Neutron and x-ray scattering studies of the metallurgical condition and residual stresses in Weldalite welds

Technical Report · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/206556· OSTI ID:206556

Spooner, S ^[1]; Pardue, E B.S. ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
2. Technology for Energy Corp., Knoxville, TN (United States)

Weldalite is a lithium-containing aluminum alloy which is being considered for aerospace applications because its favorable strength-to-weight ratio. Successful welding of this alloy depends on the control of the metallurgical condition and residual stresses in the heat affected zone. Neutron and x-ray scattering methods of residual stress measurement were applied to plasma arc welds made in aluminum-lithium alloy test panels as part of an evaluation of materials for use in welded structures. In the course of these studies discrepancies between x-ray and neutron results from the heat affected zone (HAZ) of the weld were found. Texture changes and recovery from the cold work, indicated in peak widths, were found in the HAZ as well. The consideration of x-ray and neutron results leads to the conclusion that there is a change in solute composition which modifies the d-spacings in the HAZ which affects the neutron diffraction determination of residual stresses. The composition changes give the appearance of significant compressive strains in the HAZ. This effect and sharp gradients in the texture give severe anomalies in the neutron measurement of residual stress. The use of combined x-ray and neutron techniques and the solution to the minimizing of the neutron diffraction anomalies are discussed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 206556
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507175--2; ON: DE96005367
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HEAT AFFECTED ZONE
LATTICE PARAMETERS
LITHIUM ALLOYS
MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PLASMA ARC WELDING
RESIDUAL STRESSES
TEXTURE
WEIGHT
WELDED JOINTS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION