Affiliations: Institute for Materials Research, School of Aeronautical, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK | Manchester Materials Science Centre, Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HS, UK | ESRF, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, BP 220 F-38043, Grenoble, France
Note: [] Corresponding author.
Abstract: BM16 is a high-resolution X-ray powder diffractometer, with an energy range 5–40 keV (2.5–0.3 Å), situated on a bending magnet source at the ESRF, Grenoble. At the higher energies it is possible to penetrate through lighter element materials without excessive beam attenuation. The resolution and energy range features in combination make BM16 suitable for non-destructive high-resolution strain imaging of components made of light element materials typically a few millimetres thick and up to 200 mm wide. The instrument is used with an analyser, which essentially eliminates instrumental surface aberrations and permits through-surface measurements to be made. Aerospace materials and samples of aerospace interest have been investigated as part of the development programme. They include aluminium and titanium based alloys, peened and welded samples. The potential for synchrotron X-ray strain imaging is discussed and is illustrated with linear and area scan data obtained during the development programme.
