Residual Stress Distribution Analysis in Advanced Materials by Neutron Diffraction: The Case of Spherical Storage Tank Butt Weld

Abstract

The two-axis diffractometer SPN-100 at the Center of Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methods (CANAM) in Řež, is a neutron diffraction instrument dedicated to residual stress analyses in polycrystalline materials, it has recently been equipped with a new two-dimensional position sensitive detector (2D-PSD) and a six-axis robotic arm for sample positioning. Recent results of strain/stress distribution measurements with the upgraded tools are presented. The measured materials are made of C-Mn unalloyed steel used for spherical storage tank. Welding-induced residual stresses have direct influence on ductility and toughness of both weld metal and heat affected zone of the weld area, which affect the service life time of structures. Normal, transversal and longitudinal components of the stresses obtained in the vicinity of the butt weld from a spherical storage tank were measured by neutron diffraction at CANAM.