TiN/Zr/ZrN　multilayer　architectures　with　different　period　and　number　of　cycles　are　designed　and　deposited　on　TC11　titanium　alloys　by　vacuum　cathodic　arc　ion　plating　method.　Their　mechanical,　adhesive,　and　erosive　properties　are　investigated.　For　the　designed　architectures　with　specific　thickness,　their　hardness　and　critical　load　depended　on　the　period　of　coatings,　but　are　not　sensitive　to　the　number　of　cycles.　The　erosion　wear　resistance　of　TC11　substrate　can　be　effectively　improved　by　increasing　the　period　of　coating　up　to　24.　The　failure　mechanism　of　bare　TC11　titanium　alloys　are　dominated　by　plastic　deformation　via　cutting　and　plowing,　while　chipping　and　delamination　probably　dominate　the　failure　mechanism　of　coated　samples.　Crack　deflection　and　crack　branching　are　also　observed　in　eroded　samples.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.