Prediction and Experimental Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of SiC-Reinforced Ti-4.25Al-2V Matrix Composites Produced by Laser Direct Energy Deposition

Abstract

An important direction in the development of additive technologies is associated with the addition of ceramic particles (oxide, carbide, boride, and nitride ceramics) to metal powders. The prediction of the physical and mechanical characteristics of SiC-particle-reinforced composite materials (PRCMs) in comparison with experimental results was studied. A near-α Ti-4.25Al-2V titanium-alloy-based composite reinforced by 1 vol.% of SiC ceramic particles was produced using laser direct energy deposition. A multiscale modeling approach at the micro and macro levels was applied. At the micro level, the toughness and strength characteristics for a temperature interval of T = 20–450 °C were predicted using a representative volume element of PRCM with the nearly real shape of SiC particles. At the macro level, the features of plastic deformation and fracture of the PRCM were predicted by numerical modeling using the commercial software Digimat Student Edition ver. 2022.4 and Ansys Student 2023 R2. The addition of SiC particles was found to improve the physical and mechanical properties in the whole temperature range. The results of the numerical modeling were consistent with the experimental data (the deviation did not exceed 10%). The proposed approach for predicting the physical and mechanical properties of Ti-4.25Al-2V/SiC can also be used for other PRCMs obtained by laser direct energy deposition.