Optimized low-cycle fatigue behavior and fracture characteristics of Ti–6Al–4V alloy by Fe microalloying

Abstract In the present work, low cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior and fracture characteristic of Ti-6Al-4V-0.55Fe alloy with bimodal microstructure, consisted of equiaxed primary α (αp), lamellar α (αl) and β matrix, are systematically investigated at room temperature. Results indicate that Ti-6Al-4V-0.55Fe alloy mainly exhibits a continuous softening behavior both at high and low strain amplitudes, due to the interaction of back stress(σb) and friction stress(σf) mainly related to the plastic deformation heterogeneity and precipitates shearing, respectively. Compared with Ti-6Al-4V alloy, LCF life of Ti-6Al-4V-0.55Fe is similar at high strain amplitudes (Δet/2 >1.0%), while much higher at low strain amplitudes (Δet/2