Neutron diffraction strain tomography: Demonstration and proof-of-concept

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Neutron Scattering
• Crystallography

Background:

• Residual strain tomography is typically performed using Bragg-edge neutron transmission.
• Existing methods have limitations in certain applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of residual strain tomography using neutron diffraction instruments.
• To develop and validate a new reconstruction algorithm for this purpose.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel reconstruction algorithm for strain tomography.
• Demonstration of the technique through simulations.
• Proof-of-concept experimental validation using an axisymmetric sample.

Main Results:

• Successful reconstruction of the strain field in an axisymmetric sample.
• Validation of the reconstructed strain field against conventional diffraction scans.
• Demonstrated potential for strain tomography with diffraction instruments.

Conclusions:

• Residual strain tomography is achievable using neutron diffraction instruments.
• The developed method provides a viable alternative for strain analysis.
• This technique expands the toolkit for non-destructive material characterization.