Novel methodological study for neutron diffraction stress measurement using compact accelerator-driven neutron source RANS

小型中性子源RANSによる中性子回折応力測定の新しい方法学研究

岩本 ちひろ*; 高村 正人*; 上野 孝太*; 片岡 美波*; 栗原 諒*; 徐 平光   ; 大竹 淑恵*

Iwamoto, Chihiro*; Takamura, Masato*; Ueno, Kota*; Kataoka, Minami*; Kurihara, Ryo*; Xu, P. G.; Otake, Yoshie*

Neutron diffraction is a powerful non-destructive method for evaluating the microscopic structure and internal stress of metallic materials and related semi-finished parts as a bulk average. To implement on-site stress measurements via the neutron diffraction at laboratories and factories frequently and even daily, we are establishing and upgrading the novel measurement and analysis methodology of time-of-flight neutron diffraction at RIKEN accelerator-driven compact neutron source (RANS). In this study, we have proposed two methods to improve the determination resolution of the diffraction peak position by focusing on delayed neutrons due to background scattering from devices such as reflector surrounding the neutron moderator and the polyethylene collimator. First, an analysis method has been proposed to deconvolute original diffraction peak from the delayed neutron component by defining a new model function to well describe the profile shape of delayed neutron diffraction. Second, a new decoupled collimator system has been developed to reduce the number of delayed neutrons. The diffraction patterns from a powder sample of pure body-centered cubic iron were measured with the decoupled collimator and the diffraction peak of {211} reflection was analyzed by the new analysis method using the neutron diffraction profile model function, , a single exponential decay function convoluted with a Gaussian function. By this method, the decoupled collimator system has been confirmed to achieve a smaller measurement limit of lattice strain than a small-aperture polyethylene collimator system and a non-collimator system. The currently available was 6.710, which means that the internal stress up to 130 MPa can be well evaluated at RANS for steel materials with a Young's modulus of 200 GPa.