependence of the mechanical properties for Ti-Al LMCs. Although the total elongation increased with increasing temperature, the formability of Ti decreased with increasing forming temperature. Therefore, the presence of Ti layers limits the formability of Ti-AL LMCs despite the Al presence and increasing forming temperature. As a result of the heat treatment under pressure, the TiAl3 intermetallic phase was obtained between the layers of Ti-Al LMC. The hardness value of this phase was independent of the heat treatment temperature and duration. However, the thickness of the TiAl3 phase between the Ti and Al layers increased with the effect of the applied temperature and duration. Due to its brittle nature, a decrease in flexural and impact resistance is observed. This phenomenon also resulted in lower puncture resistance for MIL plates when compared to TMK ones. Finite element modelling of Ti-Al LMCs was also carried out. In addition, Johnson-Cook structural material model coefficients were determined to be used in numerical studies.