In-situ mechanical testing during x-ray powder diffraction

The miniaturized tensile machine mounted at the powder diffraction station of the Materials Science beam line (SLS)
The miniaturized tensile machine mounted at the powder diffraction station of the Materials Science beam line (SLS)
In 2003 a miniaturized device has been developed to perform in-situ mechanical testing at the powder diffraction station of the Materials Science beam line at the Swiss Light Source (SLS). It allows deforming polycrystalline samples with sizes of the order of a few millimetres while continuously recording diffraction patterns. Detailed information on the setup can be found in Review of Scientific Instruments 77 (2006) 013902 http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2162453.

Most of the research has focussed on the study of deformation mechanisms in nanocrystalline metals. It could be shown, amoung others, that in nanocrystalline Ni with a grain size of 26nm no permanent dislocation network is built-up during plastic deformation, in contrast to what is typically observed for coarse grained fcc metals. Furthermore it has been established that multiple deformation mechanisms are operative simultaneously.

Other applications for this method are:
  • the study of load transfer in nano-composites
  • kinetics of the martensitic phase transformation in an fine-grained austenitic steel
  • development of inter-granular strain during plastic deformation

Biaxial deformation rig
Biaxial deformation rig
Within the framework of the ERC advanced grant MULTIAX a miniaturized biaxial deformation rig was developed at PSI to perform in-situ mechanical testing while applying multiaxial stresses on cruciform shaped specimens. Detailed information on the setup can found in Experimental Mechanics 57, 569-580 (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s11340-016-0244-0 and on the ERC MULTIAX website.


Deformation and degradation of superelastic NiTi under multiaxial loading
Hsu W-N, Polatidis E, Šmíd M, van Petegem S, Casati N, van Swygenhoven H
Acta Materialia. 2019; 167: 149-158.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2019.01.047


Revealing the role of microstructure architecture on strength and ductility of Ni microwires by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction
Purushottam raj purohit R raj purohit, Arya A, Bojjawar G, Pelerin M, Van Petegem S, Proudhon H, et al.
Scientific Reports. 2019; 9(1): 79.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36472-3


Load path change on superelastic NiTi alloys: In situ synchrotron XRD and SEM DIC
Hsu W-N, Polatidis E, Šmíd M, Casati N, Van Petegem S, Van Swygenhoven H
Acta Materialia. 2018; 144: 874-883.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2017.11.035

An in-situ synchrotron study on microplastic flow of electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel
Ghosh P, Van Petegem S, Van Swygenhoven H, Chokshi AH
Materials Science and Engineering A: Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing. 2017; 701: 101-110.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2017.06.075

A Miniaturized Biaxial Deformation Rig for in Situ Mechanical Testing
Van Petegem S, Guitton A, Dupraz M, Bollhalder A, Sofinowski K, Upadhyay M V, Van Swygenhoven H
Experimental Mechanics 57, 569-580 (2017).
DOI: 10.1007/s11340-016-0244-0


Deformation behavior of nano-porous polycrystalline silver. Part II: Simulations
Zabihzadeh S, Cugnoni J, Duarte L I, Van Petegem S, Van Swygenhoven H
Acta Materialia 131, 564-573 (2017).
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2017.04.041


Deformation behavior of nanoporous polycrystalline silver. Part I: Microstructure and mechanical properties
Zabihzadeh S, Van Petegem S, Holler M, Diaz A, Duarte LI, Van Swygenhoven H
Acta Materialia 131, 467 (2017).
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2017.04.021


Grain size and alloying effects on dynamic recovery in nanocrystalline metals
Sun Z, Van Petegem S, Cervellino A, Blum W, Van Swygenhoven H
Acta Materialia 119, 104-114 (2016).
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.08.019


Deformation behavior of sintered nanocrystalline silver layers
Zabihzadeh S, Van Petegem S, Duarte L I, Mokso R, Cervellino A, Van Swygenhoven H
Acta Materialia 97, 116-123 (2015).
DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2015.06.040


Dynamic recovery in nanocrystalline Ni
Z. Sun, S. Van Petegem, A. Cervellino et al.
Acta Materialia 91, 91 (2015).


On the origin of cementite diffraction peak broadening during tensile deformation at ambient temperatures
M.A. Weisser, S. Van Petegem, A. Cervellino et al.
International Journal of Plasticity 66, 138 (2015).


In-situ mechanical testing during X-ray diffraction
Helena Van Swygenhoven, Steven Van Petegem
Materials Characterization 78, 47 (2013).


Slip-induced intergranular stress redistribution in nanocrystalline Ni
L Li, S Van Petegem, H Van Swygenhoven, PM Anderson
Acta Materialia 60, 7001 (2012).


Two strain-hardening mechanisms in nanocrystalline austenitic steel: An in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study
P Schloth, MA Weisser, H Van Swygenhoven, S Van Petegem, P Susila, VS Sarma, BS Murty, S Lauterbach, M Heilmaier
Scripta Materialia 66, 690 (2012).


Yield point phenomenon during strain rate change in nanocrystalline Ni-Fe
S Van Petegem, J Zimmermann, H Van Swygenhoven
Scripta Materialia 65, 217 (2011).


In situ room temperature tensile deformation of a 1% CrMoV bainitic steel using synchrotron and neutron diffraction
MA Weisser, AD Evans, S Van Petegem, SR Holdsworth, H Van Swygenhoven
Acta Materialia 59, 4448 (2011).


On the microstructure of nanoporous gold: an x-ray diffraction study
S. Van Petegem, S. Brandstetter, R. Maaß, A.M. Hodge, B.S. El-Dasher, J. Biener, B. Schmitt, C. Borca, H. Van Swygenhoven
Nanoletters 9, 1158 (2009)


Creep in nanocrystalline Ni during x-ray diffraction
S. Van Petegem, S. Brandstetter, B. Schmitt, R. Maass, H. Van Swygenhoven
Scripta Materialia 60, 29 (2009)


A new criterion for elasto-plastic transition in nanomaterials: Application to size and composite effects on Cu-Nb nanocomposite wires
L. Thilly, S. Van Petegem, P.-O. Renault, F. Lecouturier, V. Vidal, B. Schmitt, H. Van Swygenhoven
Acta Materialia 57, 3157 (2009)


Evidence of internal Bauschinger test in nanocomposite wires during in situ macroscopic tensile cycling under synchrotron beam
L. Thilly, S. Van Petegem, P.O. Renault, V. Vidal, F. Lecouturier, S. Brandstetter, B. Schmitt, H. Van Swygenhoven
Applied Physics Letters 90, 241907 (2007)


From Micro- to Macroplasticity
S. Brandstetter, H. Van Swygenhoven,S. Van Petegem, B. Schmitt, R. Maass, P.M. Derlet
Advanced Materials 18, 1545 (2006)


Following peak profiles during elastic and plastic deformation: A synchrotron-based technique
H. Van Swygenhoven, B. Schmitt, P. M. Derlet, S. Van Petegem, A. Cervellino, Z. Budrovic, S. Brandstetter, A. Bollhalder, and M. Schild
Review of Scientific Instruments 77, 013902 (2006)


Footprints of deformation mechanisms during in-situ X-ray diffraction: nanocrystalline and ultra-fine grained Ni
Z. Budrovic, S. Van Petegem, P.M. Derlet, B. Schmitt, H. Van Swygenhoven, E. Schafler, M. Zehetbauer
Applied Physics Letters 86, 231910 (2005)


Temperature-dependent residual broadening of x-ray diffraction spectra in nanocrystalline plasticity
S. Brandstetter, Z. Budrovic, S. Van Petegem, B. Schmitt, E. Stergar, P. M. Derlet, and H. Van Swygenhoven
Applied Physics Letters 87, 231910 (2005)


Plastic deformation with reversible peak broadening in nanocrystalline Ni.
Z. Budrovic, H.Van Swygenhoven, P.M.Derlet, S. Van Petegem, Bernd Schmitt.
Science 304, 273 (2004)