Papers by Keyword: X-Ray Micro-Tomography

Abstract: As for aluminium alloys, magnesium alloys are generally sensitive to strain induced cavitation when they are deformed in superplastic conditions. It has been widely shown that X-ray micro tomography is a particularly efficient tool for studying in 3D damage mechanisms during superplastic deformation. However, such characterisations are generally performed in post mortem conditions, namely on samples first deformed up to given strains and then characterised. In the present investigation, thanks to particularly short acquisition times offered by ESRF, damage induced by superplastic deformation of a magnesium alloy is studied thanks to tomography analyses performed in 4D conditions, namely directly during high temperature deformation tests. Such conditions provide unique opportunities for investigating nucleation, growth and coalescence of cavities since it is thus possible to follow each cavity up to the fracture process.

Abstract: A way to overcome the low deformability of magnesium alloys at room temperature is toincrease the temperature of forming operations. The stress exponent n, which is known to be a keyparameter in the control of plastic stability, generally decreases when temperature increases.Nevertheless, low n-values are not enough to ensure large capacity of deformation since fracturecan also result from strain induced cavitation. In the present investigation, both the mechanisms ofhigh temperature deformation and damage were studied in selected Mg alloys. Since damage datacan also give information on the deformation mechanisms, the strain induce cavitation behaviourwas mainly studied thanks to X-ray micro tomography which provides 3D information like thecavity shapes or the variation with strain of the number of cavities. Moreover, additionally toconventional post mortem analyses, it was attempted to perform the 3D damage characterisation inin situ conditions, namely directly during high temperature deformation tests.

Abstract: The potential of X-ray micro-tomography in characterizing the relevant material issues as identified during manufacturing processes was investigated. For this purpose, the 3D X-ray micro-tomography (XµRT) analysis was applied to the characterization of structural integrity of Nb3Sn superconducting wires of differing topology and the evolution of the density distribution of ceramic samples manufactured by Field Assisted Sintering Techniques (FAST). The latter technique was used to consolidate the ceramic, metal (Ni) and composite powders (MgB2). The usual scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique was enhanced by the high resolution XµRT in order to describe the volumetric density distribution before sintering and at different moments of the thermal cycle. Two types of samples sintered Ni and high density MgB2 superconductors with typical volume of 0.8÷1.5⋅10-9 m3 were sampled at space resolution around 5µm. For the sintered Ni, the 3D reconstructed volumes revealed the grain connectivity, necks formation and particle rearrangement in the densification process. The XµRT analysis was essential in explaining the differences in superconducting properties of MgB2 samples in terms of different volumetric structures. For the Nb3Sn multifilamentary wire which is at basis of many practical superconductors, the 3D tomography enabled the determination of the number of inter-filament contacts as well as the twist-pitch parameter. Advantages of our method versus the invasive etching techniques for the determination of the twist-pitch parameter were outlined.

Abstract: In this paper we will present how it is possible to couple a 3D experimental technique with a 3D numerical method in order to calculate the stress intensity factors along the crack front taking into account the real shape of the crack. This approach is used to characterize microstructurally short fatigue cracks that exhibit a rather complicated 3D shape. The values of the stress intensity factors are calculated along the crack front at different stages of crack propagation and it can be seen that the crack shape irregularities introduce rather important fluctuations of the values of KI, KII and KIII along the crack front. The values of KI obtained taking into account the real shape of the crack are significantly different from the ones calculated using an approach based on a shape assumption