Plastic flow instability and multiple necking of Ti-6Al-4V during superplastic flow

Stress-strain curves obtained at constant crosshead velocity tensile tests of Ti--6Al--4V sheets at different temperatures show different behavior. The flow stress does not decrease continuously, suggesting that necking occurs at various locations along the gauge length. Metallography showed regions of small, diffused necks. It is suggested that the superplasticity is related to the resistance to neck growth rather than the resistance to neck formation, and that neck formation/growth is controlled by the mutual action of strain hardening and strain rate sensitivity