Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
High temperature compression tests have been performed on a Ti-44a/o Al-3a/o V-7.5v/o TiB2XD composite over the temperature range 1000 to 1300°C and the strain rate range 10-3 to 10s-1. The workability of this material for metalforming processes was determined using both dynamic material modeling and workability testing approaches to cover both internal and surface cracking. At higher temperatures and strain rates internal fracture occurred in the material, while at lower temperatures and higher strain rates surface cracks occurred. Use of lower temperatures and strain rates inhibited internal instabilities and surface cracking in the composite. A finite element model (FEM) was developed to describe the stress and strain states during the deformation process. Mechanical flow behavior obtained from the compression tests was used as input to the model. A fracture criterion developed from Kuhn's surface crack equation was coupled with the FEM model to predict bulk formability in a forging process.