Dynamic deformation and damage in cast γ-TiAl during Taylor cylinder impact:: Experiments and model validation

The dynamic deformation, damage evolution, and cracking in four cast gamma titanium aluminide alloys have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. In this study, the dynamic compressive constitutive properties of several cast TiAl alloys were measured at quasi-static and dynamic rates. Using the measured high-strain-rate constitutive properties, the deformation, damage evolution, and postmortem specimen geometries observed in Taylor cylinder experiments were predicted using the mechanical threshold stress (MTS) constitutive model. The utility of the Taylor impact test for validation of high-rate constitutive models for intermetallics is discussed.