Thermomechanical processing of alpha-beta titanium alloys

A method of refining alpha-phase grain size in an alpha-beta titanium alloy workpiece, the method comprising:

• forging an alpha-beta titanium alloy at a first forging temperature within a first forging temperature range,
• wherein forging the alpha-beta titanium alloy at the first forging temperature comprises at least one pass of both upset forging and draw forging, and
• wherein the first forging temperature range spans 300° F. below the beta transus up to a temperature 30° F. below a beta transus temperature of the alpha-beta titanium alloy;
• slow cooling the alpha-beta titanium alloy from the first forging temperature;
• forging the alpha-beta titanium alloy at a second forging temperature within a second forging temperature range,
• wherein forging the alpha-beta titanium alloy at the second forging temperature comprises at least one pass of both upset forging and draw forging,
• wherein the second forging temperature range comprises a temperature range spanning 600° F. to 350° F. below the beta transus, and
• wherein the second forging temperature is lower than the first forging temperature;
• and
• forging the alpha-beta titanium alloy at a third forging temperature within a third forging temperature range,
• wherein forging the alpha-beta titanium alloy at the third forging temperature comprises radial forging,
• wherein the third forging temperature range is 1000° F. to 1400° F., and
• wherein the third forging temperature is lower than the second forging temperature.