Strain Analysis of Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy Samples Using Digital Image Correlation

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a non-contact optical method that allows measuring displacements on a plane used to determine the strains caused by external loads of a structural element (mechanical or thermal). Currently, digital image correlation is a widely used experimental technique to assess the mechanical behavior of materials, in particular cracking characteristics and destruction methods of various structural elements. In this paper, the DIC method is applied to determine local strains of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V specimen. The samples used in the tests were made with two different technologies: (a) from a drawn bar by machining process; and (b) by the additive manufacturing method Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). The aim of the paper is to present the mechanical properties test results of the Ti6Al4V titanium alloy produced by the DMLS additive manufacturing under static loads using the digital image correlation method. As a result of the tests carried out on the drawn bar specimens, it was concluded that the change in the measurement base affects the difference in the Young’s E modulus value in the range from 89.2 to 103.8 GPa. However, for samples formed using the DMLS method, the change in the Young’s modulus value was from 112.9 to 115.3 GPa for the same measurement base.