Diagnosing engineering problems with neutrons

Neutron strain scanning is a neutron diffraction technique capable of providing maps of residual stress distributions deep within crystalline materials and engineering components. It is increasingly becoming an important tool for materials scientists and engineers alike. New dedicated instruments are providing faster rates of data acquisition, higher spatial and strain resolution, and increasing experimental flexibility. At the same time, engineering confidence in the technique is growing with the definition of industrial standards for delivering the quantifiable levels of accuracy and repeatability essential for engineering application.