Anisotropy of Gum Metal analysed by ultrasonic measurement and digital image correlation

The mechanical anisotropy of a multifunctional titanium alloy, Gum Metal, is investigated in this paper. The structural characterisation showed a strong texture for Gum Metal, that is a result of the cold-swaging process applied during its manufacture. Gum Metal was treated as a transversally isotropic solid because of this texture. A significant difference from Young’s moduli of the alloy was detected from the ultrasonic measurement of parallel and perpendicular directions to the alloy swaging direction. Samples of Gum Metal cubes were compressed in two different orientations. During the deformation process, two perpendicular walls of each sample were monitored by two visible range cameras for further two-dimensional digital image correlation analysis, this confirmed a strong plastic anisotropy in Gum Metal.