The dynamic mechanical properties of the TC4 titanium alloy were investigated within a temperature range of − 40 °C to 20 °C and strain rates that range from 500 s⁻¹ to 3000 s⁻¹. Based on the obtained experimental data, modifications were made to the Johnson–Cook (J–C) constitutive model, tailored explicitly for low temperatures. This modified model was further developed within the ABAQUS software. Findings reveal a distinct behavior of the TC4 titanium alloy: under low-temperature conditions, its stress initially rises and subsequently decreases with increasing strain. Moreover, the yield stress of the alloy demonstrates an upward trend as temperature decreases. Strain rate sensitivity is observed in the TC4 titanium alloy, particularly concerning maximum stress, maximum strain, and yield strength ratio at low temperatures. Notably, the temperature range of 0 °C to − 10 °C proves to be the most conducive for processing the alloy. The adapted J–C model exhibits enhanced accuracy when fitting data associated with low temperatures. Bullet penetration simulations underscore the alloy's pronounced hardening effect and improved resistance to deformation at lower temperatures.