Improving Beamtime Efficiency for Residual Stress Neutron Experiments

Abstract:

Starting during the shut-down of the HZB research reactor BER-II in 2011/2012 the E3 residual stress and texture diffractometer in Berlin underwent a comprehensive upgrade. The investments were broken down into different criteria, such as enhancing the instrument performance and accuracy as well as extending the range of applications for the user community. Here, we report about the gains achieved after integrating and commissioning the individual hardware and software tools included in the upgrade project, namely a motorized primary slit to accurately adjust the gauge volume, a secondary optics radial collimator and a laser scanner to precisely and quickly align the sample. The integration of the presented devices is further supported by software developments to shorten the instrument alignment procedure and measurement time. The upgrade has improved the efficiency of the available neutron beamtime.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 777)
• Pages: 7-11
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.777.7
• Online since: February 2014
• Authors: Mirko Boin*, Robert C. Wimpory, Christian Randau
• Keywords: Grain Size Effect, Instrument Alignment, Instrument Upgrade, Neutron Diffraction, Residual Strain, Residual Stress, Strain Scanner

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