Neutron diffraction measurements of residual stress and plastic deformation in an aluminium alloy weld

Abstract

The neutron diffraction technique for measuring residual stresses non-destructively in an aluminium alloy weld has been examined. Calibration experiments have been performed to determine the influence of prior plastic strain and surface effects. Comparisons have also been made with strain gauge methods using the destructive block removal and layering technique for measuring the residual stresses. It has been shown that the neutron diffraction method gives an accurate indication of the three dimensional stress distribution present in a weld and that it can also be employed to estimate the amount of prior plastic strain encountered.