Assessment of the Unstressed Lattice Parameters for Residual Stresses Determination by Neutron Diffraction in Engineering Materials

Abstract

Thermal neutrons are very useful probe in a nondestructive determination of internal stress/strains, due to their high penetration into most materials. In comparison with conventional X-ray techniques, real bulk information on both macro-and micro-strains in materials can be obtained by neutron diffraction (ND) techniques. Knowledge of the spatial and directional distribution of internal residual stresses (RS) is increasingly considered fundamental to determine their influence on properties of engineering materials and a consequent material behaviour. As the assesment of stresses is always related to the stress free material state, an accurate evaluation of the unstressed lattice parameters (e.g., the interplanar distance), in order to determine RS by ND is one of the key tasks. It helps to avoid inacceptable errors in the course of the real material strain and stress evaluation. The availability of carefully measured zero-strain standards is also essential to confirm the absence of systematic instrumental effects determining the diffraction profile at a chosen scattering angle. In this paper, the state of the art of the main analytical and experimental procedures currently established or adoptable to determine these critical parameters, particularly regarding industrial applications, is presented.