TiAl Sheet Development for Axisymmetric Hypersonic Structures

Gamma Titanium aluminide sheet structure technologies are focused on in this effort, including experiments to evaluate laser beam welding of thin sheet structure; superplastic forming and diffusion bonding of thin sheet structure; and, demonstration of fabricability of a hot-formed "egg crate" type core with brazed top and bottom face sheets. The fabricated subelement is known as "gator hide" and has the potential to replace more conventional honeycomb structure. All three area demonstrations were successful.