Failure investigation as a route to improving integrity of titanium alloys in service

Abstract

Increasing demands on titanium alloys in aerospace applications have driven a push towards deeper understanding of their behaviour in service. This extends from component performance during planned operation to damage mechanisms and how parts may ultimately fail. Investigation of damage and failure requires a comprehensive framework of techniques in order to identify a root cause, and further the understanding of failure mechanisms. It is crucial to defining and improving component lifetimes via a design optimisation feedback loop. This paper presents an overview of the techniques used in state-of-the-art industrial titanium alloy failure investigation, highlighting the inherent reciprocal links to frontline research and the need for constant innovation.