Nondestructive evaluation of boron-carbide-coated, boron-fiber-reinforced titanium

Boron carbide coated boron fiber reinforced Ti 6Al-4V metal matrix material was characterized in the as-received condition using a number of nondestructive inspection (NDI) techniques: ultrasonic C-scanning, X-ray radiography, eddy current, and vibrothermography. Subsequent to this the material was machined into coupon type tensile specimens. During quasi-static tension of the specimens at constant rates of loading, acoustic emission (AE) and ultrasonic attenuation were monitored. Retrospective analysis of the initial NDI results in the vicinity of the final failure site did not support any contention regarding initially existing imperfections. Post test metallography, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and extensive analysis of the continuously monitored AE results provided insight into the microscopic deformation mechanisms active in this material the ultrasonic attenuation results were found to be complementary