Stress dependence of the acoustic properties of Zr-2.5 wt% Nb alloy

Abstract

This paper describes experiments in which stress induced acoustic emission (AE) has been correlated with ultrasonic imaging and shear wave birefringence measurements in Zr-2.5 wt% Nb metallic alloys. An indirect tensile test configuration was used to test the material under diametric loading. The presence of zirconium hydrides within the ZrNb alloys is shown to affect the AE behaviour. Concurrent measurements using ultrasonic tomographic imaging and shear wave birefringence were also performed, and the results compared with the AE data.