High-resolution strain mapping through time-of-flight neutron transmission diffraction with a microchannel plate neutron counting detector

Conventional neutron radiography can be strongly enhanced by obtaining Bragg-edge information spatially correlated with the attenuation coefficient. This can now be achieved through time-of-flight techniques at pulsed neutron sources, utilising a neutron counting detector with high-spatial and high-temporal resolution. In these measurements, the positions of Bragg edges can in principle be obtained for each 55 × 55 μm 2 pixel of the radiographic image. The combination of both Bragg-edge and attenuation information enables high spatial resolution studies to be carried out on material composition, phase transitions, texture variations, as well as residual strain mapping. In this article, we present the results of high-resolution strain maps of a ferritic steel cantilever sample measured at different loads by both transmission and conventional diffraction modes, as well as strains in an austenitic steel compact-tension (CT) crack sample. The proof of principle experiments performed on the ENGIN-X beamline on a bent cantilever arrangement resulting in a uni-axial stress field verified that the strain values measured in diffraction and transmission mode are in good agreement. The characteristics of the transmission mode detector as well as the measured strain maps and future possibilities of this technology are discussed. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.