Use of Brazilian Disk Test to Determine Properties of Metallic-Intermetallic Laminate Composites

Metallic-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites based on Ti-Al(3)Ti offer a unique combination of structural and ballistic/blast performance capabilities for many defense related platforms. In this study, the Brazilian splitting test was employed, under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions, using disk specimens cut from the laminate plates in orientations perpendicular (in-plane) and parallel (through-thickness) to the layers. Tests were conducted to evaluate the overall tensile mechanical properties of the Ti-Al(3)Ti MIL composite, both to determine in-plane tensile properties, as well as the more challenging through-thickness tensile properties. Experimental results indicate that when loaded parallel to the layers, the tensile strength to the through-thickness orientation, determined by Brazilian splitting test, is low, which is not surprising since it is only evaluating the tensile behavior of the brittle intermetallic phase. When loaded perpendicular to the layers, the in-plane tensile strength of the Ti-Al(3)Ti MIL composites is high due to the contribution of the reinforcement Ti plus the intermetallic component.