Diffraction Strain Research Articles

90° ferroelectric domain switching effect on interfacial strain mediated magnetoelectric coupling

The phenomena associated with strain-mediated multiferroic behavior have been quantitatively studied by combining synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD), ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and macroscopic strain measurements (digital image correlation) in a magnetoelectric composite (Ni film on PZT substrate). The ferroelectric and piezoelectric strains have been studied by analyzing the evolution of x-ray patterns (peak intensities and shifts), while the magnetic response is studied by FMR (energy shift of the resonance), during in situ application of electrical voltage. Being given the intrinsic selective phase nature of XRD, the lattice strains have also been measured in the Ni film and have been found to be comparable to the macroscopic one (full transmission from the PZT substrate). The PZT strain has been successfully separated into two contributions, i.e. ferroelectric and lattice strains, the first one being five times higher than the second one. Moreover the last is itself composed of two sub-contributions: pure piezoelectric effect and ferroelectric strain in surrounding grains (strain transfer at grain boundaries). Finally, through in situ FMR measurements, we showed that the ferroelectric contribution to the strain-mediated magnetoelectric response is ten times higher than the pure piezoelectric one.

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

Recently, a number of reconstruction algorithms have been presented for residual strain tomography from Bragg-edge neutron transmission measurements. In this paper, we examine whether strain tomography can also be achieved using diffraction instruments. We outline the proposed method and develop a suitable reconstruction algorithm. This technique is demonstrated in simulation, and a proof-of-concept experiment is carried out, where the strain field in an axisymmetric sample is reconstructed and validated using conventional diffraction strain scans.

Measuring Residual Strain and Stress in Thermal Spray Coatings Using Neutron Diffractometers

During thermal spray coating, residual strain (or stress) is formed within the coating and substrates due to many processes (quenching stress, peening effect, deposition temperature, lamella structure) and micro-structural phase changes. It is also known that the residual stress values of thermally sprayed coatings are dependent upon the measurement method. Neutron diffraction technique can provide a non-destructive through-thickness residual strain analysis in thermally sprayed components with a level of detail not normally achievable by other techniques. Despite this advantage, the number of studies involving neutron diffraction analysis in thermal spray coatings remain limited, partly due to the limited number of neutron diffraction strain measurement facilities globally, and partly due to the difficulty is applying neutron diffraction analysis to measure residual strain in the complex thermal spray coating micro-structure. This paper provides a comprehensive guide to researchers planning to use this technique for thermal spray coatings, and reviews some of these studies. ENGIN-X at the ISIS spallation source in the UK is a neutron diffractometer (time-of-flight) dedicated to materials science and engineering with high resolution and versatile capabilities. The focus is on the procedure of using ENGIN-X diffractometer for thermal spray coatings with a view that it can potentially be translated to other neutron diffractometers. Neutron sources worldwide (e.g. Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America) have been used to measure strains in various materials, and here, we present few examples where thermal spray coatings have been characterized at various neutron sources worldwide, to study the residual strains and micro-structures.

Determination of Crystallinity in Li1−xMgxMn2O4 Nanocrystals Based on Diffraction Patterns Correlation Analysis and Strain Mapping

Determination of Crystallinity in Li_1−xMg_xMn₂O₄ Nanocrystals Based on Diffraction Patterns Correlation Analysis and Strain Mapping

Grain Boundary Sliding and Slip Transmission in High Purity Aluminum

Despite its significance in polycrystalline materials, there have been few experimental investigations of the activity of grain boundary sliding (GBS) and the relationship between GBS and slip transmission at grain boundaries. The present work addresses this knowledge gap by the characterization of full-field strain and microstructural information in an experimental system of high-purity (99.99%) columnar aluminum subjected to uniaxial tension at 190 °C. High-resolution, full-gage strain fields were characterized on an unloaded specimen by distortion-corrected and stitched scanning electron microscope-enabled digital image correlation (SEM-DIC). Alignment between the lower-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and higher-resolution strain fields was significantly improved by clustering of strain data within an EBSD-defined boundary mantle. Grain boundary sliding was investigated at select boundaries, and it was determined that GBS magnitude profiles can have large gradients along a single boundary and vary significantly between boundaries. Using a geometric compatibility factor (m′) to quantify favorability of slip transmission, the two grain boundaries that exhibited the largest average GBS magnitude experienced contiguous slip on moderately well aligned slip systems, although the exact nature of this slip activity, whether transmission or nucleation, remains under investigation.

Four-Dimensional Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (4D-STEM): From Scanning Nanodiffraction to Ptychography and Beyond.

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is widely used for imaging, diffraction, and spectroscopy of materials down to atomic resolution. Recent advances in detector technology and computational methods have enabled many experiments that record a full image of the STEM probe for many probe positions, either in diffraction space or real space. In this paper, we review the use of these four-dimensional STEM experiments for virtual diffraction imaging, phase, orientation and strain mapping, measurements of medium-range order, thickness and tilt of samples, and phase contrast imaging methods, including differential phase contrast, ptychography, and others.

Magnetoelastic properties in polycrystalline Fe-Pd based ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

Two series of Mn substituted Fe-Pd ferromagnetic shape memory ribbons were studied by X-ray diffraction, calorimetric and thermo-induced strain measurements. Linking the structural, magnetic and thermal expansion analysis on pristine ribbons and those subjected to different subsequent thermal treatments, highlights the role of substitution and of heat treatment of the martensitic transformation (MT). The melt–spinning technique removes the precipitation of undesirable b.c.t. irreversible phase and the addition of Mn, as a third alloying element, promotes the stabilization of the f.c.t. martensite. The linear thermal expansion measurements with and without static magnetic field provide information on the easy magnetization axis in the martensitic structure. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity tests generally indicate no toxicity or a tendency towards cell proliferation induced by the tested materials.

Average and local strain fields in nanocrystals

This article presents a rigorous and self-consistent comparison of lattice distortion and deformation fields existing in energy-optimized pseudo-spherical gold nanoparticles obtained from real-space and powder diffraction strain analysis techniques. The changes in atomic positions resulting from energy optimization (relaxation) of ideally perfect gold nanoparticles were obtained using molecular dynamics modeling. The relaxed atomic coordinates were then used to compute the displacement, rotation and strain components in all unit cells within the energy-optimized (relaxed) particles. It was seen that all of these terms were distributed heterogeneously along the radial and tangential directions within the nanospheroids. The heterogeneity was largest in the first few atomic shells adjacent to the nanoparticle surface, where the continuity of crystal lattice vectors originating from the interior layers was broken because of local lattice rotations. These layers also exhibited maximum shear and normal strains. These (real-space) strain values were then compared with the average lattice strains obtained by refining the computed diffraction patterns of such particles. The results show that (i) relying solely on full-pattern refinement techniques for lattice strain analysis might lead to erroneous conclusions about the dimensionality and symmetry of deformation within relaxed nanoparticles; (ii) the lattice strains within such relaxed particles should be considered `eigenstrains' (`inherent strains') as defined by Mura [Micromechanics of Defects in Solids, (1991), 2nd ed., Springer]; and (iii) the stress/strain state within relaxed nanoparticles cannot be analyzed rigorously using the constitutive equations of linear elasticity.

Characterization of the Microstructure, Local Macro-Texture and Residual Stress Field of Commercially Pure Titanium Grade 2 Prepared by CONFORM ECAP

The paper investigated the residual strain and stress distribution, microstructure, and macro-texture along the transverse direction of commercially pure titanium grade 2 samples prepared by the CONFORM ECAP technique. This method belongs to the severe plastic deformation methods; hence, it could be assumed that residual stress fields would be present in the work-pieces. Residual stresses cannot be directly measured; thus, neutron diffraction measurements, Electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) investigations, and local X-ray macro-texture measurements were performed in different regions of the sample to determine the data for the residual stress calculation. The calculation was based on the modified Kröner model. Neutron diffraction strain scans and residual stress calculations revealed that symmetrical residual strain and stress gradients with compression character were present in the axial and hoop direction after one and two passes. Asymmetric distribution of the residual strains and stresses remained after the third pass of the CONFORM ECAP. EBSD investigations showed that after the first pass, significant grain refinement occurred; however, further passes did not cause any dramatic grain refinement. X-ray texture measurements revealed that local macro-texture was dependent on the number of passes of the CONFORM ECAP and on the investigated area in the samples.

Optical Diffraction Strain Sensor Prepared by Interference Lithography

Optical Diffraction Strain Sensor Prepared by Interference Lithography

Optical Diffraction Strain Sensor Prepared by Interference Lithography

Optical Diffraction Strain Sensor Prepared by Interference Lithography

Neutron diffraction and neutron imaging residual strain measurements on offshore wind monopole weldments

Residual stress measurement is of fundamental interest in order to estimate the service life of engineering components and structures subjected to various loading conditions operating in different environments. Destructive and non-destructive techniques are used for the evaluation of residual stresses. Neutron diffraction, as a non-destructive technique, is widely used to measure the elastic strain component of a specific atomic plane from which residual stresses can be calculated. Neutron imaging is an alternative technique which enables residual stresses to be measured through strain mapping of the area of interest. In this study, neutron diffraction measurements were performed in conjunction with neutron imaging to evaluate residual strains in a compact tension, C(T), specimen extracted from a welded plate made of S355 structural steel. Neutron diffraction and imaging are two complementary techniques which have been employed in this work by performing measurements on the Engin-X and newly developed IMAT instruments, respectively, at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Neutron diffraction residual strain measurements in all three directions were conducted within the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) of the weld area whereas longitudinal residual strains were measured using the neutron imaging technique. A comparison of the neutron diffraction and neutron imaging preliminary results has shown that neutron imaging can provide acceptable measure of residual strains compared to those of obtained from neutron diffraction. The results have been discussed in terms of the possible sources of error encountered in each measurement technique and the accuracy of each technique against the other.

In situ nanobeam electron diffraction strain mapping of planar slip in stainless steel

Nanobeam electron diffraction strain mapping has been used to measure the strain evolution in stainless steel under in situ deformation. As the amount of deformation increases, the leading dislocation of a planar slip band leaves behind a residual strain in the form of a small lattice expansion. Dislocation analysis confirmed that the dislocations involved were <011> type. While the characteristic residual strain of planar slip has often been observed, it has never before been directly measured. Our results provide a view into the dynamic mechanisms of planar slip, and showcase the possibilities of multidimensional in situ imaging.

Residual stress relief in the aluminium alloy 7075

ABSTRACTThe residual stresses in heat-treated 7075 aluminium alloy blocks have been characterised using two neutron diffraction strain scanning instruments. The influence of uniaxial cold compression on relieving the residual stress has been determined. Systematically increasing the magnitude of cold compression from 1 to 10% has been shown to have a small beneficial effect on the final residual stress distribution, by reducing the magnitude of the range in the triaxial residual stresses. The effect of an overaging precipitation treatment on the residual stress has also been characterised, and this was found to have a significant stress relieving influence (25–40%). A relationship between the width of the {311} diffraction peaks and the amount of cold compression was also observed.

In operando X-ray diffraction strain measurement in Ni3Sn2 – Coated inverse opal nanoscaffold anodes for Li-ion batteries

Volume changes associated with the (de)lithiation of a nanostructured Ni3Sn2 coated nickel inverse opal scaffold anode create mismatch stresses and strains between the Ni3Sn2 anode material and its mechanically supporting Ni scaffold. Using in operando synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements, elastic strains in the Ni scaffold are determined during cyclic (dis)charging of the Ni3Sn2 anode. These strains are characterized using both the center position of the Ni diffraction peaks, to quantify the average strain, and the peak breadth, which describes the distribution of strain in the measured volume. Upon lithiation (half-cell discharging) or delithiation (half-cell charging), compressive strains and peak breadth linearly increase or decrease, respectively, with charge. The evolution of the average strains and peak breadths suggests that some irreversible plastic deformation and/or delamination occurs during cycling, which can result in capacity fade in the anode. The strain behavior associated with cycling of the Ni3Sn2 anode is similar to that observed in recent studies on a Ni inverse-opal supported amorphous Si anode and demonstrates that the (de)lithiation-induced deformation and damage mechanisms are likely equivalent in both anodes, even though the magnitude of mismatch strain in the Ni3Sn2 is lower due to the lower (de)lithiation-induced contraction/expansion.

Residual Stress Relief in the Aluminium Alloy 7075

The residual stresses in heat treated 7075 aluminium alloy blocks have been characterised using two neutron diffraction strain scanning instruments. The influence of uniaxial cold compression (1-10%) on relieving the residual stress has been determined. Increasing the magnitude of cold compression from 1 to 10% has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the residual stress distribution by reducing the range between the maximum and minimum residual stresses. The effect of over aging 7075 on residual stress has also been characterised using neutron diffraction and this was found to reduce the residual stress by 25-40%. A relationship between {311} peaks widths and amount of cold compression was also observed.

Designing and Validating Parallel Wire Suspension Bridge Wire Strands for Neutron Diffraction Stress Mapping

Suspension-bridge cables are constructed from strands of galvanized steel wire. They are failure-critical structural members, so a fundamental understanding of their mechanics is imminently important in quantifying suspension bridge safety. The load-carrying capabilities of such strands after local wire failures have been the subject of many theoretical studies utilizing analytical equations and finite-element analysis. Little experimental data, however, exists to validate these models.Over the past five years we have developed a methodology for measuring stress/strain transfer within parallel wire strands of suspension bridge cables using neutron diffraction [1,2]. In this paper we describe the design and verification of parallel cable strands used in our studies. We describe the neutron diffraction strain measurements performed on standard 7-wire and expanded 19-wire models in various configurations at both the Los Alamos National Laboratory Spectrometer for Materials Research at Temperature and Stress (LANL SMARTS) and at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory VULCAN Engineering Materials Diffractometer (ORNL VULCAN). Particular attention is placed on the challenges of aligning and measuring multibody systems with high strain gradients at body-to-body contact points.

How to Avoid Artifacts in Nanobeam Diffraction Strain Measurements

How to Avoid Artifacts in Nanobeam Diffraction Strain Measurements

Relative Li-ion mobility mapping in Li0.33La0.56TiO3 polycrystalline by electron backscatter diffraction and electrochemical strain microscopy

Li-ion conductivity in a solid-state electrolyte has so far been measured by impedance spectroscopy. In this method, however, it is difficult to obtain microstructural information because of the absence of spatial resolution. Here, we show the relationship between the Li-ion mobility and the crystal orientation in Li0.33La0.56TiO3 polycrystalline by electrochemical strain microscopy combined with electron backscatter diffraction. On the experimentally constructed multivariable regression model, we obtained a qualitative Li-ion mobility map of sub-millimeter width with a 100 nm spatial resolution, which is impossible to achieve by only atomic force microscopy. The proposed method must be useful for identifying the Li-ion diffusion pathway in three dimensions.

Residual Stress State of X65 Pipeline Girth Welds Before and After Local and Furnace Post Weld Heat Treatment

This research investigated the effects of global (in other words, furnace-based) and local post weld heat treatment (PWHT) on residual stress (RS) relaxation in API 5L X65 pipe girth welds. All pipe spools were fabricated using identical pipeline production procedures for manufacturing multipass narrow gap welds. Nondestructive neutron diffraction (ND) strain scanning was carried out on girth welded pipe spools and strain-free comb samples for the determination of the lattice spacing. All residual stress measurements were carried out at the KOWARI strain scanning instrument at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO). Residual stresses were measured on two pipe spools in as-welded condition and two pipe spools after local and furnace PWHT. Measurements were conducted through the thickness in the weld material and adjacent parent metal starting from the weld toes. Besides, three line-scans along pipe length were made 3 mm below outer surface, at pipe wall midthickness, and 3 mm above the inner surface. PWHT was carried out for stress relief; one pipe was conventionally heat treated entirely in an enclosed furnace, and the other was locally heated by a flexible ceramic heating pad. Residual stresses measured after PWHT were at exactly the same locations as those in as-welded condition. Residual stress states of the pipe spools in as-welded condition and after PWHT were compared, and the results were presented in full stress maps. Additionally, through-thickness residual stress profiles and the results of one line scan (3 mm below outer surface) were compared with the respective residual stress profiles advised in British Standard BS 7910 “Guide to methods for assessing the acceptability of flaws in metallic structures” and the UK nuclear industry's R6 procedure. The residual stress profiles in as-welded condition were similar. With the given parameters, local PWHT has effectively reduced residual stresses in the pipe spool to such a level that it prompted the thought that local PWHT can be considered a substitute for global PWHT.