In Situ Diffraction during Mechanical Testing

Characterizing and optimizing the mechanical properties of engineering components is one of the oldest research domains in materials science, nevertheless still very up-to-date. Mechanical tests followed by microstructural investigations provide engineers with the necessary information to computationally predict the mechanical performance of components. In situ mechanical testing during diffraction is one of the best-known in situ methods during which the microstructure of a device or component is investigated during exposure to stress and/or temperature. Such an experiment allows capturing footprints of the deformation mechanisms responsible for the changing microstructure. The group Materials Science and Simulations has developed several dedicated in-situ testing devices that can be used at various neutron and synchrotron facilities: