The Application of Neutron Diffraction Techniques (NDT) in Measuring Residual Strain-Stresses of Engineering Materials

Abstract

In order to quantitatively understand the residual strain distributions and benefits of engineering components following special technique treatment, such as Autofrettaging, Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) and Dissimilar Material Welding (DMW), the Neutron Diffraction Technique (NDT) has been employed recently to measure residual strain and stress distributions on following three cases of (a) Autofrettaged Aluminum 7075 high pressure vessels; (b) Hot Isostatic Pressed (HIPPED) heavy metals of tungsten clad in tantalum plate and (c) Dissimilar Material Welding (DMW) of 316L austenitic stainless steel and ferritic steel AS508 with Alloy 52 weld filler. This paper reports the recent research findings, including (a) NDT can identify optimal Autofrettage pressure level, by which load bearing capacity of the Autofrettaged pressure vessel increased by 215MPa; (b) NDT is able to reveal residual strains within heavy metals of Tungsten clad in Tantalum plate HIPPED and (c) NDT revealed a maximum residual tensile hoop stress value of about 494MPa in the interface between parent material SA508 and the weld seam. This is vital information for the post weld process and subsequent safe use of the dissimilar materials weld. Other researchers’ successful examples of working with NDT are also briefly reviewed. Future prospective of Engineering Materials Diffractometer (EMD) at CSNS is described too with a view to demonstrating the application and importance of NDT in revealing residual strain-stresses that are inevitable within engineering materials and engineering components following any manufacturing process.