Effects of Loading Frequency and Specimen Geometry on High Cycle and Very High Cycle Fatigue Life of a High Strength Titanium Alloy

Titanium alloys have been widely used in the structural parts of deep-sea equipment and aviation industries. In this paper, the effects of loading frequency and specimen geometry on the high cycle and very high cycle fatigue life of the high strength titanium alloy Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-3Mo-X is investigated by conventional fatigue test and ultrasonic frequency fatigue test. The results indicate that ultrasonic frequency could enhance the fatigue life of the highstrength titanium alloy compared with that under conventional frequency, and the frequency effect is related to the stress amplitude. This phenomenon is explained by the heat generation in specimens and heat dissipation, in combination with the high strain rate leading to the higher yield strength in the ultrasonic fatigue test. Moreover, it is indicated that the effect of specimen geometry on the fatigue life of the highstrength titanium alloy could be evaluated from the view of control volume.