LightForm: Embedding Materials Engineering in Manufacturing with Light Alloys

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Materials

Abstract

Forming components from light alloys (aluminium, titanium and magnesium) is extremely important to sustainable transport because they can save over 40% weight, compared to steel, and are far cheaper and more recyclable than composites. This has led to rapid market growth, where light alloys are set to dominate the automotive sector. Remaining globally competitive in light metals technologies is also critical to the UK's, aerospace and defence industries, which are major exporters. For example, Jaguar Land Rover already produces fully aluminium car bodies and titanium is extensively used in aerospace products by Airbus and Rolls Royce. 85% of the market in light alloys is in wrought products, formed by pressing, or forging, to make components.

Traditional manufacturing creates a conflict between increasing a material's properties, (to increase performance), and manufacturability; i.e. the stronger a material is, the more difficult and costly it is to form into a part. This is because the development of new materials by suppliers occurs largely independently of manufacturers, and ever more alloy compositions are developed to achieve higher performance, which creates problems with scrap separation preventing closed loop recycling. Thus, often manufacturability restricts performance. For example, in car bodies only medium strength aluminium grades are currently used because it is no good having a very strong alloy that can't be made into the required shape. In cases when high strength levels are needed, such as in aerospace, specialised forming processes are used which add huge cost.

To solve this conundrum, LightForm will develop the science and modelling capability needed for a new holistic approach, whereby performance AND manufacturability can both be increased, through developing a step change in our ability to intelligently and precisely engineer the properties of a material during the forming of advanced components. This will be achieved by understanding how the manufacturing process itself can be used to manipulate the material structure at the microscopic scale, so we can start with a soft, formable, material and simultaneously improve and tailor its properties while we shape it into the final product. For example, alloys are already designed to 'bake harden' after being formed when the paint on a car is cured in an oven. However, we want to push this idea much further, both in terms of performance and property prediction. For example, we already have evidence we can double the strength of aluminium alloys currently used in car bodies by new synergistic hybrid deformation and heat treatment processing methods.

To do this, we need to better understand how materials act as dynamic systems and design them to feed back to different forming conditions. We also aim to exploit exciting developments in powerful new techniques that will allow us to see how materials behave in industrial processes in real time, using facilities like the Diamond x-ray synchrotron, and modern modelling methods. By capturing these effects in physical models, and integrating them into engineering codes, we will be able to embed microstructure engineering in new flexible forming technologies, that don't use fixed tooling, and enable accurate prediction of properties at the design stage - thus accelerating time to market and the customisation of products.

Our approach also offers the possibility to tailor a wide range of properties with one alloy - allowing us to make products that can be more easily closed-loop recycled. We will also use embedded microstructure engineering to extend the formability of high-performance aerospace materials to increase precision and decrease energy requirements in forming, reducing the current high cost to industry.

Planned Impact

Involving key industry players to achieve economic impacts

We plan to ensure high impact from our research on UK global competitiveness through actively managing the innovation chain, from discovery to pilot scale demonstration. This will be achieved by working closely with industry, with a planned high value in leveraged projects (>£8M is targeted and £7M has already been pledged), and collaboration with software and technology demonstrator companies. We will also collaborate with the WMG and AFRC Catapult Centres, to allow us to demonstrate new innovations. In addition, we will maximise knowledge transfer and inform our strategic direction, by establishing an Information Exchange Forum that will provide road mapping and network with industry and professional bodies (e.g. IOM3 and European Aluminium).

Owing to their high recyclability and importance in light weight design, innovation in light alloys is extremely important to future UK economic growth. Transport manufacturing is worth £21Bn to GDP and employs 430k skilled workers. Formed light alloy products are also essential in packaging and defence. Export leaders, like Jaguar Land Rover, Airbus and Rolls Royce, are fully dependent on light alloy components. In addition, major industries have substantial supply chain activities in the UK (e.g. Stadco, Timet, MEL). The market positon of all these companies is highly dependent on innovation in wrought light alloy components. Over 20 companies will be active partners in the project and will directly benefit from the EPSRC funded enabling research.

Potential Impacts of the research include:

Short term (2-3 years): engineering models for advanced hybrid and flexible forming processes, materials models for dynamic microstructure and texture evolution in forming.
Modifications to existing forming processes (e.g. HFQ-Hot-Form-Quench) with embedded materials engineering.

Medium 3-6 years: intelligent forming simulation codes, that capture dynamic microstructure effects, deployed in industry - allowing a step change in precision of shape and property prediction; forming of higher strength alloys with greater consistency, lower energy and lower cost; using knowledge-based processing to increase recyclability; industrial application of new processes designed specifically for embedded materials engineering proven to early technology readiness.

Long Term High Value Innovations (5-15 years): full digital design of flexibly formed components with embedded materials engineering, accelerating time to market and allowing mass customisation; property and thickness tailoring; lower cost titanium formed and near-net shaped forged parts; warm formed Mg components.

Creating new knowledge and building skills

Our ambitious science programme and holistic approach to materials and manufacturing, will advance the metallurgical science and modelling required to cost-effectively engineer innovative higher-performance light alloy wrought products. This critical capability gap is currently missing from the UK landscape.
Through alignment with Centres of Doctoral Training LightForm will train 50 students in a multidisciplinary environment in skills critical to future UK economic growth, where there is an acknowledged shortfall. We will thus provide the next generation of engineers needed by industry.

Societal Impacts

Substantial benefits will include impact on future employment and standards of living by ensuring global competiveness in advanced manufacturing. Light metals are critical to low carbon technologies. LightForm will enable greater emissions benefits to be realized at a lower cost and with reduced environmental impact.

Impact on policy

LightForm will collaborate with industrial bodies, such as the Northern Automotive Alliance, to influence government policy on research into innovation in high-value-added, light metal products and sustainability within UK manufacturing.

Organisations

Publications

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Altiparmak S (2021) Challenges in additive manufacturing of high-strength aluminium alloys and current developments in hybrid additive manufacturing in International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture

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Awang Draup A (2022) Modelling of friction stir welded AA2139 aluminium alloy panels in tension and blast in International Journal of Impact Engineering

 
Title 3D Printing Titanium with a Conical Electron Beam 
Description We teamed up with xBeam 3D Metal Printing (https://xbeam3d.com/) to characterise Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) parts 3D printed using wire and a conical electron beam. In this video, I analyse the ß-grain structures of the xBeam test parts, built with 3 different deposition strategies, and present a post-build heat treatment trial to demonstrate that the xBeam process can replicate wrought titanium aerospace parts. Original research paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2021.101202 xBeam 3D Metal Printing: https://xbeam3d.com/ Research credits: Alec. E Davis, J. R. Kennedy, D. Strong, D. Kovalchuk, S. Porter, P. B. Prangnell. Video credits: Produced, written, recorded, and performed by Alec E. Davis. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact 6 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7620199
 
Title 3D Printing Titanium with a Conical Electron Beam 
Description We teamed up with xBeam 3D Metal Printing (https://xbeam3d.com/) to characterise Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) parts 3D printed using wire and a conical electron beam. In this video, I analyse the ß-grain structures of the xBeam test parts, built with 3 different deposition strategies, and present a post-build heat treatment trial to demonstrate that the xBeam process can replicate wrought titanium aerospace parts. Original research paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2021.101202 xBeam 3D Metal Printing: https://xbeam3d.com/ Research credits: Alec. E Davis, J. R. Kennedy, D. Strong, D. Kovalchuk, S. Porter, P. B. Prangnell. Video credits: Produced, written, recorded, and performed by Alec E. Davis. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7620198
 
Title Achieving Nanoscale Resolution with EBSD 
Description Struggling to map nanoscale features in your microstructures with EBSD? Perhaps this video can help... (Case study: indexing the ß phase in Ti-6Al-4V). Original research paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2022.112371 Research credits: A. E. Davis, X. Zeng, R. Thomas, J. R. Kennedy, J. Donoghue, A. Gholinia, P. B. Prangnell. Video credits: Produced, written, and performed by Alec E. Davis. Recorded by Alec E. Davis, Jack Donoghue, and Vivek Sahu. This work was supported by grants: Lightform (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), and Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). Alec E. Davis is also appreciated for equipment loan from the @materialsavclub. Commercial EBSD indexing software links: Oxford Instruments: https://www.oxinst.com/blogs/pattern-matching-a-paradigm-shift-for-ebsd EDAX: https://www.edax.com/resources/application-notes/spherical-indexing 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/8015534
 
Title Additional Materials for Superalloys & High Performance Materials Lecture Course 
Description This additional course material accompanies the Superalloys & High Performance Materials lecture videos and includes;- Copies of the lecture slides for the online video- Copies of lecture slides for the 'live' session.- Practice questions.- Further reading suggestions. This course material was taken from lectures by Dr Christopher Daniel and Dr Alec Davis at The University of Manchester in 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Additional_Materials_for_Superalloys_High_Performan...
 
Title Additively Manufactured Titanium 'Alloy-Alloy Composites' and Site-Specific Property Design 
Description Paper links: Journal of Materials Characterization: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2021.111577 Research Gate (free preprint): https://bit.ly/3xy1Ldm Video written and produced by Alec Davis and Jacob Kennedy. Research was conducted at the University of Manchester and Cranfield University, UK, by Jacob Kennedy, Alec Davis, Armando Caballero, Michael White, Jon Fellowes, Ed Pickering, and Phil Prangnell. This work was supported by grants: NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), Lightform (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), and Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7014852
 
Title Additively Manufactured Titanium 'Alloy-Alloy Composites' and Site-Specific Property Design 
Description Paper links: Journal of Materials Characterization: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2021.111577 Research Gate (free preprint): https://bit.ly/3xy1Ldm Video written and produced by Alec Davis and Jacob Kennedy. Research was conducted at the University of Manchester and Cranfield University, UK, by Jacob Kennedy, Alec Davis, Armando Caballero, Michael White, Jon Fellowes, Ed Pickering, and Phil Prangnell. This work was supported by grants: NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), Lightform (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), and Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact 2 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7014853
 
Title Alec Davis ICOTOM19 conference presentation 
Description Simulation and texture investigation of a novel recrystallisation mechanism in Ti-6Al-4V during wire-arc AM with inter-pass deformation. High deposition rate Wire-Arc Additive Manufacture (WAAM) of Ti-6Al-4V is attractive to industry for near-net shape production of large-scale components. However, WAAM leads to the development of undesirable coarse columnar ß grains which, as a consequence of the larger heat source, grow epitaxially throughout components. To break up the ß-grain structure, a cold deformation step can be introduced, between deposition passes, to induce recrystallisation on heating during the a?ß transformation. This inter-pass deformation process produces small, equiaxed, ß grains, even when low strains are employed. In single ß crystal simulations of the thermomechanical history, starting with a coarse conventional a microstructure, the more expected behaviour occurred, with limited ß recrystallisation produced largely by lattice rotation. In contrast, with a fine AM starting transformation microstructure, as well as a high level of recrystallisation, a unique texture was observed, which was consistent with the deformation-induced annealing twinning produced during the a?ß transformation. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7014449
 
Title Beta-Stabilised Titanium Alloys - Superalloy lecture 7 
Description This set of lectures is on "Beta-Stabilised Titanium Alloys" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 7. This part of the course was taught by Dr Alec Davis at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 covers the history, general properties, and classification of beta-stabilised titanium alloys.Video 2 covers the phases and age hardening behaviour of beta-stabilised titanium, and a brief overview of the characterisation techniques is also given.Video 3 covers the thermomechanical processing of beta-stabilised titanium alloys.The live lecture includes a group discussion on thermomechanical processing and covers the "Beta-stabilised titanium alloys" topic. It was recorded on Thursday 18th March 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Beta-Stabilised_Titanium_Alloys_-_Superalloy_lectur...
 
Title Deformation Mechanisms in Titanium and Zirconium Alloys - Superalloys Lecture 3 
Description This set of lectures is on "Deformation Mechanisms in Titanium and Zirconium Alloys" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 3. This part of the course was taught by Dr Christopher Daniel at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 describes explains how slip contributes to grain reorientation and recalls the equations for calculating the resolved shear stress (RSS), the critically resolved shear stress (CRSS) and the Schmid factor.Video 2 will recall the main slip systems in both titanium and zirconium alloys and describe how the slip system activities change with temperature.Video 3 explains how twinning contributes to grain reorientation and presents the main twinning types in titanium and zirconium alloys.Video 4 describes the driving forces for recrystallization and recovery processes in terms of boundary and stored energy, which can be used to describe the microstructural changes during annealing (or hot-deforming) of titanium and zirconium materials.This live lecture includes poll questions and discussion for the "Deformation Mechanisms in Ti and Zr Alloys" topic and was recorded on Monday 22nd February 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Deformation_Mechanisms_in_Titanium_and_Zirconium_Al...
 
Title Degradation of Zirconium Alloys - Superalloys Lecture 9 
Description This set of lectures is on "Degradation of Zr Alloys" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 9. This part of the course was taught by Dr Christopher Daniel at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 will describe why the nuclear reactor environment causes complex processes that degrade the properties of the zirconium cladding.Video 2 will explain how the stages of periodic corrosion observed in zirconium alloys can be described by changes in the oxide microstructure, as well as describing how second phase particles (SPPs) can improve the corrosion properties.Video 3 will describe the processes of hydrogen pickup, hydride formation and delayed hydride cracking (DHC) to explain the importance of hydrogen in degrading zirconium cladding properties both in the reactor and out of service in dry storage.Video 4 will explain how neutron irradiation changes material properties and affects the in-reactor behaviour of the zirconium cladding, including a description of irradiation induced growth in terms of the accumulation of vacancy and interstitial dislocation loops.Video 5 will describe the processes of irradiation enhanced creep and the mechanism of pellet cladding interaction (PCI), which can degrade the zirconium cladding and limit the power manoeuvring of nuclear power stations.Video 6 will explain the advantages and disadvantages of alternative cladding materials that could replace zirconium alloys to provide superior accident tolerance.The live lecture includes poll questions and discussion for the "Degradation of Zr Alloys" topic and was recorded on Tuesday 13th April 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Degradation_of_Zirconium_Alloys_-_Superalloys_Lectu...
 
Title How many large samples can you scan with EBSD at once? 
Description In this video, I helped Xiaohan Zeng set up an EBSD run of 10 Ti-6Al-4V samples in a row on a Thermo Fisher high throughput Apreo SEM equipped with an Oxford Instruments' Symmetry 2 detector at the University of Manchester, UK. EBSD scan setup by Xiaohan Zeng (assisted by Dr Alec E Davis), sample preparation by Xiaohan Zeng, EBSD mapping calculator created by Dr Jack Donoghue. This research was supported by grants: NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), LightForm (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact 8 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5384029
 
Title How many large samples can you scan with EBSD at once? 
Description In this video, I helped Xiaohan Zeng set up an EBSD run of 10 Ti-6Al-4V samples in a row on a Thermo Fisher high throughput Apreo SEM equipped with an Oxford Instruments' Symmetry 2 detector at the University of Manchester, UK. EBSD scan setup by Xiaohan Zeng (assisted by Dr Alec E Davis), sample preparation by Xiaohan Zeng, EBSD mapping calculator created by Dr Jack Donoghue. This research was supported by grants: NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), LightForm (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5384028
 
Title Introduction to Superalloys and their Applications - Superalloys Lecture 10 
Description This set of lectures is on an "Introduction to Superalloys and their Applications" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 10. This part of the course was taught by Dr Christopher Daniel at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 will define the term "superalloys" and summarise the advantages and disadvantages of different iron, nickel and cobalt base superalloy materials, as well as summarising their different applications.Video 2 will introduce the high complexity of nickel superalloy chemistry, outline how processing and heat-treatments can be used to improve material properties, and introduce the different nickel superalloy types and categories.Video 3 will describe the degradation processes that affect the in-service properties of nickel superalloys throughout their operational lifetime, including oxidation, corrosion, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and hot-corrosion.The live lecture includes poll questions and discussion for the "Introduction to Superalloys and their Applications" topic and was recorded on Thursday 15th April 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Introduction_to_Superalloys_and_their_Applications_...
 
Title Introduction to Zirconium Alloys for Nuclear Applications - Superalloys Lecture 4 
Description This set of lectures is on "Introduction to Zirconium Alloys for Nuclear Applications" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 4. This part of the course was taught by Dr Christopher Daniel at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 will recall the history of zirconium alloy development and explain the reasons behind trends for increasing or decreasing certain alloying additions.Video 2 will describe the fabrication process for zirconium cladding tubes, including a description of the pilgering process.Video 3 will explain how changes to the processing and annealing of zirconium materials can affect their in-reactor performance.The live lecture includes poll questions and discussion for the "Introduction to Zr Alloys for Nuclear Applications" topic and was recorded on Tuesday 23rd February 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Introduction_to_Zirconium_Alloys_for_Nuclear_Applic...
 
Title Is there a better alternative for Ti-6Al-4V in titanium 3D printing? 
Description Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) is the 'go-to' alloy for many applications, particularly in aerospace industries. But this alloy is designed for cast and wrought processes like forging and not for 3D printing (additive manufacturing). So, should we just assume Ti64 is still our best option for most applications? -Probably not. In this video I compare two titanium alloys deposited using high-deposition-rate 3D printing (additive manufacturing) - Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) & Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo-0.1Si (Ti6242) - to answer this question. Original research paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-022-06811-1 Research credits: A. E. Davis, A. E. Caballero, R. Biswal, S. W. Williams, P. B. Prangnell. All research conducted at the University of Manchester, and Cranfield University, UK. Video credits: Produced, written, recorded, and performed by Alec E. Davis. Except for WAAM process video: recorded by A. E. Caballero. This work was supported by grants: NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), Lightform (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), and Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). Alec E. Davis is also appreciated for equipment loan from the University of Manchester Materials AV Club. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact 10 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7400019
 
Title Nickel-Base Superalloy Precipitation - Superalloy Lecture 11 
Description This set of lectures is on "Nickel-Base Superalloy Precipitation" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 11. This part of the course was taught by Dr Alec Davis at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 gives an overview of the precipitation in nickel-base superalloy precipitation.Video 2 covers the impact of precipitation on mechanical properties in nickel-base superalloys.The live lecture includes poll questions on the nickel-base superalloy precipitation topic, and the deformation mechanisms were covered in more detail. It was recorded on 19th April 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Nickel-Base_Superalloy_Precipitation_-_Superalloy_L...
 
Title Phase Transformation in Titanium and Zirconium Alloys - Superalloys Lecture 2 
Description This set of lectures is on "Phase Transformation in Titanium and Zirconium Alloys" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 2. This part of the course was taught by Dr Christopher Daniel at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 describes the effect of different alloying additions on the phase structure of titanium (and zirconium) alloys.Video 2 describes the phase transformation and microstructural changes that can occur in titanium and zirconium alloys, during heating and cooling at different rates.Video 3 introduces the Burgers Orientation Relationship (BOR), which describes the crystallographic relationship between the alpha and beta phases in both titanium and zirconium alloys, and can be used to predict 'variant' orientations.Video 4 shows how the different titanium alloys are classified based on their phase composition, and summarises their different properties and applications.The live lecture includes poll questions and discussion for the "Phase Transformation in Ti and Zr Alloys" topic and was recorded on Tuesday 16th February 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Phase_Transformation_in_Titanium_and_Zirconium_Allo...
 
Title Real-time observation of alpha nucleation in Ti-6Al-4V 
Description This video was captured during an in-situ heating stage SEM experiment using a secondary electron camera at the University of Manchester, UK. The Ti-6Al-4V sample was heated to 1000°C to the full ß-phase field and then slowly cooled (0.3°C/s) through the ß transus, and the a-phase nucleation was recorded by the contrast change in the secondary electron camera from topography development on the sample surface due to surface relief. Microscope operated by Dr Alec E Davis and Dr Jack Donoghue, sample preparation by Nick Byres. These results were published in an Acta Materialia paper in 2021: Acta Materialia paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117315 Researchgate (free peer reviewed preprint): https://bit.ly/3EHs7Na 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7014489
 
Title Real-time observation of alpha nucleation in Ti-6Al-4V 
Description This video was captured during an in-situ heating stage SEM experiment using a secondary electron camera at the University of Manchester, UK. The Ti-6Al-4V sample was heated to 1000°C to the full ß-phase field and then slowly cooled (0.3°C/s) through the ß transus, and the a-phase nucleation was recorded by the contrast change in the secondary electron camera from topography development on the sample surface due to surface relief. Microscope operated by Dr Alec E Davis and Dr Jack Donoghue, sample preparation by Nick Byres. These results were published in an Acta Materialia paper in 2021: Acta Materialia paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117315 Researchgate (free peer reviewed preprint): https://bit.ly/3EHs7Na 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact 6 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7014490
 
Title Reproducible materials science workflows with MatFlow 
Description Lightning talk presentation for Collaborations Workshop 2023 (CW23) https://software.ac.uk/cw23 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://ssi-cw.figshare.com/articles/presentation/Reproducible_materials_science_workflows_with_MatF...
 
Title Setting up an ENORMOUS sample EBSD! 
Description Setting up an EBSD of an 8 x 6 cm Ti-6Al-4V deformed metallic sample on a Thermo Fisher Apreo SEM equipped with an Oxford Instruments' Symmetry 2 detector at the University of Manchester, UK. EBSD scan setup by Dr Alec E Davis, sample preparation by Nicholas Byres, EBSD mapping calculator created by Dr Jack Donoghue. This research was supported by grants: NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), LightForm (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4947964
 
Title Setting up an ENORMOUS sample EBSD! 
Description Setting up an EBSD of an 8 x 6 cm Ti-6Al-4V deformed metallic sample on a Thermo Fisher Apreo SEM equipped with an Oxford Instruments' Symmetry 2 detector at the University of Manchester, UK. EBSD scan setup by Dr Alec E Davis, sample preparation by Nicholas Byres, EBSD mapping calculator created by Dr Jack Donoghue. This research was supported by grants: NEWAM (EPSRC EP/R027218/1), LightForm (EPSRC EP/R001715/1), Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (EPSRC EP/R00661X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1). 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact 7 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4947965
 
Title Single Crystal Superalloys for Turbine Blade Applications - Superalloys Lecture 12 
Description This set of lectures is on "Single Crystal Superalloys for Turbine Blade Applications" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 12. This part of the course was taught by Dr Christopher Daniel at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 will first focus on the processing and heat-treatment of polycrystalline superalloys and explain how the process can be optimised to produce idealised properties for the turbine disk in a jet engine.Video 2 will explain the processing stages for single-crystal superalloys that can be used to improve the high temperature properties and creep performance of the turbine blades in a jet engine.Video 3 will summarise the reasons behind trends for different chemical additions and how they have helped steadily improve the single crystal turbine blade properties, as well as describing the importance of minimising freckling, orientation and grain boundary defects during production.Video 4 will cover the in-service performance of single crystal turbine blades, explaining the creep performance and the creep process of rafting, summarising the fatigue properties, and explaining the reasons behind coatings and joinings.The live lecture includes poll questions and discussion for the "Single Crystal Superalloys for Turbine Blade Applications" topic and was recorded on Tuesday 20th April 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Single_Crystal_Superalloys_for_Turbine_Blade_Applic...
 
Title Texture Development in Titanium and Zirconium Alloys - Superalloys Lecture 6 
Description This set of lectures is on "Texture Development in Titanium and Zirconium Alloys" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 6. This part of the course was taught by Dr Christopher Daniel at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 will show how to interpret different crystallographic textures using the pole figure and orientation distribution function (ODF) representations.Video 2 will use texture data, in the form of pole figures and orientation distribution functions (ODFs), to describe the differences in texture development between single and dual-phase titanium and zirconium alloys.Video 3 will briefly summarise how computer simulation modelling can be used to predict crystallographic texture development.The live lecture includes poll questions and discussion for the "Texture Development in Ti and Zr Alloys" topic and was recorded on Thursday 11th March 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Texture_Development_in_Titanium_and_Zirconium_Alloy...
 
Title The Metallurgy of Titanium Additive Manufacturing - Superalloy Lecture 13 
Description This set of lectures is on "The Metallurgy of Titanium Additive Manufacturing" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 13. This part of the course was taught by Dr Alec Davis at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 discusses the formation of large beta grain structures in high deposition rate additively manufactured titanium and the methods of breaking up this structure.Video 2 discusses the effect of repeated rapid heating cycles on the alpha transformation microstructure in titanium additive manufacturing.The live lecture includes a group discussion on the impact of repeated rapid heating cycles that are intrinsic to additive manufacturing on various titanium alloys, and was recorded on 26th April 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/The_Metallurgy_of_Titanium_Additive_Manufacturing_-...
 
Title Titanium Aluminide Intermetallics - Superalloy Lecture 8 
Description This set of lectures is on "Titanium Aluminide Intermetallics" for the Superalloys & High Performance Materials course part 8. This part of the course was taught by Dr Alec Davis at The University of Manchester in 2021.Video 1 covers the applications and common phases found in titanium aluminide intermetallic alloys.Video 2 covers the deformation mechanisms, thermomechanical processing, and grain refinement techniques of titanium aluminide intermetallic alloys.Video 3 covers the effect of high temperature environments on titanium and titanium aluminide intermetallic alloys, and the specific metallurgy of how these alloys maintain high strengths and oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures are discussed.The live lecture includes poll questions on the titanium aluminide intermetallics topic and a group discussion on grain refinement. It was recorded on 12th April 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/media/Titanium_Aluminide_Intermetallics_-_Superalloy_Lect...
 
Description The overarching theme in LightForm is dynamic microstructure evolution during forming. Whereas conventionally microstructure changes during forming are not explicitly considered and even actively avoided, this is simply not possible during the warm forming of precipitation strengthened aluminium alloys, or the hot forging of titanium alloys. Predicting these dynamic microstructure changes requires understanding the fundamental interactions between deformation and phase transformations, and then embodying this understanding in computational models. The aim it to both predict the formability in these challenging conditions while, at the same time, enable the prediction of the final microstructure in formed parts.

The programme was structured around three main challenges: enabling science, efficient computational modelling and manufacturing with embedded materials engineering. In the first challenge, research has had major breakthroughs in understanding dynamic precipitation in high strength aluminium alloys. We have also developed new understanding of the microstructural factors controlling the corrosion and stress corrosion cracking of high strength aluminium alloys. In titanium alloy research, our work has provided new insights into the microstructure and crystallographic texture evolution during forging of titanium alloys, exploiting in-situ synchrotron diffraction, computational modelling and high throughput characterisation. This new understanding has been embedded into computational models, all in the form open-source software which has been made available through our Github repository.

Challenge 1: Enabling science for manufacturing with embedded materials engineering

The objective of challenge theme 1 was to perform the fundamental science required to make embedding microstructural engineering in advanced forming a practical reality. This fundamental science was applied to answering key industrial and engineering challenges, and to inform the development of multi-scale models (Challenge 2).

Work on aluminium has focussed on advancing high strength aluminium alloys to enable weight reduction in demanding structural applications including automotive and aerospace. Linked to this is an understanding of performance and its relation to processing and microstructure. To better exploit high strength aluminium alloys in formed parts requires an improved understanding of the interactions between deformation and strengthening phase precipitation. LightForm has used in-situ experimentation combined with high resolution electron microscopy to perform the most detailed analysis of dynamic interactions in aluminium alloys to date.

Exploiting the high flux capability of synchrotron X-rays at Diamond has enabled dynamic measurements to be made on usefully thick specimens. These studies have confirmed the critical role of deformation induced vacancies. The data has informed a novel model (C2) to predict dynamic effects in formed parts with fidelity not previously possible. It has also been demonstrated that such effects, if correctly exploited, can eliminate the need for long ageing treatments, which greatly simplifies the processing and reduces the cost of these materials.

In-situ and time-resolved methods have also played a crucial role in understanding and preventing environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) in high strength 7xxx aluminium alloys, widely used in aerospace. This work, carried out in collaboration with the RAEng/Airbus Chair in Metallurgical Excellence, has provided new insights into this long-standing and highly complex problem. EAC crack growth in 7xxx has been studied in-situ, identifying for the first time the features of the microstructure responsible for initiating cracking. 3-dimensional techniques such as X-ray tomography have been used to track the complex development of cracks as they grow, relating this to the underlying microstructure. High resolution electron microscopy has identified subtle differences between within the microstructure that can lead to large changes in behaviour.

LightForm has also worked to understand the metallurgical challenges that are associated with the use of highly or fully recycled aluminium, a necessary transition if the industry is to meet its net zero obligations. It has been demonstrated that tolerance to impurities strongly depends on the size and distribution of the particles they create in the microstructure, which can be manipulated through processing. There are also opportunities to obtain unique properties in recycled material since the impurity elements can be exploited for strengthening. Novel process routes, such as HFQ™, have been explored to enable low-cost processing of fully recycled aluminium for demanding applications. The work has also been used to inform models to predict the formability and performance of recycled aluminium.

By using correlative electrochemical analysis and analytical electron microscopy, the understanding of the impact of forming on corrosion susceptibility and mechanisms has been advanced. It is found that the corrosion penetration rate and propagation path are closely related to grain structure and local plastic deformation in aluminium alloys. The corrosion mechanism may change from intergranular corrosion in recrystallized regions to both intergranular and intragranular corrosion in non-recrystallized regions in rolled and extruded aluminium alloys. Further, it is observed that local plasticity may influence local chemistry by segregating alloying elements/impurities at dislocation walls, which provide driving force for corrosion propagation by forming microgalvanic couples. This observation is of particular importance to aluminium alloy recycling with high impurity tolerance.

Titanium: Texture and microstructure are critical to the in-service performance of components produced from titanium alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64). Safe performance of Ti64 components in demanding applications such as aeroengines require a better understanding of the links between texture, microstructure, and resistance to failure through mechanisms such as cold dwell fatigue. LightForm has pioneered an innovative collaborative framework (TiFun) that has established a network of PhD students and postdocs to study these phenomena, supported by a consortium of six companies.
In-situ methods have been used to study the dynamic evolution of texture, grain structure, and phase evolution during hot deformation of titanium alloys, revealing new information about the development of features such as texture macro-zones that play a key role in fatigue performance. The microstructural and texture information has been used to inform crystal plasticity models (C2) being developed to link processing, microstructure, and performance.

Magnesium is the lightest structural metal, but even strong magnesium alloys cannot match the properties of high strength aluminium or steel. Fundamental magnesium alloy metallurgy is less well understood than in these more widely used materials, and this is one obstacle to their further improvement. LightForm has applied novel 3-dimensional and in-situ techniques to understand fundamental aspects of microstructural development in magnesium alloys, providing new insights to address long-standing challenges.

For example, the most common commercial magnesium alloy, AZ91, should theoretically be capable of obtaining much higher strengths that observed in practice. One issue is that this alloy is susceptible to discontinuous precipitation (DP), a transformation mechanism that also occurs in over 50 other alloy systems. DP is poorly understood compared to the more common continuous precipitation (CP). LightForm has conducted, for the first time, in-situ and 3-dimensional studies of DP, using AZ91 magnesium as an industrially relevant case study. In-situ electron microscopy in a hot-stage microscope has allowed DP growth to be filmed and its competition with CP investigated. This has revealed details about how DP forms and grows, revealing a jerky stop-start motion in contradiction to classical theory (watch at https://youtu.be/JAmlcLMuyTc). This understanding will help to design magnesium alloys to control DP for improved properties.

Poor formability is also a key obstacle to wider adoption of magnesium sheet. LightForm has investigated the origins of this poor formability using high resolution digital image correlation to understand deformation at the local scale and help explain why some alloys perform much better than others. Methods to manipulate and improve formability through cryogenic rolling have also been explored, based on an understanding of the role of twin interactions, texture, and recrystallization.


Challenge 2: Computationally efficient material and process modelling
The aim of Challenge Theme 2 is to develop an efficient computational framework for modelling material behaviour, including microstructural evolution, and embed it into forming process models. The theme's main objectives were to develop new models for the effects of deformation on the precipitation behaviour of high strength alloys during deformation, to develop new models for sub-transus deformation of dual phase Ti alloys and to couple microstructure evolution models with crystal plasticity codes that can be used for "virtual materials testing", to predict dynamic forming limits and yield surfaces. Finally, we aimed to explore computationally efficient routes to integrate microstructurally informed simulations into engineering forming codes. To maximise the impact of the computational modelling work, nearly all modelling tools developed in LightForm are open source and have been made available through our community repository. The software in our repository includes not only codes for modelling material behaviour, but also for analysing experimental data, including code for quantifying texture from EBSD and synchrotron diffraction data, tensile test data and forming data analysis including forming limit determination from digital image correlation data.

MatFlow is a computational framework for running reproducible hybrid workflows. It integrates the different pieces of software needed to do computational materials research. This might involve analysing experimental data, carrying out a model calibration, and running materials simulation using open source and or proprietary software. MatFlow workflows are reproducible and reusable, which lowers the entry barrier for PhD students and other researchers without a computational modelling background. At the heart of MatFlow is and HPC handler, which handles job submission and post-processing for HPC calculations, making them much more accessible to inexperienced researchers. MatFlow can be extended to work with any software from simple data analysis scripts to full-fledged simulation packages.

Virtual Formability Testing: The formability of aluminium alloys are known to depend on the microstructure of the material. In LightForm we developed an open-source hybrid approach to determine the forming limit diagram of aluminium sheet. This workflow, implemented using MatFlow, takes EBSD texture data and tensile test data and uses crystal plasticity to determine the anisotropic yield surface of the material. This used surface is then used to predict the forming limit using an Abaqus model. This work is a notable example of the open and reproducible way computational modelling work was carried out in LightForm. It has been published in Open Materials Research, where peer review is also open. Alongside the article there are several interactive Jupyter notebooks that allow the data and methodology to be trialled and inspected by anyone.

Dynamic precipitation modelling: A major achievement of the team has been the development of a model for the dynamic precipitation in aluminium alloys during warm forming. A new KWN precipitation model has been developed that uses a calculation for the excess vacancy concentration produced by plastic deformation. This model has been calibrated for high strength 7xxx aluminium alloys using post-deformation laboratory SAXS results and in-situ synchrotron results. A single point model has been made available through our repository. In addition, the model has been implemented in the DAMASK modelling framework, enabling predictions of dynamic precipitation at the microstructural scale. Progress was also made towards implementing the model as an Abaqus UMAT.

Modelling texture evolution during Ti forging : A major goal of LightForm was to develop new models of microstructure development during hot forming of dual phase Ti alloys, like Ti64. Crystal plasticity models of dual phase deformation have been developed. The models are calibrated using experimental data including in-situ synchrotron diffraction measurements of elastic strain during hot deformation. Using MatFlow, we have been able to investigate the effects of phase volume fraction and phase morphology. The experimental work in challenge theme 1 had shown that, in addition to plasticity, we need to account for recrystallization, especially for predicting the texture of the beta phase. To achieve this, we have developed an approach for modelling recrystallization and grain growth using phase field modelling, which uses grain orientation information to predict texture changes associated with recrystallization. Again, MatFlow was used to link model generation with the simulation, and to carry out automatic post-processing of the simulation results.
Exploitation Route The new fundamental understanding developed in LightForm can be used to optimes current forming processes and guide the development of new processes and alloy compositions. We have taken extra care to make all our data, computational models and analysis code available through public repositories, so they can be used by other scientists and by our industrial partners. A number of new EPSRC and industrial funded projects are already under way that exploit the research in LightForm and apply it to new problems of industrial and scientific interest.
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Energy

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Transport

URL https://lightform.org.uk/
 
Description HFQ (Heat Treatment Forming and in-die Quench) is a new process for forming high strength aluminium alloys, enabling their use in transport applications, including in the automotive sector. Research in LightForm has led to significant improvements, which are now being exploited by our partners Impression Technology. We have developed rapid ageing treatment was developed to reduce the ageing time from 9 h to 20 min for AA6082. We have demonstrated that HFQ combined with rapid ageing can be successfully used to form parts from medium strength aluminium alloys, with greatly reduced cycle times compared to conventional sheet forming and without affecting its corrosion behaviour. Large Ti structural forgings, used in aero structures, are usually beta heat treated to produce an optimized microstructure with high toughness. On occasion, unwanted abnormal grain structures can develop during heat treatment, which can affect the properties of the material. Large parts containing abnormal structures cannot be used and must be scrapped, at significant financial and environmental cost. As part of our ongoing collaboration with Airbus, we used electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, and discovered that these defects originate in regions of very strong texture that develop during hot working. The factors controlling the development of the abnormal grain structures were studied using in-situ methods developed in LightForm. This new understanding is now being used by the suppliers to Airbus to modify the processing route during forging, and avoid the development of abnormal grains. MatFlow Modelling Tool: MatFlow integrates modelling and experimental results into reproducible worlflows. This tool has been designed to study the structure of materials during forming and heat treatment. This tool is now being adopted by UKAEA as part of their rapid materials development platform. In addition, Novelis are planning to adopt this software as part of their R&D capability to dopt crystal plasticity modeling methods. These will be used to predict formability, bendability and texture development during processing and forming. Environmental Performance: LightForm methods have been used to address Environmental Assisted Cracking in 7xxx aluminium alloys. This project provided the core of a larger Airbus programme aimed at addressing a lack of understanding of the poor Environmentally Assisted Cracking (EAC) Performance of new-generation 7xxx series-T76 alloys used in thick plate products when exposed to humid air. The project was initiated in response to the discovery that, although new generation thick plate 7xxx alloys were designed to surpass the aviation industry specified SCC and exfoliation acceptance tests, they have a higher risk of 'Environmental Assisted Cracking' (EAC) in warm humid air service conditions (EASA 2018-04R1). This work has been instrumental in developing new strategies for mitigating the risks associated with stress corrosion cracking in operating aircraft. Throughout LightForm there has been an emphasis on open, reproducible and reusable science and on effective data management and sharing. The research in LightForm has led to the publication of nearly 200 scientific articles, but also to the release over 50 open datasets and at least 10 open-source software packages, including a new software for the integration of hybrid scientific workflows, MatFlow. This approach has made LightForm a unique environment for the development of associated PhD students, who were able to exploit the tools developed in LightForm in their research. The data and software developed during software is now being used y other researchers and, more importantly, by industrial partners. In addition to the scientific and industrial impact, LightForm has proved to be an outstanding environment in which to develop new researchers. Five of the core PDRAs in LightForm have gone on to academic careers in China, Spain, India and France whilst others have moved on to careers in scientific and engineering consultancy. LightForm has also had a profound impact on the research culture at Manchester, where it has raised the importance of effective data management and reproducible an open science, in collaboration with the Henry Royce Institute. LightForm has spawned several follow-on projects, funded by Innovate UK, EPSRC and directly by industry.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Transport
Impact Types Economic

 
Description AMS CDT Studenship - V.Kan
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 09/2023
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - A.Ha
Amount £92,000 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 09/2026
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - B.Wilson
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2021
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - C.Grant
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2020 
End 09/2024
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - E.Cooksey-Nash
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - F.Guarracino
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - G.Bowker
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 09/2023
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - J.Sharples
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2021 
End 09/2025
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - L.Gonzales
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2020 
End 10/2024
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - M.Nawaz
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Funding ID 76600 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2023
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - M.White
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 09/2023
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - N.Hughes
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 04/2023
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - P.Curran
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2020 
End 10/2024
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - R.Euesden
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - S.Engel
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 10/2025
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - S.Odell
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 10/2024
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - S.Rehman
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 09/2023
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - W.Heatman
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - Y.Yao
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description AMS CDT Studentship - Z.Ma
Amount £76,600 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 09/2022
 
Description Additive Manufacture of Advanced Aluminium Alloys - J. Robson
Amount £152,369 (GBP)
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 01/2024
 
Description DSTL/RAEng Chair in Alloys for Extreme Environments
Amount £500,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RCSRF2021\1247 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 03/2027
 
Description DTA Studentship - B.Karnasiewic
Amount £70,488 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2019 
End 10/2023
 
Description DTA Studentship - I.Howe
Amount £70,488 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2019 
End 03/2023
 
Description DTA Studentship - J.Srivastava
Amount £35,244 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 10/2025
 
Description DTA Studentship - N.Byres
Amount £70,488 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2017 
End 04/2021
 
Description DTA Studentship - R.Barker
Amount £70,488 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 10/2025
 
Description Doing More With Less: A Digital Twin of state-of-the-art and emerging high value manufacturing routes for high integrity titanium alloy components
Amount £2,608,542 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/T024992/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2020 
End 10/2024
 
Description Industrial CASE - X.Zhou
Amount £140,000 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 09/2027
 
Description Next Wing
Amount £11,189,824 (GBP)
Funding ID 10002372 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 10/2024
 
Description Rotational Vibration Assisted Increment Sheet Forming by Novel Tooling (RV-ISF)
Amount £1,016,187 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/W010089/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2022 
End 01/2025
 
Description Royce Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme 2022
Amount £2,850 (GBP)
Organisation Henry Royce Institute 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2022 
End 08/2022
 
Title 2D EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for a Hot-Rolled Model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb Alloy 
Description A set of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data files for a model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb addition alloy following hot-rolling. The 2D data set contains EBSD maps recording the microstructure and texture evolution, from a beta-processed (and annealed) starting condition, following rolling at a temperature of 725C to 50% and 75% reduction. Data for annealing of the rolled materials (750C for 2 hours) is also included. Note, phases in the ctf files marked as 'Titanium Cubic' refer to measurement of the 'Zirconium Cubic' phase. Please see our accompanying paper for analysis of the 2D measurements - as well as analysis of a 3D reconstruction from 10.5281/zenodo.3785084 - and for interpretation of the coupled crystallographic texture evolution; C.S. Daniel, Garner A., P.D. Honniball, L. Bradley, M. Preuss, P.B. Prangnell, J. Quinta da Fonseca, Co-deformation and dynamic annealing effects on the texture development during alpha-beta processing of a model Zr-Nb alloy, Acta Materialia (2020) [Article in Press] 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3784460
 
Title 2D EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for a Hot-Rolled Model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb Alloy 
Description A set of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data files for a model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb addition alloy following hot-rolling. The 2D data set contains EBSD maps recording the microstructure and texture evolution, from a beta-processed (and annealed) starting condition, following rolling at a temperature of 725C to 50% and 75% reduction. Data for annealing of the rolled materials (750C for 2 hours) is also included. Note, phases in the ctf files marked as 'Titanium Cubic' refer to measurement of the 'Zirconium Cubic' phase. Please see our accompanying paper for analysis of the 2D measurements - as well as analysis of a 3D reconstruction from 10.5281/zenodo.3785084 - and for interpretation of the coupled crystallographic texture evolution; C.S. Daniel, Garner A., P.D. Honniball, L. Bradley, M. Preuss, P.B. Prangnell, J. Quinta da Fonseca, Co-deformation and dynamic annealing effects on the texture development during alpha-beta processing of a model Zr-Nb alloy, Acta Materialia (2020) [Article in Press] 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3784461
 
Title 3D EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for a Hot-Rolled Model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb Alloy 
Description A set of serial-section electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data files and a 3D reconstruction of a model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb addition alloy following hot-rolling. The 3D data set contains measurements of the material rolled at 725C to 75% reduction. The measurements include indexing of both the alpha and the beta phases in 441 sequential slices, each of 0.1 µm, through a small section of the material, taken using the dual beam Thermo Scientific Helios Xe + plasma focused ion-beam scanning electron microscope (PFIB-SEM). The 3D EBSD data set includes EBSD measurements in the form of ctf files, binary data files, an Aztec project file, and accompanying images for each slice. A 3D volume was reconstructed from the 3D EBSD data set using a customised pipeline within the DREAM.3D software. The results of this analysis are included in the 'dream3d' folder, which includes a description of the pipeline, the final fully reconstructed dream3d data file, an xdmf file used for visualising the data in ParaView, a h5ebsd file containing results for the reconstruction, and grain averaged data for each of the identified features. Please see our accompanying paper for analysis of the 3D reconstruction - as well as analysis of the 2D measurements from 10.5281/zenodo.3784460 - and for interpretation of the coupled crystallographic texture evolution; C.S. Daniel, Garner A., P.D. Honniball, L. Bradley, M. Preuss, P.B. Prangnell, J. Quinta da Fonseca, Co-deformation and dynamic annealing effects on the texture development during alpha-beta processing of a model Zr-Nb alloy, Acta Materialia (2020) [Article in Press] 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3785085
 
Title 3D EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for a Hot-Rolled Model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb Alloy 
Description A set of serial-section electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data files and a 3D reconstruction of a model Zircaloy-4 with 7 wt.% Nb addition alloy following hot-rolling. The 3D data set contains measurements of the material rolled at 725C to 75% reduction. The measurements include indexing of both the alpha and the beta phases in 441 sequential slices, each of 0.1 µm, through a small section of the material, taken using the dual beam Thermo Scientific Helios Xe + plasma focused ion-beam scanning electron microscope (PFIB-SEM). The 3D EBSD data set includes EBSD measurements in the form of ctf files, binary data files, an Aztec project file, and accompanying images for each slice. A 3D volume was reconstructed from the 3D EBSD data set using a customised pipeline within the DREAM.3D software. The results of this analysis are included in the 'dream3d' folder, which includes a description of the pipeline, the final fully reconstructed dream3d data file, an xdmf file used for visualising the data in ParaView, a h5ebsd file containing results for the reconstruction, and grain averaged data for each of the identified features. Please see our accompanying paper for analysis of the 3D reconstruction - as well as analysis of the 2D measurements from 10.5281/zenodo.3784460 - and for interpretation of the coupled crystallographic texture evolution; C.S. Daniel, Garner A., P.D. Honniball, L. Bradley, M. Preuss, P.B. Prangnell, J. Quinta da Fonseca, Co-deformation and dynamic annealing effects on the texture development during alpha-beta processing of a model Zr-Nb alloy, Acta Materialia (2020) [Article in Press] 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3785084
 
Title AZtec files for 'Large EBSD Dataset of Forged Ti64' - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5734898 
Description AZtec files for 'Large EBSD Dataset of Forged Ti64' - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5734898. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5763650
 
Title AZtec projects reach the data size limit 
Description Ten Ti-6Al-4V samples were mounted on a multi-sample stage for EBSD on a Thermo Fisher Apreo SEM equipped with an Oxford Instruments' Symmetry 2 detector at the University of Manchester. In project multi-sample_1, AZtec reported a saving error when scanning the fifth sample and stopped with 5646 frames saved (.oip~4GB). It is able to montage and export the maps, but any edit on the .oip file cannot be saved. In project multi-sample_2, we restarted the scan on the rest of the samples and completed with 5601 frames. The .oip is 3.97GB, which almost reaches the size limit. No error was reported during the scanning, and the .oip file is still editable. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 10 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5660090
 
Title AZtec projects reach the data size limit 
Description Ten Ti-6Al-4V samples were mounted on a multi-sample stage for EBSD on a Thermo Fisher Apreo SEM equipped with an Oxford Instruments' Symmetry 2 detector at the University of Manchester. In project multi-sample_1, AZtec reported a saving error when scanning the fifth sample and stopped with 5646 frames saved (.oip~4GB). It is able to montage and export the maps, but any edit on the .oip file cannot be saved. In project multi-sample_2, we restarted the scan on the rest of the samples and completed with 5601 frames. The .oip is 3.97GB, which almost reaches the size limit. No error was reported during the scanning, and the .oip file is still editable. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5660089
 
Title Back-stresses and geometrical hardening as competing mechanisms enhancing ductility in HCP metals 
Description Inside the folder "Textures" researchers can find the sets of orientations obtained through EBSD for the three HCP materials studied in the publication "Back-stresses and geometrical hardening as competing mechanisms enhancing ductility in HCP metals" The Origin file data_for_curves.opj contains the data coming from VPSC and CPFEM simulations of uniaxial tensile tests on the aforementioned HCP metals. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/5xmgk782tb/1
 
Title Data Management for Materials Researchers (14/01/2022) - workshop notes 
Description These notes summarise discussions at the Data Management for Materials Researchers workshop, hosted by the Henry Royce Institute on 14th January 2022 (online, UK). Sponsored by the MIDAS and Lightform programme grants, the workshop was aimed at materials science researchers (from any discipline) who collect, store, analyse and share experimental data associated with their samples. It also welcomed inputs from research data management/data infrastructure researchers and specialists. The workshop shared examples of best practice and current initiatives in the area, with the aim of generating discussion and producing a list of actions to enable better data management practices for materials science. Improving data management and sharing culture requires the involvement of everyone in the community and so the meeting was open to all, at all career stages, from all institutions and backgrounds. Discussions were moderated to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to contribute. The workshop was based around discussions of questions, stimulated by short talks from speakers. The following are notes summarising the discussions. They are not a perfect record of everything that was discussed, but nevertheless, it is hoped they prove a useful resource for further activity in this area. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 105 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6855740#.ZAtJ3i2l1QI
 
Title Data for paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions" 
Description Data for paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions" including: -Raw SEM imaging and EBSD data -Processed SEM images -3D slices -Supplementary summary figure -Supplementary video 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7108544
 
Title Dataset for paper entitled 'Microstructure transition gradients in titanium dissimilar alloy (Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr/Ti-6Al-4V) tailored wire-arc additively manufactured components' 
Description Dataset for paper entitled 'Microstructure transition gradients in titanium dissimilar alloy (Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr/Ti-6Al-4V) tailored wire-arc additively manufactured components'. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2021.111577 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5820274
 
Title Dataset for paper entitled 'Quantification of strain fields and grain refinement in Ti-6Al-4V inter-pass rolled wire-arc AM by EBSD misorientation analysis'. 
Description Dataset for paper entitled 'Quantification of strain fields and grain refinement in Ti-6Al-4V inter-pass rolled wire-arc AM by EBSD misorientation analysis'. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2020.110673 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5822709
 
Title Dataset for paper entitled, 'Confirmation of rapid-heating ß recrystallization in wire-arc additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V'. 
Description Dataset for paper entitled, 'Confirmation of rapid-heating ß recrystallization in wire-arc additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V'. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2020.100857 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5822996
 
Title Dataset for paper entitled, 'Tailoring equiaxed ß-grain structures in Ti-6Al-4V coaxial electron beam wire additive manufacturing' 
Description Dataset for paper entitled, 'Tailoring equiaxed ß-grain structures in Ti-6Al-4V coaxial electron beam wire additive manufacturing'. Abstract: High-deposition-rate, directed-energy-deposition additive manufacturing (DED-AM) processes typically produce Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) components with coarse columnar ß-grain structures that lead to undesirable mechanical anisotropy, as well as a fine heterogeneous lamellar transformation microstructure, which is very different to that seen standard wrought products. This arises because of the intrinsic lack of constitutional undercooling at the solidification front, and the subsequent high cooling rates and rapid thermal cycling experienced by the deposited material. In this work, the more refined primary ß-grain solidification structures and textures seen in components built with the novel coaxial electron beam wire DED AM (CEWAM) process have been characterised in detail, for the first time, with the aim of investigating the potential for this technology to directly replicate the ß-annealed damage-tolerant microstructure used in large Ti64 aerospace forgings. Due to its different lower energy density solidification conditions, it has been confirmed, by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis and ß-grain reconstruction in three orthogonal cross-sections, that the CEWAM process changes the melt conditions to promote ß-grain nucleation ahead of the solidification front, which can result in a highly refined, equiaxed, ß-grain structure. However, the conditions for refinement were marginal and a mixed grain structure was commonly observed in thicker sections. Additionally, the subsequent grain-growth stability during ß-annealing was investigated. It is shown that an equivalent microstructure can be achieved to that seen in a standard ß-forged component, by grain structure homogenisation and slow cooling through the ß transus, to promote a colony nucleation, allowing direct part substitution. This was made possible by the refined primary ß-grain structure achieved during deposition with the CEWAM solidification conditions which, importantly, are also shown to lead to a weaker texture than in a typical forging. Paper doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2021.101202 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5708646
 
Title Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys - Supporting data 
Description Supporting data and manuscript for the paper "Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys" published in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3983636
 
Title Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys - Supporting data 
Description Supporting data and manuscript for the paper "Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys" published in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3983635
 
Title Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys: Supporting Data 
Description Supporting data for paper Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-020-05960-5 J. D. Robson, METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS A, VOLUME 51A, OCTOBER 2020-5401-5413 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 5 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4751272#.ZAtTCy2l1QI
 
Title Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys: Supporting Data 
Description Supporting data for paper Deformation Enhanced Diffusion in Aluminium Alloys https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-020-05960-5 J. D. Robson, METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS A, VOLUME 51A, OCTOBER 2020-5401-5413 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4751271
 
Title Density Functional Theory Calculations of Segregation Tendency of Alloying Elements in Al3Zr and Al3Sc Dispersoid Particles 
Description Results and analysis of density functional theory calculations for publication: Stability and stoichiometry of L12 Al3(Sc,Zr) dispersoids in Al-(Si)-Sc-Zr alloys 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 10 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4552091
 
Title EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for Hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V 
Description This is an EBSD dataset for hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V alloy. It includes the EBSD maps of the starting material, and materials have been rolled at nine different temperatures (825°C, 865°C, 895°C, 915°C, 935°C, 950°C, 960°C, 975°C, 1020°C) to three reductions (50%, 75%, and 87.5%). Each rolled material was sampled from transverse direction (TD) and rolling direction (RD) and EBSD maps were taken from both directions. Materials rolled at 825°C and 915°C were further rolled to 94% reduction and EBSD maps were taken from TD. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 16 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6554355#.ZAs67i2l2Cg
 
Title EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for Hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V 
Description This is an EBSD dataset for hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V alloy. It includes the EBSD maps of the starting material, and materials have been rolled at nine different temperatures (825°C, 865°C, 895°C, 915°C, 935°C, 950°C, 960°C, 975°C, 1020°C) to three reductions (50%, 75%, and 87.5%). Each rolled material was sampled from transverse direction (TD) and rolling direction (RD) and EBSD maps were taken from both directions. Materials rolled at 825°C and 915°C were further rolled to 94% reduction and EBSD maps were taken from TD. The information of each EBSD data is given in the metadata file in each folder. For materials rolled above 915°C, the beta phase was reconstructed with a software based on Burger's orientation relationship. The Matlab script for plotting EBSD maps, pole figures and ODFs can be downloaded here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6554354
 
Title EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for a Hot-Rolled Zr-2.5Nb Alloy 
Description A set of ex-situ electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) datafiles following rolling of a Zr-2.5Nb alloy at different temperatures (700C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C, 850C, 900C) and rolling reductions (50%, 75%, 87.5%). Data for annealing of the material (750C for 2 hours) and following rolling at 800C from a different 'as-forged' starting texture is also included. Note, phases in the ctf files marked as Titanium Cubic refer to measurement of the Zirconium Cubic phase. The data in the 'Beta ctf' folder includes a reconstruction of the high temperature beta-phase orientations where possible, reconstructed from the alpha phase orientations using a software based on the Burgers relationship. Please see the accompanying paper for the interpretation of crystallographic texture changes; C.S. Daniel, P.D. Honniball, L. Bradley, M. Preuss, J. Quinta da Fonseca, A detailed study of texture changes during alpha-beta processing of a zirconium alloy, J. Alloys Compd. 804 (2019) 65-83, 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.06.338 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/2784786
 
Title EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for a Hot-Rolled Zr-2.5Nb Alloy 
Description A set of ex-situ electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) datafiles following rolling of a Zr-2.5Nb alloy at different temperatures (700C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C, 850C, 900C) and rolling reductions (50%, 75%, 87.5%). Data for annealing of the material (750C for 2 hours) and following rolling at 800C from a different 'as-forged' starting texture is also included. Note, phases in the ctf files marked as Titanium Cubic refer to measurement of the Zirconium Cubic phase. The data in the 'Beta ctf' folder includes a reconstruction of the high temperature beta-phase orientations where possible, reconstructed from the alpha phase orientations using a software based on the Burgers relationship. Please see the accompanying paper for the interpretation of crystallographic texture changes; C.S. Daniel, P.D. Honniball, L. Bradley, M. Preuss, J. Quinta da Fonseca, A detailed study of texture changes during alpha-beta processing of a zirconium alloy, J. Alloys Compd. 804 (2019) 65-83, 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.06.338 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/2784787
 
Title EBSD Dataset of the Alpha and Beta Phase Orientations for a Hot-Rolled Zr-2.5Nb Alloy 
Description A set of ex-situ electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) datafiles following rolling of a Zr-2.5Nb alloy at different temperatures (700C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C, 850C, 900C) and rolling reductions (50%, 75%, 87.5%). Data for annealing of the material (750C for 2 hours) and following rolling at 800C from a different 'as-forged' starting texture is also included. The data in the 'Beta ctf' folder includes a reconstruction of the high temperature beta-phase orientations where possible, reconstructed from the alpha phase orientations using a software based on the Burgers relationship. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The accompanying paper was published, which interprets the crystallographic texture changes occurring during rolling; C.S. Daniel, P.D. Honniball, L. Bradley, M. Preuss, J. Quinta da Fonseca, A detailed study of texture changes during alpha-beta processing of a zirconium alloy, J. Alloys Compd. 804 (2019) 65-83, 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.06.338 
URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2784787
 
Title EBSD dataset for the HRDIC strain localization study in shot peened Ni superalloy 
Description We used Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) to characterize the microstructure in the transverse section of the shot-peened RR1000 Ni-based superalloy sample with a CamScan MX2000 equipped with an Oxford Instruments EBSD camera operating at an acceleration voltage of 20 kV and using a step size of 0.45 µm. The sample was ground to #4000 grit paper and finished with OP-S (0.2 µm) suspension for ~30 min. EBSD data was analysed using the commercial Channel 5 software (Oxford Instruments). This EBSD map is coupled with the HRDIC strain map in http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4728016 and data visualisation scripts in http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4727939 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4730183
 
Title EBSD datasets to test beta phase reconstruction 
Description A set of EBSD maps collected at room temperature of titanium and zirconium alloys to test high temperature beta phase reconstruction. Maps from both materials following high temperature annealing and deformation are included in various map sizes. All datasets datasets are provided in the Channel 5 project format with some also provided in the Channel 5 text format. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 12 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4588500
 
Title EBSD measurements of Surfalex HF (AA6016A) 
Description This dataset contains electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements of Surfalex HF (AA6016A), an aluminium alloy commonly used in automotive applications. The measurements were carried out using an FEI Sirion field emission gun scanning electron microscope equipped with a Nordlys detector from Oxford instruments. An acceleration voltage of 20 kV was used to scan large areas with a working distance of 16 mm and a step size of 2 µm. The size of the areas ensured that a sufficient number of grains were captured in order to have a reliable estimate of texture. EBSD scans were performed on three different planes with respect to the rolling (RD), transverse (TD) and normal (RD) directions: RD-TD, RD-ND and TD-ND. The sample preparation for EBSD involved grinding steps from 600 to 4000 grit, followed by 3 µm and 1 µm diamond polishing. The final stage of polishing was performed using a colloidal silica with a particle size of 0.02 µm. In order to increase the surface quality, the samples were then subjected to electropolishing using a solution of 70% methanol and 30% nitric acid. The electrolyte was maintained at -15 Celsius during the entire process. The polishing voltage was 10 V and the polishing time was 10 s. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 3 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4926260
 
Title Example Data, Analysis and Results Files for MAUD-batch-analysis 
Description Example data, example analysis and example results files for using with the MAUD-batch-analysis package. The MAUD-batch analysis package can also be downloaded from Zenodo as v1.0.0. To run an example analysis with MAUD batch mode, download these data, analysis and results files and unzip them into the respective folders in the MAUD-batch-analysis package. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7602925
 
Title Exploring Effects of Property Variation on Fragmentation of Metal Rings using a Simple Model 
Description Data and code associated with the paper "Exploring Effects of Property Variation on Fragmentation of Metal Rings using a Simple Model", Defence Technology, 2022 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 17 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6967452#.ZAtJjy2l1QI
 
Title GND Calculation code for Titanium Alloys 
Description The GND density of Titanium Alloys can be calculated based on simplified form of Nye's relations (six curvature tensors) using lattice rotation gradients on specimen surface (measured by conventional 2-D EBSD). The code was developed using MATLAB™ toolbox MTEX with self-developed routines, in which a total of 33 potential dislocations types in a phase is considered. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The local deformation mechanism at microstructural level can be studied by investigating the distribution of GND density in individual grains. The quantified GND values can be helpful in developing unified viscoplastic constitutive equations to model microstructure evolution in hot/warm metal forming processes. 
 
Title Grain-Scale In-situ Study of Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al 
Description Submitted manuscript and data for paper "Grain-Scale In-situ Study of Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al" Files: Manuscript: insitu_dp_pap.pdf Video: Mg DP.mp4 Area 1 image stack: Area_10xxx.tif Area 2 image stack: Aligned 752 of 7520xxx.tif Matlab code: boundarytracker.m, concprof_oblate.m (see code for details) Figures and associated data: *.fig (Matlab figure format), *.txt (ASCII text format) 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/8325256
 
Title HRDIC dataset of strain localization in shot peened Ni superalloy 
Description We used high-resolution digital image correlation (HRDIC) to measure strain distribution at each deformation step near the shot peened surface of a Ni superalloy, deformed in tension at 450 C. To make the DIC analysis possible, we first developed a fine, homogeneous distributed gold speckle pattern by remodelling a thin gold layer previously deposited on the polished sample surface. The gold layer was deposited using an Edwards S150B sputter coater for 4 minutes providing a ~40-45 nm thickness gold layer. Then, the sample was placed in the heating plate of the remodelling device for 6 hours at 300 °C. During the remodelling process, water vapour flows onto the surface of the coated material and remodels the gold layer into fine speckles. In order to avoid any possible speckle coarsening during the high temperature tensile testing, the remodelled sample was heated in a furnace at 475 °C for 5 hours and air cooled to stabilise the gold pattern. Due to the required stabilization heat treatment, the average speckle size was 120 nm, which is coarser than in previous studies at room temperature, where no pattern thermal stabilization is needed. We used a FEI Magellan HR 400L FE-SEM with a theoretical resolution of = 0.9 nm at <1kV to take backscattered electron images of the pattern. The images were obtained at a working distance of 3.5 mm, 5 kV and 0.8 nA beam current. Mosaics of 30x15 images were used to cover 950x420 squared microns, an area shown area in Fig. 1). Each image contains 2048 x 1768 pixels and has a horizontal field of view of 43 microns. The images were overlapped by 20% to enable easy stitching prior to the digital image correlation. We obtained 7 mosaics, one before tensile testing and 6 after each deformation step. The mosaics for the un-deformed and deformed state were correlated using LaVision's digital image correlation (DIC) software (version DaVis 8.3). The correlation was performed using a sub-window size of 1616 pixels and no overlap, which provides a spatial resolution of about 335 nm. This resolution allowed us to handle the large data sets generated when covering such large areas (each mosaic was 45.5k x 20k pixels in size). The correlation produces full-field in-plane displacement maps u(x1, x2, 0) on the plane x1x2 with normal x3. Code for reading and visualizing this data is available here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4727939. The shear strain data is also provided as a python dictionary saved as a NumPy array. Visualization previews are given as .png and .gif files. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4728015
 
Title HRDIC dataset of strain localization in shot peened Ni superalloy 
Description We used high-resolution digital image correlation (HRDIC) to measure strain distribution at each deformation step near the shot peened surface of a Ni superalloy, deformed in tension at 450 C. To make the DIC analysis possible, we first developed a fine, homogeneous distributed gold speckle pattern by remodelling a thin gold layer previously deposited on the polished sample surface. The gold layer was deposited using an Edwards S150B sputter coater for 4 minutes providing a ~40-45 nm thickness gold layer. Then, the sample was placed in the heating plate of the remodelling device for 6 hours at 300 °C. During the remodelling process, water vapour flows onto the surface of the coated material and remodels the gold layer into fine speckles. In order to avoid any possible speckle coarsening during the high temperature tensile testing, the remodelled sample was heated in a furnace at 475 °C for 5 hours and air cooled to stabilise the gold pattern. Due to the required stabilization heat treatment, the average speckle size was 120 nm, which is coarser than in previous studies at room temperature, where no pattern thermal stabilization is needed. We used a FEI Magellan HR 400L FE-SEM with a theoretical resolution of = 0.9 nm at <1kV to take backscattered electron images of the pattern. The images were obtained at a working distance of 3.5 mm, 5 kV and 0.8 nA beam current. Mosaics of 30x15 images were used to cover 950x420 squared microns, an area shown area in Fig. 1). Each image contains 2048 x 1768 pixels and has a horizontal field of view of 43 microns. The images were overlapped by 20% to enable easy stitching prior to the digital image correlation. We obtained 7 mosaics, one before tensile testing and 6 after each deformation step. The mosaics for the un-deformed and deformed state were correlated using LaVision's digital image correlation (DIC) software (version DaVis 8.3). The correlation was performed using a sub-window size of 1616 pixels and no overlap, which provides a spatial resolution of about 335 nm. This resolution allowed us to handle the large data sets generated when covering such large areas (each mosaic was 45.5k x 20k pixels in size). The correlation produces full-field in-plane displacement maps u(x1, x2, 0) on the plane x1x2 with normal x3. Code for reading and visualizing this data is available here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4727939. The shear strain data is also provided as a python dictionary saved as a NumPy array. Visualization previews are given as .png and .gif files. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 22 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4728016
 
Title High Temperature Compression Studies of a 6082.50 Aluminium Alloy using Deformation Dilatometer 
Description Data recorded in uniaxial compression for a 6082.50 aluminium alloy deformed at temperatures of 490C, 520C and 560C, at strain rates of 10, 1, and 0.1 s-1, to 50% height reduction, using TA Instruments DIL 805 A/D/T Quenching and Deformation Dilatometer. The cylindrical samples measured 5 mm diameter and 10 mm height. The 6082.50 aluminium specimens were machined from an as-cast billet. Two homogenisation have been performed on this material, one at 590C for 8h and one at 520C for 2h. These are identified as homogenisation 1 and homogenisation 2 in the data. Al2O3 platens were used for all tests, with Mo discs superglued at both ends of the sample to maximise thermal contact. Tests were conducted in an inert He gas atmosphere under a vacuum of 1e-5 mbar. The temperature was controlled using an K-Type thermocouple spot-welded to the centre of the samples with another K-Type thermocouple welded halfway between the centre and end to measure the thermal gradient. Not all of these second thermocouples provided data due to breakages. Data recorded at high acquisition frequency during deformation is stored in the 'data_deformation' folder and saved with the format: ' test number (002 to 038)_Compression_Daniel_Al_(homogenisation treatment - see above)_SHT_540C_Deform_(Deformation temperature)_(deformation strain rate)_QuenchHeGas__1. Here SHT_540C refers to the solutionising treatment and QuenchHeGas__1 refers to the method of cooling after deformation. This dataset does not include readings from the off-centre thermocouple. Data in the 'data_basic' folder is recorded at a lower acquisition frequency but includes a recording of the entire thermomechanical cycle, including both heating and cooling stages, as well as deformation. The 'method' folder includes contains the temperature and deformation profiles used. 'pictures' includes images taken of the samples and set up during the experiment. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 3 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6362949
 
Title High Temperature Compression Studies of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy using Deformation Dilatometer 
Description Data recorded in uniaxial compression for a Zr-2.5Nb alloy deformed at temperatures of 650C, 675C, 700C, 725C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C and 850C, at strain rates of 10-2.5, 10-2, 10-1.5, 10-1, 10-0.5 and 1 s-1, to 50% height reduction, using TA Instruments DIL 805 A/D/T Quenching and Deformation Dilatometer. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The data was used for a critical assessment of the application of 'processing maps', discussed in the accompanying paper; C.S. Daniel, P. Jedrasiak, C.J. Peyton, J. Quinta da Fonseca, H.R. Shercliff, l. Bradley, P.D. Honniball, Quantifying Processing Map Uncertainties by Modelling the Hot-Compression Behaviour of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy, Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (2020) 
URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3374512
 
Title High Temperature Compression Studies of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy using Deformation Dilatometer 
Description Data recorded in uniaxial compression for a Zr-2.5Nb alloy deformed at temperatures of 650C, 675C, 700C, 725C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C and 850C, at strain rates of 10-2.5, 10-2, 10-1.5, 10-1, 10-0.5 and 1 s-1, to 50% height reduction, using TA Instruments DIL 805 A/D/T Quenching and Deformation Dilatometer. The cylindrical samples measured 5 mm diameter and 10 mm height. The Zr-2.5Nb specimens were machined from the centre of an as-received forged plate manufactured at Wah Chang, with a beta-transformed starting microstructure. Si3N43 platens were used for all tests, with graphite lubricant applied at the ends of the sample to minimise friction. Tests were conducted in an inert He gas atmosphere. Temperature was controlled using an S-Type thermocouple spot-welded to the centre of the samples. Data recorded at high acquisition frequency during deformation is stored in the 'deformation_files' folder and saved with the format: ' test number (001 to 191)_temperature_log(strain rate)_repeat number (01 or 02)'. Data in the 'basic_files' folder is recorded at a lower acquisition frequency, but includes recording of the entire themomechanical cycle, including both heating and cooling stages, as well as deformation. The 'software_files' folder includes metadata stored in the form of a parameter file (.par and .pad), along with a Windows data file (.D5D) that can be loaded and analysed within the dilatometer user interface. An accompanying python script will allow the user to plot the stress-strain data using the Jupyter Notebook application, along with generating 'processing maps' of the material. A critical assessment of the application of 'processing maps' is included in the accompanying paper; C.S. Daniel, P. Jedrasiak, C.J. Peyton, J. Quinta da Fonseca, H.R. Shercliff, l. Bradley, P.D. Honniball, Quantifying Processing Map Uncertainties by Modelling the Hot-Compression Behaviour of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy, Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (2020) 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3374511
 
Title High Temperature Compression Studies of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy using Deformation Dilatometer 
Description Data recorded in uniaxial compression for a Zr-2.5Nb alloy deformed at temperatures of 650C, 675C, 700C, 725C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C and 850C, at strain rates of 10-2.5, 10-2, 10-1.5, 10-1, 10-0.5 and 1 s-1, to 50% height reduction, using TA Instruments DIL 805 A/D/T Quenching and Deformation Dilatometer. The cylindrical samples measured 5 mm diameter and 10 mm height. The Zr-2.5Nb specimens were machined from the centre of an as-received forged plate manufactured at Wah Chang, with a beta-transformed starting microstructure. Si3N43 platens were used for all tests, with graphite lubricant applied at the ends of the sample to minimise friction. Tests were conducted in an inert He gas atmosphere. Temperature was controlled using an S-Type thermocouple spot-welded to the centre of the samples. Data recorded at high acquisition frequency during deformation is stored in the 'deformation_files' folder and saved with the format: ' test number (001 to 191)_temperature_log(strain rate)_repeat number (01 or 02)'. Data in the 'basic_files' folder is recorded at a lower acquisition frequency, but includes recording of the entire themomechanical cycle, including both heating and cooling stages, as well as deformation. The 'software_files' folder includes metadata stored in the form of a parameter file (.par and .pad), along with a Windows data file (.D5D) that can be loaded and analysed within the dilatometer user interface. An accompanying python script will allow the user to plot the stress-strain data using the Jupyter Notebook application, along with generating 'processing maps' of the material. A critical assessment of the application of 'processing maps' is included in the accompanying paper; C.S. Daniel, P. Jedrasiak, C.J. Peyton, J. Quinta da Fonseca, H.R. Shercliff, l. Bradley, P.D. Honniball, Quantifying Processing Map Uncertainties by Modelling the Hot-Compression Behaviour of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy, Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (2020) 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3374512
 
Title Image Correlation based Contactless Strain Measurement 
Description A MATLAB based script was developed for measuring the strain of uniaxial specimen without applying physical gauges on GLEEBLE material simulator. The lateral strain can be measured by automatic edge detection and target points movement tracking. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Non-contact measurement eliminated the effect of clamping strain gauge (e.g. the cold C-gauge would cause double necking of Ti64 tensile specimen under hot deformation conditions). In addition, this script is especially useful for hot deformation tests when specimens have surface oxidation, because the conventional Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique based on surface painted patterns cannot work well. 
 
Title Kampmann-Wagner numerical (KWN) code to track evolution of precipitates during thermomechanical processing 
Description The KWN code is helpful to predict the average size and volume fraction of precipitates for a given thermal history. The output from KWN model feeds directly into the strength and work hardening models to predict the mechanical response of the material. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The prototype KWN model was integrated with excess vacancy and dislocation density based model to simulate the evolution of precipitates during warm tensile test of AA 7021. A manuscript has been prepared where the effect of strain rate on precipitate growth and coarsening is discussed. Considering the capabilities of the model, further systematic experiments are designed where the effect of strain rate on precipitate nucleation can also be discussed. 
 
Title Lamellar and Bi-Modal Ti-64 Microstructure Images 
Description A collection of 40 optical micrographs of Titanium-64, taken from different regions of a forged billet. The images comprise two morphologies, bi-modal and lamellar. The first 20 images (Ti64_0.jpg - Ti64_19.jpg) correspond to the bi-modal morphology. The remaning 20 images (Ti64_20.jpg - Ti64_39.jpg) corrrespond to lamellar. This dataset was comprised to test machine learning algorithms for classification of microstructures. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 7 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5714384
 
Title Lamellar and Bi-Modal Ti-64 Microstructure Images 
Description A collection of 40 optical micrographs of Titanium-64, taken from different regions of a forged billet. The images comprise two morphologies, bi-modal and lamellar. The first 20 images (Ti64_0.jpg - Ti64_19.jpg) correspond to the bi-modal morphology. The remaning 20 images (Ti64_20.jpg - Ti64_39.jpg) corrrespond to lamellar. This dataset was comprised to test machine learning algorithms for classification of microstructures. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5714383
 
Title Large EBSD Dataset of Forged Ti64 
Description An extremely large EBSD dataset - obtained from an alpha + beta deformed forging measuring approximately 7 x 5 cm with 45'268'880 data points and 68% coverage. Sample prep conducted by Nicholas Byres, EBSD microscopy conducted by Alec Davis. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 52 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5734897
 
Title LightForm-group/surfalex_data_explorer: v1.0.1 
Description This repository contains interactive analysis to supplement our manuscript : 'A novel integrated framework for reproducible formability predictions using virtual materials testing', A. J. Plowman, P. Jedrasiak, T. Jailin, P. Crowther, S. Mishra, P. Shanthraj, J. Quinta da Fonseca, submitted to Materials Open Research. The manuscript describes the development of a new computational framework for formability studies, MatFlow. We apply this framework to study the formability of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) alloy. In this repository, we include Jupyter notebooks that can be used to interactively explore the experimental data. Data and analysis from the DIC, EBSD, and forming limit experiments can be examined. We also include a Jupyter notebook to explore the five MatFlow workflows that we developed in support of this work. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 3 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307974#.ZAtGFC2l1QI
 
Title Main data for the publication "Effects of heat treatments on the microstructure and localized corrosion behaviors of AA7075 aluminum alloy" 
Description This is a dataset of the main results of the article 'Effects of heat treatments on the microstructure and localized corrosion behaviors of AA7075 aluminum alloy'. The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of five different heat treatments on the microstructure and localized corrosion behaviors of AA7075 aluminum alloy. The dataset includes the chemical composition of the ?-phase, calculated using JMatPro-v13.1 (as shown in Figure 8 of the article), data for generating the STEM results, and images of the SEM results. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7683118
 
Title Measuring Bulk Crystallographic Texture from Ti-6Al-4V Hot-Rolled Sample Matrices using Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (Analysis Dataset) 
Description A dataset of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) analysis files, recording the refinement of crystallographic texture from a number of Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) sample matrices, containing a total of 93 hot-rolled samples, from three different orthogonal sample directions. The aim of the work was to accurately quantify bulk macro-texture for both the a (hexagonal close packed, hcp) and ß (body-centred cubic, bcc) phases across a range of different processing conditions. Material Prior to the experiment, the Ti-64 materials had been hot-rolled at a range of different temperatures, and to different reductions, followed by air-cooling, using a rolling mill at The University of Manchester. Rectangular specimens (6 mm x 5 mm x 2 mm) were then machined from the centre of these rolled blocks, and from the starting material. The samples were cut along different orthogonal rolling directions and are referenced according to alignment of the rolling directions (RD - rolling direction, TD - transverse direction, ND - normal direction) with the long horizontal (X) axis and short vertical (Y) axis of the rectangular specimens. Samples of the same orientation were glued together to form matrices for the synchrotron analysis. The material, rolling conditions, sample orientations and experiment reference numbers used for the synchrotron diffraction analysis are included in the data as an excel spreadsheet. SXRD Data Collection Data was recorded using a high energy 90 keV synchrotron X-ray beam and a 5 second exposure at the detector for each measurement point. The slits were adjusted to give a 0.5 x 0.5 mm beam area, chosen to optimally resolve both the a and ß phase peaks. The SXRD data was recorded by stage-scanning the beam in sequential X-Y positions at 0.5 mm increments across the rectangular sample matrices, containing a number of samples glued together, to analyse a total of 93 samples from the different processing conditions and orientations. Post-processing of the data was then used to sort the data into a rectangular grid of measurement points from each individual sample. Diffraction Pattern Averaging The stage-scan diffraction pattern images from each matrix were sorted into individual samples, and the images averaged together for each specimen, using a Python notebook sxrd-tiff-summer. The averaged .tiff images each capture average diffraction peak intensities from an area of about 30 mm2 (equivalent to a total volume of ~ 60 mm3), with three different sample orientations then used to calculate the bulk crystallographic texture from each rolling condition. SXRD Data Analysis A new Fourier-based peak fitting method from the Continuous-Peak-Fit Python package was used to fit full diffraction pattern ring intensities, using a range of different lattice plane peaks for determining crystallographic texture in both the a and ß phases. Bulk texture was calculated by combining the ring intensities from three different sample orientations. A .poni calibration file was created using Dioptas, through a refinement matching peak intensities from a LaB6 or CeO2 standard diffraction pattern image. Two calibrations were needed as some of the data was collected in July 2022 and some of the data was collected in August 2022. Dioptas was then used to determine peak bounds in 2? for characterising a total of 22 a and 4 ß lattice plane rings from the averaged Ti-64 diffraction pattern images, which were recorded in a .py input script. Using these two inputs, Continuous-Peak-Fit automatically converts full diffraction pattern rings into profiles of intensity versus azimuthal angle, for each 2? section, which can also include multiple overlapping a and ß peaks. The Continuous-Peak-Fit refinement can be launched in a notebook or from the terminal, to automatically calculate a full mathematical description, in the form of Fourier expansion terms, to match the intensity variation of each individual lattice plane ring. The results for peak position, intensity and half-width for all 22 a and 4 ß lattice plane peaks were recorded at an azimuthal resolution of 1º and stored in a .fit output file. Details for setting up and running this analysis can be found in the continuous-peak-fit-analysis package. This package also includes a Python script for extracting lattice plane ring intensity distributions from the .fit files, matching the intensity values with spherical polar coordinates to parametrise the intensity distributions from each of the three different sample orientations, in the form of pole figures. The script can also be used to combine intensity distributions from different sample orientations. The final intensity variations are recorded for each of the lattice plane peaks as text files, which can be loaded into MTEX to plot and analyse both the a and ß phase crystallographic texture. Metadata An accompanying YAML text file contains associated SXRD beamline metadata for each measurement. The raw data is in the form of synchrotron diffraction pattern .tiff images which were too large to upload to Zenodo and are instead stored on The University of Manchester's Research Database Storage (RDS) repository. The raw data can therefore be obtained by emailing the authors. The material data folder documents the machining of the samples and the sample orientations. The associated processing metadata for the Continuous-Peak-Fit analyses records information about the different packages used to process the data, along with details about the different files contained within this analysis dataset. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7437908
 
Title Measuring Bulk Crystallographic Texture from Ti-6Al-4V Hot-Rolled Sample Matrices using Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (Results Dataset) 
Description A dataset of crystallographic texture results for both a (hexagonal close packed, hcp) and ß (body-centred cubic, bcc) phases, measured from 31 different hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) materials and 3 differently orientated samples using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD). 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 1 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7477473#.ZAs_dy2l1QI
 
Title Measuring Bulk Crystallographic Texture from Ti-6Al-4V Hot-Rolled Sample Matrices using Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (Results Dataset) 
Description A dataset of crystallographic texture results for both a (hexagonal close packed, hcp) and ß (body-centred cubic, bcc) phases, measured from 31 different hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) materials and 3 differently orientated samples using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD). The aim of the work was to accurately quantify bulk macro-texture for both the a and ß phases across a range of different processing conditions, and to compare results with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements. The synchrotron intensities were extracted using a new Fourier-based peak fitting method from the Continuous-Peak-Fit Python package, and then directly used to calculate the pole figures, orientation distribution functions (ODFs) and numerical values for the texture indices in MTEX Material The Ti-64 materials had been hot-rolled at a range of different temperatures, and to different reductions, followed by air-cooling. Three samples of different orientation were cut from the centre of these rolled blocks, and from the starting material. The material and hot-rolling conditions are recorded in this analysis dataset as an excel spreadsheet and summarised in the table below. A table recording the sample number and associated hot-rolling condition. Sample Number Rolling Condition 1 825ºC, 87.5% Reduction 2 865ºC, 87.5% Reduction 3 895ºC, 87.5% Reduction 4 915ºC, 87.5% Reduction 5 935ºC, 87.5% Reduction 6 950ºC, 87.5% Reduction 7 960ºC, 87.5% Reduction 8 975ºC, 87.5% Reduction 9 1020ºC, 87.5% Reduction 10 ß-annealed, 825ºC, 87.5% Reduction 11 ß-annealed, 915ºC, 87.5% Reduction 12 ß-annealed, 975ºC, 87.5% Reduction 13 Reduced heating from 915ºC, 87.5% Reduction 14 Reduced heating from 975ºC, 87.5% Reduction 15 825ºC, 75% Reduction 16 865ºC, 75% Reduction 17 895ºC, 75% Reduction 18 915ºC, 75% Reduction 19 935ºC, 75% Reduction 20 950ºC, 75% Reduction 21 960ºC, 75% Reduction 22 975ºC, 75% Reduction 23 1020ºC, 75% Reduction 24 ß-annealed, 825ºC, 75% Reduction 25 ß-annealed, 915ºC, 75% Reduction 26 ß-annealed, 975ºC, 75% Reduction 27 Reduced heating from 915ºC, 75% Reduction 28 Reduced heating from 975ºC, 75% Reduction 29 As-received 30 As-received, ß-annealed 31 975ºC, 50% Reduction MTEX Data Analysis The lattice plane intensities for 22 a and 4 ß phase peaks were extracted from the Continuous-Peak-Fit analysis, also included in this analysis dataset, and saved as text files in the form of pole figures. The lattice intensity text files were analysed in MTEX using scripts from the continuous-peak-fit-analysis package, to plot pole figures and ODF slices, and to calculate pole figure maxima, ODF maxima, texture indices and texture component phase fractions. A kernel half-width of 10° was found to produce optimal data fitting, for highly accurate texture strength intensity values. Metadata An accompanying YAML text file contains associated processing metadata for the SXRD analysis, recording information about the packages used to process the data, along with details about the different files contained within this results dataset. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7477472
 
Title Modelling dynamic precipitation in pre-aged aluminium alloys 
Description Calculation of precipitation kinetics under deformation This repository contains the data plotted in https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2022.118036 as well as the code used to generate them. The code can be run reading the instructions contained in README.txt 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 31 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6090249
 
Title Modelling the Effect of Deformation on Discontinuous Precipitation in Magnesium-Aluminium Alloy 
Description Data (Matlab .fig format) and visualization output from DAMASK (Paraview) for paper "Modelling the Effect of Deformation on Discontinuous Precipitation in Magnesium-Aluminium Alloy" 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 2 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/6470765
 
Title Nakazima measurements of Surfalex HF (AA6016A) 
Description This dataset contains Nakazima tests of Surfalex HF (AA6016A), an aluminium alloy commonly used in automotive applications. Six sample shapes with neck widths of 10, 20, 40, 60 and 120 mm as well as a full disk, were tested to study different stress state conditions. The samples were first cleaned and spray-painted with a white undercoating and a black speckle pattern to facilitate 3D surface displacement measurements. To ensure that the samples did not slip during testing, a clamp force of 200 kN was applied. The speed of the hemispherical punch, which had a diameter of 100 mm, was maintained at 1 mm per minute for all tests. A graphite lubricant was used to reduce friction between the sample and the punch. Images were recorded during the tests using the GOM-ARAMIS software. The acquisition frequency was set to 2 Hz for the first fifty stages, and was then increased to 20 Hz until the samples fractured. This was done to obtain more information during the localisation phase, where the strain rate starts to increase. Three repeat experiments were carried out for each sample geometry. The raw images are not contained in this dataset. The stereo-correlation analysis, for which we used a subset size of 19 pixels and a step size of 16 pixels, was performed using GOM Correlate Professional 2019. In accordance with the ISO 12004 standard, the major and minor true strains were then extracted from three equidistant, parallel lines, perpendicular to the crack direction and separated from each other by 2 mm. These 3 lines are labelled "Section zero", "Section one" and "Section two" in the dataset. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 6 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4926356
 
Title RAW SEM images mosaics dataset for the HRDIC strain localization study in shot peened Ni superalloy 
Description We used a FEI Magellan HR 400L FE-SEM with a theoretical resolution of = 0.9 nm at <1kV and = 0.8 nm at = 5kV to take backscattered electron images of the fine, homogeneous distributed gold speckle pattern obtained by remodelling of a thin gold layer previously deposited on the polished sample surface. The images were obtained at a working distance of 3.5 mm, 5 kV and 0.8 nA beam current. Mosaics of 30x15 images were used to cover 950x420 µm2. Each image contains 2048 x 1768 pixels and has a horizontal field of view of 43 µm. The images were overlapped by 20% to enable easy stitching prior to the digital image correlation. We obtained 7 mosaics, one before tensile testing and 6 after each deformation step. This set of images at different strain steps is coupled with the EBSD data set in https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4730184, the HRDIC strain maps in http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4728016 and data visualisation scripts in http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4727939 0_def corresponds to the undeformed sample, while 1_def to 6_def were obtained after each deformation step. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5190124
 
Title Small Angle X-ray scattering data analysis 
Description This MATLAB based code is helpful for analysing small angle X-ray scattering data in terms of Guinier and Kratky plots and provide information about precipitate size and relative volume fraction 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact This model has helped in analysing in-situ SAXS data obtained from Diamond beamline to study the effect of strain rate on dynamic precipitation kinetics 
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 1 - Generate volume element 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the first in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this first workflow, we generated a representative volume element (RVE) for the Surfalex HF material. To do this, we sampled 2000 orientations from a CTF file generated from EBSD measurements on the sheet RD-TD plane. The MTEX toolbox was used to sample the texture. The grain morphology was approximated using a Voronoi tessellation that was subsequently stretched by a factor of 1.5 in the RD direction, to mimic the slight grain elongation that was observed. The pre-processing tools in the DAMASK package were used to generated the RVE. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 6 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307576#.ZAtI4y2l1QI
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 1 - Generate volume element 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the first in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this first workflow, we generated a representative volume element (RVE) for the Surfalex HF material. To do this, we sampled 2000 orientations from a CTF file generated from EBSD measurements on the sheet RD-TD plane. The MTEX toolbox was used to sample the texture. The grain morphology was approximated using a Voronoi tessellation that was subsequently stretched by a factor of 1.5 in the RD direction, to mimic the slight grain elongation that was observed. The pre-processing tools in the DAMASK package were used to generated the RVE. This workflow can be downloaded and explored in a Jupyter notebook, as explained in the GitHub repository here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307575
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 2 - Fit single crystal parameters 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the second in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we calibrated crystal plasticity (CP) parameters using experimental data. The hardening coefficient, the initial and maximum CRSS values, and the hardening exponent, as defined in the CP phenomenological power law adopted by DAMASK were optimised. Starting from trial guesses for these parameters, we optimised the parameters with respect to the experimental stress-strain curve of the Surfalex HF material, using a Levenberg-Marquardt procedure. At each iteration of the process, N+1 CP simulations were performed (for N fitting parameters). Five iterations were used in total. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 5 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307580#.ZAtIry2l1QI
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 2 - Fit single crystal parameters 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the second in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we calibrated crystal plasticity (CP) parameters using experimental data. The hardening coefficient, the initial and maximum CRSS values, and the hardening exponent, as defined in the CP phenomenological power law adopted by DAMASK were optimised. Starting from trial guesses for these parameters, we optimised the parameters with respect to the experimental stress-strain curve of the Surfalex HF material, using a Levenberg-Marquardt procedure. At each iteration of the process, N+1 CP simulations were performed (for N fitting parameters). Five iterations were used in total. This workflow can be downloaded and explored in a Jupyter notebook, as explained in the GitHub repository here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307579
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 3 - Fit yield functions 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the third in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we fitted three anisotropic yield functions to yield stress data obtained from a large set of multiaxial crystal plasticity simulations. The fitted yield functions were: the Hill1948 yield criterion, the Barlat Yld91 (6-parameter) yield function, and the Barlat Yld2004-18p (18-parameter) yield function. DAMASK was used to perform these simulations. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 7 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307582#.ZAtIeS2l1QI
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 3 - Fit yield functions 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the third in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we fitted three anisotropic yield functions to yield stress data obtained from a large set of multiaxial crystal plasticity simulations. The fitted yield functions were: the Hill1948 yield criterion, the Barlat Yld91 (6-parameter) yield function, and the Barlat Yld2004-18p (18-parameter) yield function. DAMASK was used to perform these simulations. This workflow can be downloaded and explored in a Jupyter notebook, as explained in the GitHub repository here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307581
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 4 - Estimate hardening curves 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the fourth in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we estimated the plastic stress-strain curves of the material during different loading conditions, using crystal plasticity simulations (via DAMASK). In turn, this table was used a "plastic table" Abaqus input for the fifth and final workflow. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 4 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307588#.ZAtILC2l1QI
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 4 - Estimate hardening curves 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the fourth in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we estimated the plastic stress-strain curves of the material during different loading conditions, using crystal plasticity simulations (via DAMASK). In turn, this table was used a "plastic table" Abaqus input for the fifth and final workflow. This workflow can be downloaded and explored in a Jupyter notebook, as explained in the GitHub repository here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307587
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 5 - Simulate Marciniak-Kuczynski 
Description This group of MatFlow workflows is the fifth in a set of eight workflow groups developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In these workflows, we used Abaqus to perform deformation of a grooved sheet using the finite element method, for different displacement boundary conditions and different groove angles (relative to the major loading direction). Thus, we performed a numerical Marciniak-Kuczynski analysis on the Surfalex material, which allowed us to predict the forming limit curve. We also include various sensitivity studies. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 7 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307590#.ZAtGvi2l1QI
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 5 - Simulate Marciniak-Kuczynski 
Description This group of MatFlow workflows is the fifth in a set of eight workflow groups developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In these workflows, we used Abaqus to perform deformation of a grooved sheet using the finite element method, for different displacement boundary conditions and different groove angles (relative to the major loading direction). Thus, we performed a numerical Marciniak-Kuczynski analysis on the Surfalex material, which allowed us to predict the forming limit curve. We also include various sensitivity studies. This workflow can be downloaded and explored in a Jupyter notebook, as explained in the GitHub repository here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307589
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 6 - Generate random volume element 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the sixth in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we generate a comparison volume element from a random texture and equiaxed microstructure. This RVE is used in a comparison of the simulated Lankford coefficients between the Surfalex model RVE and this "random" RVE. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 4 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307637#.ZAtHgi2l1QI
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 6 - Generate random volume element 
Description This MatFlow workflow is the sixth in a set of eight workflows developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In this workflow, we generate a comparison volume element from a random texture and equiaxed microstructure. This RVE is used in a comparison of the simulated Lankford coefficients between the Surfalex model RVE and this "random" RVE. This workflow can be downloaded and explored in a Jupyter notebook, as explained in the GitHub repository here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307636
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 7 - Lankford coefficient 
Description This group of MatFlow workflows is the seventh in a set of eight workflow groups developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In these workflows, we perform uniaxial tensile tests on two RVEs: the Surfalex RVE and an RVE with a random texture. We use this data to predict the Lankford coefficient in both cases. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 5 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307639#.ZAtHNS2l1QI
 
Title Surfalex HF formability study - Workflow 7 - Lankford coefficient 
Description This group of MatFlow workflows is the seventh in a set of eight workflow groups developed during our formability study of the Surfalex HF (AA6016A) material. In these workflows, we perform uniaxial tensile tests on two RVEs: the Surfalex RVE and an RVE with a random texture. We use this data to predict the Lankford coefficient in both cases. This workflow can be downloaded and explored in a Jupyter notebook, as explained in the GitHub repository here. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7307638
 
Title Synchrotron Diffraction Data Recorded during High Temperature Deformation of Ti-64 
Description A caked synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) dataset, recording diffraction pattern rings during the high temperature deformation of a Ti-64 sample. The sample was deformed in uniaxial tension at 950°C and a strain rate of about 0.02 s-1, using an electro-thermal mechanical tester (ETMT) mounted on the I12:JEEP beamline at Diamond Light Source. Results were recorded using a high energy 89 keV synchrotron X-ray beam and a fast acquisition rate (10 Hz) detector. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The results of this experiment were published in a conference paper for The 14th World Conference on Titanium, presented on June 10th - 14th, 2019 in Nantes France, to be published in MATEC Web of Conferences. A preprint can be found in; Daniel, Christopher Stuart, Nguyen, Chi-Toan, Atkinson, Michael D., & Quinta da Fonseca, João. (2019, August 20). Direct Evidence for a Dynamic Phase Transformation during High Temperature Deformation in Ti-64 [Preprint]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3381183 
URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3630511
 
Title Synchrotron Diffraction Data Recorded during High Temperature Deformation of Ti-64 
Description A caked synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) dataset, recording diffraction pattern rings during the high temperature deformation of a Ti-64 sample. The sample was deformed in uniaxial tension at 950°C and a strain rate of about 0.02 s-1, using an electro-thermal mechanical tester (ETMT) mounted on the I12:JEEP beamline at Diamond Light Source. Results were recorded using a high energy 89 keV synchrotron X-ray beam and a fast acquisition rate (10 Hz) detector. The results of this experiment are presented in the paper; Daniel, Christopher Stuart, Nguyen, Chi-Toan, Atkinson, Michael D., & Quinta da Fonseca, João. (2019, August 20). Direct Evidence for a Dynamic Phase Transformation during High Temperature Deformation in Ti-64 [Preprint]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3381183 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3630511
 
Title Synchrotron Diffraction Data Recorded during High Temperature Deformation of Ti-64 
Description A caked synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) dataset, recording diffraction pattern rings during the high temperature deformation of a Ti-64 sample. The sample was deformed in uniaxial tension at 950°C and a strain rate of about 0.02 s-1, using an electro-thermal mechanical tester (ETMT) mounted on the I12:JEEP beamline at Diamond Light Source. Results were recorded using a high energy 89 keV synchrotron X-ray beam and a fast acquisition rate (10 Hz) detector. The results of this experiment are presented in the paper; Daniel, Christopher Stuart, Nguyen, Chi-Toan, Atkinson, Michael D., & Quinta da Fonseca, João. (2019, August 20). Direct Evidence for a Dynamic Phase Transformation during High Temperature Deformation in Ti-64 [Preprint]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3381183 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3630510
 
Title Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Analysis - Measuring Bulk Crystallographic Texture from Differently-Orientated Ti-6Al-4V Samples 
Description A dataset of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) analysis files, recording the refinement of crystallographic texture from six differently orientated Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) samples. Two different refinement methods were used to fit a range of diffraction pattern ring intensities, for determining crystallographic texture in both a (hexagonal close packed, hcp) and ß (body-centred cubic, bcc) phases. The first procedure was based on an established Rietveld refinement method, using the software package MAUD (Materials Analysis Using Diffraction). The second procedure uses a new Fourier-based peak fitting method from the Continuous-Peak-Fit Python package. Both methods were used to calculate texture from each of the six different sample orientations, a combination of the six sample orientations, and in a batch processing method for calculating spatially-resolved texture variation from 387 individual X-Y stage-scan SXRD measurements across one of the samples. Material The Ti-64 material used in this study was pre-rolled to 87.5% reduction at 915ºC and then air-cooled to develop a characteristic texture. Six different rectangular samples were cut from this material and are referenced according to alignment with the original rolling directions (RD - rolling direction, TD - transverse direction, ND - normal direction), and alignment with the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) axes of the synchrotron detector; A table recording the SXRD run number and sample orientation analysed. Run Number Sample Orientation Reference Sample Orientation (Horizontal - Vertical) 103840 Sample 6 TD45ºRD - ND 103841 Sample 5 RD - TD45ºND 103842 Sample 4 TD - RD45ºND 103843 Sample 3 RD - TD 103844 Sample 2 RD - ND 103845 Sample 1 TD - ND Diffraction Pattern Averaging The .cbf images found in the raw dataset were first converted into .tiff images. The stage-scan images were then averaged together for each of the different sample orientations, using a Python notebook sxrd-tiff-summer, to produce six averaged .tiff images. These averaged .tiff image capture average diffraction peak intensities from an area of about 96.75 mm2 (equivalent to a total volume of around 193.5 mm3) from each piece, which is therefore representative of bulk crystallographic texture from six different sample orientations. MAUD Analysis To process data using MAUD the diffraction pattern images must first be caked, which converts the data into .dat files of intensity versus 2? profiles, using 72 azimuthal cakes, each of 5° azimuthal width. Although MAUD has an in-built function to cake data, using ImageJ, it is not possible to cake data in MAUD with ImageJ in an automated way. Therefore, caking was done using pyFAI, an open-source Python package, with the caking procedure recorded in a separate Python notebook, pyFAI-integration-caking. The caking was applied to each of the six averaged tiff images, as well as being applied to 387 individual X-Y stage-scan tiff images from Sample 1 (103845). The caking procedure was also applied to the CeO2 calibrant diffraction pattern, creating a .dat file that could be used for calibration of the instrument parameters within MAUD, before fitting the experimental data from the different samples. A separate package MAUD-batch-analysis was used to record the setup of the files and details of the refinement procedure. Details about the refinement procedure are also recorded in an accompanying paper reporting on these results. A number of refinement steps were used to fit the caked data from the six different sample orientations, and calculate texture. Texture was also calculated from a .dat file that combined all six sample orientations together. The crystallographic texture was refined using the E-WIMV algorithm, which was found to best reproduce quantitative texture intensity values with an orientation distribution function (ODF) resolution of 15º. The MAUD-batch-analysis package also contains details about how to setup and run MAUD in an automated batch processing mode. MAUD's batch mode was used to calculate texture from a series of 387 individual stage-scan diffraction patterns from Sample 1 (103845). A MAUD-batch-analysis script was first used to substitute caked data from the 387 diffraction patterns into template .par files, which contained an initial refinement of the volume fraction, crystal sizes and micro-strain, as a starting point. Both the crystal parameters and texture were then iteratively refined, in MAUD, using a .ins batch analysis script launched from the terminal. This was done to refine both a and then ß phase texture. The texture data from the MAUD analysis was recorded as an ODF, with 15º resolution over all Euler space, and extracted in text format using a script from MAUD-batch-analysis. These text files can be loaded into MTEX, for plotting and analysing both the a and ß phase crystallographic texture. Continuous-Peak-Fit Analysis A .poni calibration file was created using Dioptas, through a refinement matching peak intensities from a CeO2 standard diffraction pattern image. Dioptas was then used to determine peak bounds in 2? for characterising a total of 21 a and 4 ß lattice plane rings from the Ti-64 diffraction pattern images, which were recorded in a .py input script. Using these two inputs, Continuous-Peak-Fit automatically converts full diffraction pattern rings into profiles of intensity versus azimuthal angle, for each 2? section, which can also include multiple overlapping a and ß peaks. The Continuous-Peak-Fit refinement can then be launched in a notebook or from the terminal, to automatically calculate a full mathematical description, in the form of Fourier expansion terms, to match the intensity variation of each individual lattice plane ring. The results for peak position, intensity and half-width for all 21 a and 4 ß lattice plane peaks were recorded at an azimuthal resolution of 1º and stored in a .fit output file. Details for setting up and running this analysis can be found in the continuous-peak-fit-analysis package. This package also includes a Python script for extracting lattice plane ring intensity distributions from the .fit files, matching the intensity values with spherical polar coordinates to parametrise the intensity distributions from each of the six different sample orientations, in the form of pole figures. The script can also be used to combine intensity distributions from different sample orientations. The final intensity variations are recorded for each of the lattice plane peaks as text files, which can be loaded into MTEX to plot and analyse both the a and ß phase crystallographic texture. This method was also used to analyse all 387 individual diffraction patterns recorded across Sample 1 (S1 - 103845), to quantify the texture variation across the piece. Metadata An accompanying YAML text file contains associated processing metadata for both the MAUD and the Continuous-Peak-Fit analyses, recording information about the different packages used to process the data, along with details about the different files contained within this analysis dataset. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7310549
 
Title Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Dataset - Measuring Bulk Crystallographic Texture from Differently-Orientated Ti-6Al-4V Samples 
Description A dataset of raw synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) images, recording crystallographic texture from two different pre-processed Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) materials, analysing six differently orientated samples from each material. The aim of the work was to provide a large dataset for testing and improving crystallographic texture refinement from SXRD patterns, with the use of different computational fitting methods. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 38 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7311306#.ZAtErS2l1QI
 
Title Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Results - Measuring Bulk Crystallographic Texture from Differently-Orientated Ti-6Al-4V Samples 
Description A dataset of crystallographic texture results for both a (hexagonal close packed, hcp) and ß (body-centred cubic, bcc) phases, measured from six differently orientated Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) samples, using two different analysis techniques of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) data. The texture results are produced from two refinement methods for fitting intensities from SXRD pattern images; an established Rietveld refinement method using the software package MAUD (Materials Analysis Using Diffraction) and a new Fourier-based peak fitting method from the Continuous-Peak-Fit Python package. The texture results were also compared with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements from a single sample orientation. The SXRD and EBSD textures were analysed using MTEX to enable a direct comparison of the pole figures, orientation distribution functions (ODFs) and numerical values for the texture indices. The SXRD texture is calculated from each of the six different sample orientations, a combination of the six sample orientations, and in a batch processing method for calculating spatially-resolved texture variation from 387 individual X-Y stage-scan SXRD measurements across one of the samples. The texture variation measured using stage-scan SXRD is directly compared with EBSD, by splitting up the EBSD map into an equivalent grid matrix using an automated script in MTEX. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 2 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7319352#.ZAs_9i2l1QI
 
Title Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Results - Measuring Bulk Crystallographic Texture from Differently-Orientated Ti-6Al-4V Samples 
Description A dataset of crystallographic texture results for both a (hexagonal close packed, hcp) and ß (body-centred cubic, bcc) phases, measured from six differently orientated Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) samples, using two different analysis techniques of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) data. The texture results are produced from two refinement methods for fitting intensities from SXRD pattern images; an established Rietveld refinement method using the software package MAUD (Materials Analysis Using Diffraction) and a new Fourier-based peak fitting method from the Continuous-Peak-Fit Python package. The texture results were also compared with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements from a single sample orientation. The SXRD and EBSD textures were analysed using MTEX to enable a direct comparison of the pole figures, orientation distribution functions (ODFs) and numerical values for the texture indices. The SXRD texture is calculated from each of the six different sample orientations, a combination of the six sample orientations, and in a batch processing method for calculating spatially-resolved texture variation from 387 individual X-Y stage-scan SXRD measurements across one of the samples. The texture variation measured using stage-scan SXRD is directly compared with EBSD, by splitting up the EBSD map into an equivalent grid matrix using an automated script in MTEX. Material The Ti-64 material used in this study was pre-rolled to 87.5% reduction at 915ºC and then air-cooled to develop a characteristic texture. The run numbers from the experiment reference six different sample orientations, according to their alignment with the original rolling directions (RD - rolling direction, TD - transverse direction, ND - normal direction), and alignment with the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) axes of the synchrotron detector. MAUD / MTEX Analysis The a and ß phase texture for each of the six different sample orientations was calculated using MAUD, included in this analysis dataset, which produced ODFs in the form of text files. The texture files were analysed in MTEX using scripts from the MAUD-batch-analysis package, for plotting of the pole figures and ODF slices, along with calculation of pole figure maxima, ODF maxima and texture indices. The same procedure was used to analyse texture from all six orientations together; using MTEX to fit a single ODF text file. And a series of ODF text files were analysed to calculate texture variation from an X-Y stage scan of Sample 1 (103845). Two different ODF resolutions of 5º and 15º were initially used to fit the texture in MAUD, with the same ODF resolution applied to analyse the data in MTEX. However, an ODF resolution of 15° was found to reproduce the most reasonable texture strength intensity values, with the closest match to the EBSD results. Continuous-Peak-Fit / MTEX Analysis The lattice plane intensities for 21 a and 4 ß phase peaks were extracted from the Continuous-Peak-Fit analysis, included in this analysis dataset, and saved as text files in the form of pole figures. The lattice intensity text files were analysed in MTEX using scripts from the continuous-peak-fit-analysis package, to plot pole figures and ODF slices, and to calculate pole figure maxima, ODF maxima and texture indices. The same procedure was used to analyse texture from all six orientations together, along with combinations of different sample orientations, by fitting combined lattice intensity text files in MTEX. And a series of lattice intensity text files were analysed to calculate texture variation from the X-Y stage scan of Sample 1 (103845). Lattice plane intensity distributions which had been normalised to a Ti-64 powder sample measurement were also analysed, to see if this had any effect on the texture intensities. Nevertheless, the powder-corrected texture was found to exactly match the raw intensity measurements. Three different ODF resolutions of 5º, 10º and 15º were initially used to fit the texture in MTEX. However, a kernel half-width of 10° was found to produce optimal data fitting, for highly accurate texture strength intensity values. EBSD / MTEX Analysis The indexed a-phase EBSD measurements were recorded over an area of around 100 mm2, with an equivalent sized map of ß-phase orientations reconstructed from the data. Both the a and the ß phase maps were analysed using the MTEX-texture-block-analysis package, which was used to split up the map into 387 individual square sections, with equivalent dimensions to the SXRD stage-scan measurement grid. For each of the 387 sections, MTEX was used to plot pole figures and ODF slices, and to calculate pole figure maxima, ODF maxima and texture indices. Texture Variation Comparison The texture values calculated from the SXRD stage scan measurements, with the two analysis methods, were used for a direct comparison with the texture variation recorded using EBSD. This analysis was recorded in the texture-strength-comparison package. The results show differences in texture variation across the piece depending on the method used to analyse the SXRD data. The Continuous-Peak-Fit analysis method shows the closest match with EBSD, producing clear texture intensity spikes for the different a and ß lattice plane pole figure intensities, ODF maxima and texture indices, at the centre of the piece. The results were also used to develop SXRD maps showing the distribution of texture intensities across the sample. Metadata An accompanying YAML text file contains associated processing metadata for the SXRD and EBSD analyses, recording information about the different packages used to process the data, along with details about the different files contained within this results dataset. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7319351
 
Title Tensile tests of Surfalex HF (AA6016A) 
Description This dataset contains tensile test measurements of Surfalex HF (AA6016A), an aluminium alloy commonly used in automotive applications. Tensile testing was performed at room temperature using a 5 kN Instron universal testing machine. The tensile tests were performed at a constant strain rate of 5e-4 per second and controlled with a Strain Master DIC system by LaVision. The gauge length of the samples was 25 mm long and 5 mm wide. To study the anisotropy of the material, the samples were cut along different orientations with respect to the sheet rolling direction. Five angles were tested: 0, 30, 45, 60 and 90 degrees. The tensile specimens were polished and then thoroughly cleaned to obtain contamination-free surfaces. In order to perform DIC measurements, the specimens were painted with a white undercoating and a black speckle pattern. Images were recorded at a frequency of 1 Hz during the tests and the DIC analysis was performed using the LaVision commercial software. The data was captured using a subset size of 31 pixels, a step size of 10 pixels, and the displacement field was calculated with reference to the initial, undeformed image. The data extracted from the experiments were the force values from the load cell and the corresponding displacement field measured by DIC. Two experiments were carried out for each angle. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 14 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4926423
 
Title The evolution of abnormally coarse grain structures in beta-annealed Ti-6Al%-4V% rolled plates, observed by in-situ investigation. 
Description The complete data set of EBSD maps used for the publication: The evolution of abnormally coarse grain structures in beta-annealed Ti-6Al%-4V% rolled plates, observed by in-situ investigation. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5564376
 
Title The evolution of abnormally coarse grain structures in beta-annealed Ti-6Al%-4V% rolled plates, observed by in-situ investigation. 
Description The complete data set of EBSD maps used for the publication: The evolution of abnormally coarse grain structures in beta-annealed Ti-6Al%-4V% rolled plates, observed by in-situ investigation. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 14 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/5564377#.ZAtSKi2l1QI
 
Title Visualizations for paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions 
Description - Author manuscript version of paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions". - Visualization for paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions". This enables the 3D dataset to be visualized using the free software package Paraview (https://www.paraview.org). Instructions are provided. - Animation created of 3D visualization (using Aviso) NOTE: The full set of raw data used to create the results in the paper is available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7108545 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact 26 unique downloads by others outside of the research group as of March 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7112791#.ZAtJGy2l1QI
 
Title Visualizations for paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions 
Description - Author manuscript version of paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions". - Visualization for paper entitled, "Discontinuous Precipitation in Mg-Al Alloy Studied in 3-Dimensions". This enables the 3D dataset to be visualized using the free software package Paraview (https://www.paraview.org). Instructions are provided. - Animation created of 3D visualization (using Aviso) NOTE: The full set of raw data used to create the results in the paper is available at:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7108545
 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7112790
 
Title compression-dilatometer-analysis-ZrNb: a python script for analysing Zr-2.5Nb compression dilatometer data 
Description A python script for plotting flow stress data from a compression dilatometer, for analysing the high temperature deformation behaviour of a Zr-2.5Nb alloy at different temperatures and strain rates. A tool for plotting and critically evaluating 'processing maps' is also included. 
Type Of Material Data handling & control 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The python script allowed for a critical assessment of the application of 'processing maps', discussed in the accompanying paper; C.S. Daniel, P. Jedrasiak, C.J. Peyton, J. Quinta da Fonseca, H.R. Shercliff, l. Bradley, P.D. Honniball, Quantifying Processing Map Uncertainties by Modelling the Hot-Compression Behaviour of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy, Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (2020) 
URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3673105
 
Title xrdfit: a python package for fitting SXRD diffraction spectra 
Description A python package for fitting peaks from synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) experimental data for single and dual-phase Zr and Ti alloys. 
Type Of Material Data handling & control 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The package was used to analyse SXRD data and published in a conference paper for The 14th World Conference on Titanium, presented on June 10th - 14th, 2019 in Nantes France, to be published in MATEC Web of Conferences. A preprint can be found in; Daniel, Christopher Stuart, Nguyen, Chi-Toan, Atkinson, Michael D., & Quinta da Fonseca, João. (2019, August 20). Direct Evidence for a Dynamic Phase Transformation during High Temperature Deformation in Ti-64 [Preprint]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3381183 Other journal papers are expected to be published using these analysis scripts soon. 
URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3621299
 
Description Atomistic Simulation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanisms in 7xxx Series Aluminium Alloys 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Operations
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Atomistic Simulation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanisms in 7xxx Series Aluminium Alloys by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Atomistic Simulation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanisms in 7xxx Series Aluminium Alloys 
Organisation Airbus Group
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into into the Atomistic Simulation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanisms in 7xxx Series Aluminium Alloys, by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Chemo-mechanical Modelling of Hydrogen Diffusion and Fracture in wrought 7xxx Series Al Alloys 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Operations
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Chemo-mechanical Modelling of Hydrogen Diffusion and Fracture in wrought 7xxx Series Al Alloys by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Chemo-mechanical Modelling of Hydrogen Diffusion and Fracture in wrought 7xxx Series Al Alloys 
Organisation Airbus Group
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into into the Chemo-mechanical Modelling of Hydrogen Diffusion and Fracture in wrought 7xxx Series Al Alloys, by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Collaboration with Sheffield University for Servotest 
Organisation University of Sheffield
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Ti64 and Ti407 samples tested in hot-compression on dilatometer and Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical testers.
Collaborator Contribution Conducting hot-compression tests on Servotest thermomechanical tester, to help eliminate uneven sample heating and prevent barrelling of Ti alloy samples during deformation. The results will help to quantify the effects of inhomogeneous deformation by comparing the stress-strain response of the material on different equipment.
Impact A paper is hoped to result from the work.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Control of Abnormal Grain Structures in Titanium Forgings 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Operations
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Control of Abnormal Grain Structures in Titanium Forgings by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Control of Abnormal Grain Structures in Ti Forgings Large Ti structural forgings, used in aero structures, are usually beta heat treated to produce an optimized microstructure with high toughness. On occasion, unwanted abnormal grain structures can develop during heat treatment, which can affect the properties of the material. This project aimed to understand the origins of these abnormal microstructures. Using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, it was found that these defects originate in regions of very strong texture that develop during hot working. This new understanding can be used to modify the processing route during forging, and avoid the development of abnormal grains.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Corrosion control of 3xxx Heat Exchanger Material 
Organisation Norsk Hydro
Country Norway 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Corrosion control of 3xxx Heat Exchanger Material by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Still recruiting to post
Start Year 2020
 
Description Crystal Plasticity and Microstructure Evolution for Rolled Aluminium Sheet - L.Gonzalez 
Organisation Novelis
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution When bending is applied to Al sheets, early failure may appear between grain boundaries on the surface deformed in tension. The cause is still unknown, but it has been observed that different textures lead to different propensities to failure. In this project, Crystal Plasticity Modelling (CPM) is being used to study the relationship between bending failure and texture, focusing especially on the effect of texture on stress and strain localisation. The crystal plasticity model uses DAMASK, formable and MTEX. Their inputs are textures measured with Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and experimental tensile test curves. Then, comparisons between the results from the simulations under different tension modes and different textures can be made to draw conclusions in the context of failure in bending. Simulations of uniaxial and plain strain tension for three different textured samples will be carried out. The stress and strain tensors at every point of a representative volume element generated by the model can be extracted and visualised with Paraview. This information is very valuable to study the initialisation of cracks, which it is suspected to be caused by strain localisation and the shear bands formation in the alloys studied so far. Other factors such as heat treatments, voids and hard particles could also have a strong influence in the initialisation of cracks and they could also be included in the model throughout this PhD project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Crystal plasticity of Alpha-beta processing 
Organisation Otto Fuchs
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into Crystal plasticity of Alpha-beta processing, by research of full time PDRA conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PDRA support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Designing SCC Resitant Forging Alloys 
Organisation Otto Fuchs
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into Designing SCC Resitant Forging Alloys, by research of PDRA conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PDRA support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Designing SCC Resitant Forging Alloys 
Organisation Otto Fuchs
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Designing SCC Resitant Forging Alloys by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Developing a microstructural fingerprint of Ti alloys - metallurgy in the information age 
Organisation Rolls Royce Group Plc
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Developing a microstructural fingerprint of Ti alloys - metallurgy in the information age - by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Development of Novel Corrosion Testing Methods for Anticorrosion Performance Evaluation of Treated Light Alloys 
Organisation PTDF Petroleum Technology Development Fund Nigeria
Country Nigeria 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Development of Novel Corrosion Testing Methods for Anticorrosion Performance Evaluation of Treated Light Alloys by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Digital Twin of abnormally coarse grain structures in critical titanium forgings for military aircraft applications - A.Ha 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution In this projects, we are using novel experimental methods and computational models developed in LightForm to explain and predict the development of abnormal grain structures in Ti components used in defence aerospace applications. The main industrial partner is DSTL but the project is part of a multinational defence collaboration, which includes partners in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description EAC Initiation In Wrought Aerospace Plate 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Operations
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Initiation In Wrought Aerospace Plate by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2019
 
Description EAC Initiation in Wrought Aerospace Plate 
Organisation BIAM Foundation
Country Bangladesh 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into EAC Initiation In Wrought Aerospace Plate.
Collaborator Contribution Provide support and development, industrial expertise
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2019
 
Description EAC of New Generation 7xxx Al-Aerospace Alloys: 4D Imaging of Initiation Processes 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Operations
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of of New Generation 7xxx Al-Aerospace Alloys: 4D Imaging of Initiation Processes by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description EAC of New Generation 7xxx Al-Aerospace Alloys; 4D Imaging of Initiation Processes 
Organisation Airbus Group
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into EAC of New Generation 7xxx Al-Aerospace Alloys; 4D Imaging of Initiation Processes by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Formability and Performance of Circular 75R Al Alloys 
Organisation Norsk Hydro
Country Norway 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Formability and Performance of Circular 75R Al Alloys by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Generating Forming Limit Curves at Hot Sheet Forming conditions - Formability assessment for metallic sheet materials under hot stamping conditions 
Organisation Impression Technologies Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We provide testing methodology which includes biaxel testing, guidance and support to colleagues
Collaborator Contribution Provide materials and facilities to carrying out testing, provide technical support via 2 monthly meetings
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Improving the Hot Form Quench (HFQ) process in aluminium alloys 
Organisation Impression Technologies Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This project is aimed at studying the effect of different post-forming ageing treatments on the microstructure and thus mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of HFQ parts. For this purpose, commercially produced HFQ automotive parts have been supplied by the company Impression Technologies Ltd. The microstructure and performance of different regions of these parts are being examined to understand the interaction between the forming process variables (temperature and local strain history), microstructure and performance. For the microstructural characterisation, a combination of complementary techniques, including scanning and transmission electron microscopy is being used.
Collaborator Contribution Impression Technologies Ltd have produced and supplied HFQ automotive parts, contributing to performance of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of HFQ parts. In additional provided industrial expertise, and direct PhD student support will occur with our partners at Imperial College London.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Investigating abnormal grain structures in titanium - 6% aluminium - 4% vanadium hot worked aerospace components 
Organisation Airbus Group
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into investigating abnormal grain structures, by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Low Cost Rolling of Mg-alloy sheets - A novel and cost effective method to manufacture magnesium alloy sheets 
Organisation Magnesium Elektron
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Production of technical data - new research findings and knowledge
Collaborator Contribution Technical advice and expertise, materials and samples
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Micromechanics of dwell fatigue in Ti alloys - J.Sharples 
Organisation Rolls Royce Group Plc
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Cold dwell causes creep deformation to occur at room temperature, lowering the overall fatigue life of the compressor disk. In the Aerospace industry control is of paramount importance, hence unexpected failure of this kind is unacceptable. My work involves analysing the microscopic strain localisation and slip activity during cold creep using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based high resolution digital image correlation (HRDIC).
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description Microstructural effects on environmentally assisted cracking in model 7xxx alloys - J.Srivastava 
Organisation Airbus Group
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The objective of this project is to investigate the effect of alloy composition and metallurgical state on the environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) behaviour of 7xxx Al alloys. Material with systematically varying alloy chemistry and microstructures will first be lab cast. The thermomechanical processing of cast alloys will be modified. Large area EBSD scans and TEM will be used to characterize the microstructure. EAC performance will be investigated by 4-pt bend testing in humid air conditions to quantify EAC initiation time and crack growth rates of the alloys produced, and post-mortem 3D imaging of cracked samples. Furthermore, analysis of the fracture surfaces to characterize EAC initiation sites and microstructurally short-crack propagation will be performed.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact No impact yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description Norsk Hydro collaboration: Sustainability of Aluminium Production and Products 
Organisation Norsk Hydro
Country Norway 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution PhD CASE studentship: experimental work and through-process modelling on heat-treatable aluminium alloys subjected to thermomechanical processing, to predict and test the procesability and performance of recycling-friendly compositions.
Collaborator Contribution Materials for testing, access to in-house process modelling software, technica; discussions and meetings
Impact No outputs yet.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Novel Aluminium Alloys for Defence Applications 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Department Human Systems Group
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Novel Aluminium Alloys for Defence Applications by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Novel Aluminium Alloys for Defence Applications 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into Novel Aluminium Alloys for Defence Applications by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Novel Aluminium Alloys for Defence Applications 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Novel Aluminium Alloys for Defence Applications by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Novel Hot Stamping of Ti Alloy Panel Components - Development of novel hot stamping process of titanium alloy 
Organisation Doncasters Group Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Meet every 2 months providing technical support, use of facilities and dedicated PhD student for project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide materials, technical support, expertise, use of facilities, technical data, trial and provide samples. Attendance at PhD review meetings.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Novel Hot Stamping of Ti Alloy Panel Components - Development of novel hot stamping process of titanium alloy 
Organisation Doncasters Group Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Novel Hot Stamping of Ti Alloy Panel Components - Development of novel hot stamping process of titanium alloy by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Novel Zirconium Refined Magnesium Alloys - S.Odell 
Organisation Luxfer MEL Technologies
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The microstructures of novel rare earth containing magnesium alloys are being controlled through heat treatments and characterised using SEM and TEM. These microstructures are then being correlated to mechanical properties including impact toughness and hardness, and corrosion rate in order to optimise the performance of these long period stacking ordered phase (LPSO) forming alloys. Zirconium refinement and its' effects on the phases formed is also being investigated and again correlated to mechanical and corrosion properties.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2021
 
Description OAAM 
Organisation Innoval Technology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into OAAM, by research of PDRA conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PDRA support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Performance testing for materials produced by novel production routes for automotive light-weighting 
Organisation Otto Fuchs
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Materials testing invoked in this project aims to highlight best practice of these novel techniques, improving understanding of the material properties and microstructural evolution through processing.
Collaborator Contribution Direct funding for PhD and PDRA time, support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description SCC in AA7050 alouminium alloy 
Organisation Novelis
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of in AA7050 alouminium alloy by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Impact Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Slip Localisation in Forming High Strength Al / Warm forming of 7xxx alloys 
Organisation Constellium
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research via full time PhD, ongoing dialogue including monthly meetings, onsite visits, to explore the options for Slip Localisation in Forming High Strength Al / Warm forming of 7xxx alloys
Collaborator Contribution Supplying materials and in-kind support, relating directly to access to facilities and project management.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Surface Corrosion of Wrought Alloys 
Organisation Otto Fuchs
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Surface Corrosion of Wrought Alloys by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Tailored Properties in Al Automotive Body Sheet with Taper-Rolled Geometry 
Organisation Primetals technologies ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into Tailored Properties in Al Automotive Body Sheet with Taper-Rolled Geometry, by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Access to facilities and project management, materials and samples, regular progress updates and meeting
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Tailored Properties in Al Automotive Body Sheet with Taper-Rolled Geometry 
Organisation Primetals technologies ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Tailored Properties in Al Automotive Body Sheet with Taper-Rolled Geometry by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description The Effect of Accelerated Ageing of Hybrid-Hot Formed Aluminium Automotive Panels on Corrosion Resistance 
Organisation Impression Technologies Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution PDRA and PhD research time, via ongoing dialogue including monthly meetings, onsite visits, to explore the options for accelerating ageing kinetics experimental simulations and corrosion resistance.
Collaborator Contribution Industry expertise, research and development - ongoing dialogue including progress meetings, onsite visits.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description The Effect of Accelerated Ageing of Hybrid-Hot Formed Aluminum Automotive Panels on Corrosion Resistance 
Organisation Impression Technologies Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of The Effect of Accelerated Ageing of Hybrid-Hot Formed Aluminum Automotive Panels on Corrosion Resistance by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Blank Transfer Effects: The cooling during the blank transfer operation in HFQ® may reduce the post-treatment mechanical properties - this has been shown to be negligible in alloy 6082, but may be significant for highly quench sensitive alloy 7075. A substantial loss of post-ageing was found for the sensitive temperature range, from 250 °C to 400 °C for 7075 sheet. The strength loss increases with increasing delay in the holding time. Dislocation Density Quantification for HFQ® This work visualised and quantified the dislocation distributions after hot deformation, and clarifies the key mechanisms, providing valuable data for calibrating physically-based material models. The overall dislocation density increased with applied plastic strain. High temperatures and low strain-rates reduced the accumulation of geometrically-necessary dislocations. Quench induced Precipitation Some precipitation occurs on grain boundaries during the quench in HFQ, particularly in regions of the part that experience the slowest cooling rate in the critical temperature range for quench sensitivity. The size of quench induced precipitates remains small and their volume fraction is low. Grain boundary precipitates have no effect on the subsequent age hardening response. Rapid Ageing for HFQ® A rapid ageing treatment was developed to reduce the ageing time from 9 h to 20 min for AA6082. The strength achieved was 90% of the nominal T6 value. Rapid ageing produces a somewhat different precipitate size distribution compared to standard ageing, but the differences only have a small effect on properties. Corrosion and Fracture Behaviour The corrosion behaviour of 6082 HFQ sheet in both standard and rapid aged conditions is comparable to unformed T6 temper material using standard corrosion tests. Regardless of position in the part or the amount of grain boundary precipitation, the fracture mode for 6082 after HFQ and ageing remains transgranular and ductile. HFQ combined with rapid ageing can be successfully used to form parts from medium strength aluminium alloys, with greatly reduced cycle times compared to conventional sheet forming. The HFQ process leads to some differences in microstructure in formed parts, compared to standard T6 aged sheet, but these differences have only a small effect on the properties, at least for AA6082. Work is ongoing to understand the effect of the HFQ process on more complex properties of importance in the more quench-sensitive 7xxx alloys (7075), including the resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
Start Year 2018
 
Description The Influence of Combined Oxidation and Fatigue Conditions on the Endurance of Ti Alloys 
Organisation Airbus Group
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into into the Influence of Combined Oxidation and Fatigue Conditions on the Endurance of Ti Alloys, by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description The effect of microstructure on the ductility of Ti alloys 
Organisation Timet UK Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of the effect of microstructure on the ductility of Ti alloys by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise
Impact Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Start Year 2018
 
Description The effect of microstructure on the ductility of Ti alloys 
Organisation Timet UK Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into into the effect of microstructure on the ductility of Ti alloys, by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Direct funding for PhD time, support and development, industrial expertise. Provision of both stock and novel processed materials.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Through Process Modelling for Sustainable Aluminium 
Organisation Innoval Technology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Through Process Modelling for Sustainable Aluminium by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2019
 
Description UKAEA collaboration on superplastic forming parts 
Organisation UK Atomic Energy Authority
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We are working with UKAEA to explore the feasibility of superplastic forming and diffusion bonding lightweight alloys for future fusion reactor parts. This work just started 3 months ago. Progress is on the right track. Will report more in the next report.
Collaborator Contribution 1. Explain and describe the industrial needs for future fusion nuclear reactor manufacturing problems. 2. provide guidance for PhD and MSc student. 3. Ordered materials for the project 4. discussion future proposal development
Impact This is just started a few months ago. Limited outputs have been generated but will be reported in the next report
Start Year 2019
 
Description Understanding EAC In Wrought Aerospace Plate 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Operations
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research of Understanding EAC In Wrought Aerospace Plate by research of full time PhD student conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Understanding EAC In Wrought Aerospace Plate 
Organisation Airbus Group
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Intellectual output and conducted research into Understanding EAC In Wrought Aerospace Plate, by research of full time PDRA conducting dedicated research over life of project.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PDRA student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact Early stages of research and projects, therefore no outputs or outcomes to be reported at this project point.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Understanding micro-texture heterogeneity effects on the micromechanical behaviour of Ti aerospace forgings - P.Curran 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Operations
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution When forging large billets of titanium, microtextured regions can form. After doing a heat treatment above the beta tranus, some grains can grow abnormally coarse. These abnormally coarse grains are expected to affect the mechanical properties such as strength and fatigue strength. Through computational modelling, using LightForm's in-house code MatFlow and experimental based work like in situ digital image correlation while applying tension. The mechanical properties are to be understood, specifically how and where cracks are likely to form. Some initial modelling results show that strain is highly localised in the grain boundary alpha between the abnormally coarse grains, and it is expected that this localised strain will be the region for crack formation.
Collaborator Contribution Provide samples, materials, direct PhD student support and development, industrial expertise.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2020
 
Title A METHOD FOR FORMING CURVED LENGTHS OF EXTRUDED PROFILES/SECTIONS IN METAL ALLOYS 
Description A method of extruding a material, comprising providing the material into an extrusion chamber of an extrusion apparatus, wherein the extrusion chamber comprises an extrusion orifice and the extrusion apparatus comprises a first compression element and a second compression element in communication with the interior of the extrusion chamber, the first and second compression elements being independently movable relative to the extrusion chamber, moving at least one of the first and second compression elements to compress the material within the extrusion chamber and cause a velocity gradient in the extrusion material across the extrusion orifice and extruding the material through the extrusion orifice such that the velocity gradient forms an extrudate with a curved profile. 
IP Reference WO2018206960 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2018
Licensed No
Impact Notable impacts which have arisen from this development is the enabling of Lightweight curved extrusion profiles, to now be manufactured for the first time, which previously could not be produced using any other existing technologies.
 
Title A METHOD FOR FORMING SHEET MATERIAL COMPONENTS 
Description A method for forming a component from a Ti-alloy or Ni-alloy sheet material. The method comprising heat treating the sheet material, wherein a final temperature of the sheet material is above 100°C below a ß-transus temperature of the sheet material. The sheet material is formed into a predefined configuration between two dies. Forming is completed before the temperature of the sheet material reaches a start temperature for ß to martensite transformation within the sheet material and wherein the temperature of the dies is less than a finish temperature for ß to martensite transformation within the sheet material. 
IP Reference WO2019038534 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2019
Licensed No
Impact To enable complex shift lightwieigfth componantds to be formed for the first time, which previously could not be formed using any other exisiting technologies
 
Title CIPHER - Calphad Integrated PHase-field solvER 
Description CIPHER is a phase-field simulation code for microstructure evolution in multi-component alloy systems. Features include: - Automatic parallel adaptive mesh refinement. - Local truncation error estimates and adaptive time stepping. - Designed for large number of phases (10-10000), with constant computational complexity, i.e. computational cost is independent of the number of phases. - Efficient grand-canonical-based phase-field implementation with direct use of Compound-Energy-Formalism and other CALPHAD thermodynamic models for multi-component systems. - Designed for MPI parallelization and scalability. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2019 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact CIPHER has been used to model: - Columnar to equiaxed transition during solidification of advanced titanium alloys - Quench induced grain-boundary precipitation in 7xxx series aluminium alloys - Interaction of defects and chemistry in complex alloys. 
URL https://github.com/micmog/CIPHER
 
Title Datalight 
Description A python package for uploading records to the Zenodo data repository. It has both a graphical interface and a scriptable one. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2020 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact This will be used by project members to upload research outputs to the Zenodo repository. 
URL https://github.com/LightForm-group/datalight
 
Title DefDAP 
Description Deformation Data Analysis in Python (DefDAP) is an open source software package for the joint analysis of high resolution digital image correlation (HRDIC) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) datasets. These techniques allow the measurement of surface deformation and microstructure of a deformed crystalline material and the software facilitates linking observed local deformation to the microstructure features. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2019 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact The software has been used to analyse deformation data in many studies on materials including alloys of Ni, Al, Ti, Zr and Mg. 
URL https://github.com/MechMicroMan/DefDAP
 
Title JQFonseca/peened-ni-hrdic-analysis: v1.1 
Description Zenodo release 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2021 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/4727938
 
Title MAUD-batch-analysis: v1.0.0 
Description A series of Python scripts to facilitate working with Materials Analysis Using Diffraction, MAUD in a batch analysis mode, for analysis of large synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) pattern image datasets. MAUD's batch analysis mode can be used to extract material properties from a series of synchrotron diffraction pattern images. In particular, this package is focused on refining and extracting crystallographic texture for multiple phases from a series of diffraction pattern images, using MAUD's in-built E-WIMV texture refinement algorithm. This package has been tested using MAUD Version 2.78 on Mac OS Monterey. MAUD batch mode has been tested using two different experimental datasets (from Diamond Light Source Ltd. in 2017 and in 2021). The data, analysis and results files for these experiments can be downloaded from a Zenodo release to accompany this package and to demonstrate MAUD batch mode. Following successful completion of a MAUD batch mode analysis, the texture is extracted as an orientation distribution function (ODF) in the form of a text file using a Python script. The package includes a separate folder of MTEX scripts, in MATLAB, for automatic analysis and plotting of the ODF slices, calculate texture intensity values and plot pole figures. More details about the setup of MTEX can be found in MTEX-scripts/README-MTEX.md Contents It is recommended the user works through the example notebooks in the following order: 1. `python_notebooks/MAUD Batch Mode Setup.ipynb` - A notebook for setting up and running MAUD in batch mode. 2. `python_notebooks/MAUD Batch Mode Analysis.ipynb` - A notebook for analysing the results of MAUD batch mode and for extracting crystallographic texture in the form of an ODF in text format. 3. `python_notebooks/MAUD Batch Mode Analysis - Minimise Error.ipynb` - A notebook for minimising the error of the Rietveld refinement in MAUD, by testing different refinement iterations. Note, the `data/`, `analysis/` and `results/` folders contain instructions for downloading data that can be used as an example analysis, but a clear external file structure should be setup to support the analysis of large synchrotron datasets. Installation Instructions for installing the Python libraries to run the notebooks can be found in the README.md file. Example Data, Analysis and Results Example MAUD data, analysis and results files can be downloaded from a separate Zenodo release to accompany the MAUD-batch-analysis package. Please download these data, analysis and results files and unzip them into the respective folders in the MAUD-batch-analysis package, to run an example analysis with MAUD batch mode. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7603381
 
Title MTEX-texture-block-analysis: v1.0.0 
Description MTEX scripts for sequentially cropping electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps, producing a grid of equivalent-sized squares (in x and y), for calculating and plotting the crystallographic texture variation across a sample. Includes MTEX scripts to calculate the ODFs, calculate texture intensity values and plot pole figures for each individual square. Contents 1. `texture_block_analysis.m` - An MTEX script to segment the EBSD map into a grid of equivalent sized squares, to calculate crystallographic texture for the alpha phase, plot pole figures, plot ODFs and calculate texture strength values. 2. `texture_block_analysis_beta.m` - An MTEX script to segment the EBSD map to calculate crystallographic texture for the beta phase. MATLAB Setup The scripts have been tested with MATLAB Version R2019b. MTEX Installation The MTEX toolbox can be downloaded from here, which also includes instructions for installing MTEX and troubleshooting any issues. The scripts have been tested with MTEX Version 5.3, but should only require minor adjustments to work with future versions. Some minor changes to the base MTEX code have been made to produce better looking figures. See our LightForm Wiki for more information. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7602379
 
Title The Texture Analysis Script for Hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V EBSD Dataset 
Description An MTEX script for analyzing the texture of hot-rolled Ti-6Al-4V EBSD dataset. It includes plotting IPF maps, pole figures and ODFs. The MTEX toolbox can be downloaded from here. The script has been tested with MTEX 5.7.0. The MTEX code for slicing maps and plotting texture variation is available here. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
Open Source License? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/8328716
 
Title compression-dilatometer-analysis-ZrNb: a python script for analysing Zr-2.5Nb compression dilatometer data 
Description A python script for analysing compression dilatometer data, allowing the user to plot the stress-strain data and for generating 'processing maps' of a material. The script was used to analyse data recorded in uniaxial compression for a Zr-2.5Nb alloy deformed at temperatures of 650C, 675C, 700C, 725C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C and 850C, at strain rates of 10-2.5, 10-2, 10-1.5, 10-1, 10-0.5 and 1 s-1, to 50% height reduction, using TA Instruments DIL 805 A/D/T Quenching and Deformation Dilatometer. The data for this experiment can be downloaded from; Daniel, Christopher Stuart, Peyton, Christian J., & Quinta da Fonseca, João. (2019). High Temperature Compression Studies of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy using Deformation Dilatometer [Data set]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3374512 A critical assessment of the application of 'processing maps' is included in the accompanying paper; C.S. Daniel, P. Jedrasiak, C.J. Peyton, J. Quinta da Fonseca, H.R. Shercliff, l. Bradley, P.D. Honniball, Quantifying Processing Map Uncertainties by Modelling the Hot-Compression Behaviour of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy, Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (2020) 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2020 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3673105
 
Title compression-dilatometer-analysis-ZrNb: a python script for analysing Zr-2.5Nb compression dilatometer data 
Description A python script for analysing compression dilatometer data, allowing the user to plot the stress-strain data and for generating 'processing maps' of a material. The script was used to analyse data recorded in uniaxial compression for a Zr-2.5Nb alloy deformed at temperatures of 650C, 675C, 700C, 725C, 750C, 775C, 800C, 825C and 850C, at strain rates of 10-2.5, 10-2, 10-1.5, 10-1, 10-0.5 and 1 s-1, to 50% height reduction, using TA Instruments DIL 805 A/D/T Quenching and Deformation Dilatometer. The data for this experiment can be downloaded from; Daniel, Christopher Stuart, Peyton, Christian J., & Quinta da Fonseca, João. (2019). High Temperature Compression Studies of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy using Deformation Dilatometer [Data set]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3374512 A critical assessment of the application of 'processing maps' is included in the accompanying paper; C.S. Daniel, P. Jedrasiak, C.J. Peyton, J. Quinta da Fonseca, H.R. Shercliff, l. Bradley, P.D. Honniball, Quantifying Processing Map Uncertainties by Modelling the Hot-Compression Behaviour of a Zr-2.5Nb Alloy, Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (2020) 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2020 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3673104
 
Title continuous-peak-fit-analysis: v1.0.0 
Description A Python package for fitting full synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) pattern rings to analyse texture (intensity) and elastic lattice strain (position) changes. Uses the Continuous-Peak-Fit Python package for fitting the azimuth and time dependency of peaks with Fourier Series descriptions. The notebooks can be used to setup and run Continuous-Peak-Fit analyses, and to analyse the resulting peak profile fits from a series of SXRD pattern images, to directly extract the material crystallographic properties. The peak profile changes, such as intensity and peak position, can be used to discern material changes, such as crystallographic texture and elastic lattice strain, which are guided by the notebooks. There is an option to combine the diffraction results with bulk behaviour measurements using external thermomechanical testing equipment. The package includes a separate folder of MTEX scripts, in MATLAB, for automatic analysis of the lattice plane intensities produced from Continuous-Peak-Fit, to calculate orientation distribution functions (ODFs), calculate texture intensity values and plot pole figures. More details about the setup of MTEX can be found in mtex-plotter/README-mtex-plotter.md Development This package was developed by Christopher S. Daniel at The University of Manchester, UK, and was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) via the LightForm programme grant (EP/R001715/1). LightForm is a 5 year multidisciplinary project, led by The Manchester University with partners at University of Cambridge and Imperial College, London. Contents It is recommended the user works through the example notebooks in the following order: 1. `Ti64_continuous_peak_fit_RUN.ipynb` - A notebook for setting up and running Continuous-Peak-Fit to fit full lattice plane rings. 2. `notebooks/NOTES_intensity_circles_to_polar_coordinates.ipynb` - An interactive guide explaining how to calculate polar coordinates for plotting of intensity circles in 3D (as pole figures). 3. `notebooks/Ti64_continuous_peak_fit_TEXTURE_ANALYSIS.ipynb` - A notebook for anlaysing crystallographic texture from the Continuous-Peak-Fit output. Extracts lattice plane intensity distributions from the .fit files, to rewrite them in a spherical polar coordinate .txt format that can be analysed using MTEX. 4. `notebooks/Ti64_continous_peak_fit_DEFORMATION_ANALYSIS.ipynb` - A notebook for analysing micromechanical deformation from the Continuous-Peak-Fit output. The notebook can be used to plot the intensity, peak-width, and peak position, which can be combined with external measurements from thermomechanical testing equipment. Note, the `example-data/` and `example-analysis/` folders contain instuctions for downloading data that can be used as an example analysis, but a clear external file structure should be setup to support the analysis of large synchrotron datasets. Installation of continuous-peak-fit The Continuous-Peak-Fit package was developed by Simon Hunt (at The University of Manchester) and Danielle Fenech (at the University of Cambridge) and was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The latest version of Continuous-Peak-Fit can be installed using pip, using these instructions, or by download from a private repository on GitHub. You may need to contact Simon Hunt for permission to download the package from this private repository whilst it is in development. For the reproducible analysis of SXRD data to support a paper in Materials Characterization, a working version of Continuous-Peak-Fit has been saved in compressed zip format in this continuous-peak-fit-analysis Python package (v1.0.0). Installation of continuous-peak-fit-analysis Instructions for installing the Python libraries to run the notebooks can be found in the README.md file. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7602232
 
Title matflow 
Description matflow is a Python application designed to assist researchers with generating transparent, reproducible materials science. It segments a computational science workflow into scientific units called "tasks". Users can provide implementations of tasks using a variety of "methods" and "implementations". For example, if we would like to simulate a tensile test, we would build a task called "simulate tensile test", with which we might associate a method "crystal plasticity". In turn, we could associate this method with an implementation, such as the DAMASK crystal plasticity software. Structuring scientific workflows in this way encourages reproducibility and allows researchers to easily compare the results of different models (i.e. methods). matflow is a work in progress and is currently being developed. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2020 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact None as yet. 
URL https://github.com/LightForm-group/matflow
 
Title pyFAI-integration-caking: v1.0.0 
Description A set of Python notebooks for the calibration, azimuthal integration and caking of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) pattern images, using the pyFAI and FabIO packages. The notebooks can be used for calibration, and then for azimuthal integration or caking of synchrotron diffraction images, to enable further processing and analysis of synchrotron data using software packages such as TOPAS, xrdfit, or MAUD. Azimuthal integration is the first step necessary for calculating bulk phase fraction from the ratio of different phase peak intensities using TOPAS. Caking is neccessary for determining elastic lattice strain, from peak shifts along particular directions, using xrdfit. And caking can also be used to determine crystallographic texture from intensity variations of different lattice plane peaks along different directions, using xrdfit or MAUD. This package supports these analyses by converting the diffraction pattern images into calibrated integrated and caked data in different text formats. The package works with diffraction pattern image data in the form of .cbf or .tiff images. And also includes a notebook for converting diffraction pattern images from .cbf to .tiff format. The azimuthally integrated and caked data can be output as .xy, .dat, or in other text formats, along with a .poni calibration file. Contents It is recommended the user works through the examples in the notebooks in the following order: 1. `pyFAI-calibration-example.ipynb` - An example notebook demonstrating calibration of the detector and beamline setup based on a calibrant standard diffraction pattern image, such as CeO2 of LaB6. The calibration paramaters are saved as a .poni file. 2. `pyFAI-caking-example.ipynb` - An example notebook demonstrating azimuthal integration and caking of diffraction pattern images for saving as text files. Includes an example for saving data in a format to be used in TOPAS, xrdfit and MAUD. 3. `pyFAI-sample-rotation-example.ipynb` - An example notebook demonstrating how the diffraction pattern image is displayed in the notebook and how to rotate the data if required. 4. `pyFAI-analysis.ipynb` - A notebook for automatically calibrating, azimuthally integrating and caking large synchrotron diffraction pattern image datasets, using input parameters contained in .yaml input files. 5. `cbf_to_tif_image_converter.ipynb` - A notebook for converting diffraction pattern images from .cbf to .tiff format, using input parameters contained in .yaml input files. Note, the `example-data/`, `example-calibration/` and `example-analysis/` folders contain data that can be used as an example analysis, but a clear external file structure should be setup to support the analysis of large synchrotron datasets. Installation Instructions for installing the Python libraries to run the notebooks can be found in the README.md file. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7579678
 
Title sxrd-intensity-time-plots: v1.0.0 
Description A Python notebook for creating intensity-time plots (intensity versus time and azimuthal angle) from a dataset of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) pattern images, for multiple individual lattice plane rings, using the pyFAI and FabIO packages. Intensity-time plots show how the variation in intensity around each lattice plane ring changes over time, throughout an experiment, which can be used to discern in-situ qualitative evolution of material properties, such as changes in crystallographic texture and activation of continuous/discontinuous recrystallization. The package works with diffraction pattern image data in the form of .cbf or .tiff images, and uses a .poni calibration file to calibrate the data. See the pyFAI-integration-caking package for creating a .poni calibration file from a calibrant diffraction pattern image. The intensity-time plots are saved as .png images, along with .txt files containing the intensity values for replotting. Contents It is recommended the user works through an example in the notebook: `intensity-time-plots.ipynb` - Contains an example using inputs from a .yaml text file demonstrating the production of intensity-time plots for plotting changes in intensity variation around multiple individual diffraction pattern rings over time. Note, the `example-data/`, `example-calibration/` and `example-analysis/` folders contain data that can be used as an example analysis, but a clear external file structure should be setup to support the analysis of large synchrotron datasets. Installation Instructions for installing the Python libraries to run the notebooks can be found in the README.md file. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7602520
 
Title sxrd-tiff-summer: v1.0.0 
Description A Python notebook for summing and subtracting synchrotron diffraction pattern images, using the scikit-image package. The notebook can be used to sum together and average the intensity distribution from a series of synchrotron diffraction pattern images, to produce a single diffraction pattern image as a measurement of bulk crystallographic properties. Also includes a notebook for mapping a grid matrix of average and maximum intensity values recorded from individual diffraction pattern images. The package works with diffraction pattern image data in the form of .tif or .tiff images. If the data is in the form of .cbf images then the images can be converted to tiff format using a notebook from the pyFAI-integration-caking Python package. Contents It is recommended the user works through the examples in the notebooks in the following order: 1. `sxrd_tiff_summer.ipynb` - A notebook for summing and subtracting synchrotron diffraction pattern images. 2. `sxrd_tiff_mapper.ipynb` - A notebook for mapping a grid matrix of average and maximum intensity values recorded from individual diffraction pattern images. Note, the `example-data/` and `example-results/` folders contain data that can be used as an example analysis, but a clear external file structure should be setup to support the analysis of large synchrotron datasets. Installation Instructions for installing the Python libraries to run the notebooks can be found in the README.md file. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7579547
 
Title texture-strength-comparison: v1.0.0 
Description A set of Python scripts for comparing the crystallographic texture strength output of synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data processed using MTEX, to produce texture intensity plots, 2D texture intensity maps, and 2D texture component phase fraction distributions. This package has been used to analyse crystallographic texture distributions and in-situ texture changes in Ti-6Al-4V materials through a number of different synchrotron diffraction experiments at DESY and Diamond Light Source beamlines. This package has been used to compare texture intensity variation from stage scan synchrotron measurements using MAUD and Continuous-Peak-Fit, with the texture variation recorded using an EBSD map that had been divided into equivalent sized squares as were used for the synchrotron analysis. Synchrotron data was first analysed using either the MAUD-batch-analysis or continuous-peak-fit-analysis packages, to measure the texture distribution across different samples, or to record the in-situ texture evolution during different high temperature deformation experiments. EBSD data was first analysed using the MTEX-texture-block-analysis package to divide the EBSD maps and measure the micro-texture distribution. Contents The following notebooks have been used to analyse different experimental data: 1. `texture_strength_comparison_diamond_2017.ipynb` - A notebook analysing texture intensity changes from a series of synchrotron measurements recorded during high temperature deformation of a Ti-6Al-4V tensile specimen. The texture data was fitted using two different methods, MAUD (a Rietveld refinement software) and Continuous-Peak-Fit (a Fourier series based peak analysis method). 2. `texture_strength_comparison_diamond_2021.ipynb` - A notebook analysing texture intensity changes from a series of synchrotron measurements recorded as a stage-scan (X-Y) across a pre-rolled Ti-6Al-4V sample. The texture data was used to compare texture intensity variation from stage scan synchrotron measurements using MAUD and Continuous-Peak-Fit, with the texture variation recorded using an EBSD map that had been divided into equivalent sized squares as were used for the synchrotron analysis. 3. `texture_strength_comparison_desy_2020-21.ipynb` - A notebook analysing texture intensity changes from a series of synchrotron measurements recorded during high temperature deformation of Ti-6Al-4V compression specimens, at different temperatures and strain rates. The texture data was fitted using Continuous-Peak-Fit. 4. `texture_strength_comparison_desy_2020-21_multihit.ipynb` - A notebook analysing texture intensity changes from a series of synchrotron measurements recorded during high temperature deformation of Ti-6Al-4V compression specimens, with multi-hit deformation and hold stages. The texture data was fitted using Continuous-Peak-Fit. 5. `texture_strength_comparison_diamond_2022.ipynb` - A notebook analysing texture intensity and texture component phase fraction changes from a series of synchrotron measurements recorded as a stage-scan (X-Y) across pre-rolled Ti-6Al-4V samples. The alpha and beta phase texture data was used to analyse texture intensity variation and texture component phase fraction variation from stage scan synchrotron measurements using Continuous-Peak-Fit. Note, the `example-data/` and `example-analysis/` folders contain instuctions for downloading data that can be used as an example analysis, but a clear external file structure should be setup to support the analysis of large synchrotron datasets. Installation Instructions for installing the Python libraries to run the notebooks can be found in the README.md file. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/7602435
 
Title xrdfit: A Python package for fitting synchrotron X-ray diffraction spectra 
Description xrdfit is a Python package we have developed for faster fitting of diffraction peaks in SXRD (and XRD) spectra, which can be used for datasets containing many thousands of patterns. It is intended as an easy to use tool which enables automated, repeatable identification of peak positions and profiles in spectra with multiple individual or overlapping lattice plane peaks. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2020 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact The package has been used by our group in published works. 
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3621298
 
Company Name CurvEx 
Description CurvEx develops lightweight extrusion technology for use in the automotive, aerospace and construction industries. 
Year Established 2019 
Impact The lightweighting market in the transportation industry witnessed considerable growth in the recent years, due to the increasingly strict requirement of CO2 emissions of vehicles. Extrusion components are extensively employed in automotive, aerospace, high-speed train and construction industries. The lightweight extrusion component is an attractive solution to reducing the vehicle weight as well as improving fuel efficiency. At the moment, there are 1 part-time and 4 full time equivalent scientific posts within the company.
Website https://curvextech.com/
 
Description 2021 Annual Report 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Annual report detailing in-depth updates on key challenge themes, research highlights, staffing updates, and grant news. Primarily used to report progress to key stakeholders, including the advisory board.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://lightform.org.uk/uploads/files/LightForm_AR_2021_.pdf
 
Description A presentation delivered on various research projects undertaken in LightForm with special emphasis on 'Dynamic precipitation in Al alloys during warm forming' at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Indian Institute of Metals Kanpur Chapter organised a talk which was attended by the faculties and the post-graduate and under-graduate students of IIT Kanpur. The various activities related to different themes of LightForm was discussed followed by a 30 minute presentation on 'dynamic precipitation in Al alloys during warm forming'. The talk was followed by a Q & A session where fruitful discussions about various experimental (ETMT), characterisation (SAXS) and modelling techniques (KWN model) were made.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description BlueDot Science Festival in collaboration with LightForm and the Sir Henry Royce Institute. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact LightForm in conjunction with The Sir Henry Royce Institute delivered an outreach activity at the BlueDot science festival in July 2018, with delivery support from the LightForm PDRA team.

In attendance were the general public predominantly, including family groups, along with a range of different ages, with varying degrees of scientific knowledge.
Showcased were 6 different activities related to various areas of material research, featuring an activity to fire a neutron (cue ball) into an ordered metallic atomic structure (a set of snooker balls), showing a disordered state developing from the collision. The HRI aims to better characterise the effects of neutron irradiation damage in the metal alloys used in nuclear reactors, which have significant effects on the properties of the materials during the lifetime of the reactor (such as the irradiation growth phenomena).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Bluedot Festival outreach activity for Henry Royce Institute 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The aim was to advertise the new Henry Royce Institute (HRI), with a stand including 6 different activities to showcase the various areas of material research our 9 research partners collaboratively investigate. I was demonstrating on the nuclear irradiation damage stand. The activity was to fire a neutron (cue ball) into an ordered metallic atomic structure (a set of snooker balls), showing a disordered state devloping from the collision. The HRI aims to better characterise the effects of neutron irradiation damage in the metal alloys used in nuclear reactors, which have significant effects on the properties of the materials during the lifetime of the reactor (such as the irradiation growth phenomena). There was good feedback received from the general public, predominantly including family groups, along with a range of different ages, with varying degrees of scientific knowledge.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.royce.ac.uk/news/bluedot-2018-harder-better-faster-stronger/
 
Description British Science Week 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact We designed a stand for a local annual science festival which is organised by the University of Manchester Museum to celebrate British Science Week. The event took place over a Tuesday and Wednesday in March and was held at the Manchester Museum. The event was attended by children aged 11-18 years old and their parents and teachers. Our hands-on stand focussed on basic metallurgy (selection of materials) and demonstrations of Nitinol wire, and aerospace applications. This sparked discussions with attendees with increased understanding of metallurgy and materials science.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description DATA MANAGEMENT FOR MATERIALS RESEARCHERS 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This event was aimed at materials science researchers (from any discipline) who collect, store, analyse and share experimental data associated with their samples: e.g., optical images, SEM images, property measurements, etc. The workshop shared examples of best practice and current initiatives in the area, and began to formulate a list of actions to enable better data management practices. 140 individuals from varying backgrounds attended online, with plenty of engagement, interaction and discussion throughout the workshop. A document with resources, shared ideas for best practice, and ideas on how the field should progress was produced and is currently being circulated for attendee input. This will be shared with policy makers such as the EPSRC once completed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Determination of a Universal Transportation Light Weight Index 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Plenary Lecture at 2nd Int. Conference on Lightweight Materials and Manufacture, Changsha, China, 9-12 Oct. 2019
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Dissemination at the Great Exhibition Road Festival 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Researchers from Dr Nan Li's Team presented posters at the Imperial Festival which was part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival 2019. Dissemination of the research work linked to LightForm was made to hundreds of industrial partners, students, and wider audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description EPSRC Programme Managers Community of Practise 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact EPSRC Programme Managers Community where best practise in large programme management is discussed, questions relating to reporting methods, management of funds etc. Meetings are held every 8-12 weeks. The groups consists of12-15 programme managers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Early Career Researcher Fellowship Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact This workshop wass aimed at PDRAs and final year PhD students, who were interested in applying for a fellowship and wanted to know more about the process and the different fellowship schemes available. This event was been designed to help them understand what is required for an application and how to navigate the fellowship application process. The sessions covered: introduction to fellowships, mechanics of applications, finding an industrial partner (and do you need to?), writing taster session - tips + an exercise, including impact in a proposal, lunch with networking time. The impact was that attendees felt more confident in their choice to pursue a fellowship application, and many attendees used the information to apply for academic positions at other institutions as well as fellowships.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description IoM3 Non Ferrous Light Metals Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Joe Robson sits on the group which discusses the future direction of Non Ferrous Light Metals work in the UK
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023
 
Description Latest Advances in Modelling and Characterisation of Alloys Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact LightForm hosted a one-day symposium on the Latest Advances in Modelling and Characterisation of Alloys at the University of Manchester's Core Technology Facility. The symposium provided LightForm's stakeholders and the wider community with an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in computational modelling and advanced characterisation, and stimulated discussion about future directions and challenges. Around 70 delegates and speakers came to Manchester from our partner institutions as well as visitors from the international light alloy community. Topics included the development of sustainable alloys, efficient crystal plasticity modelling, digital twinning of materials and open science and reproducibility. The speakers at the Symposium were:
?Professor Claire Davis (University of Warwick). Virtual and physical rapid alloy processing for steel alloy development.
?Dr Adam Plowman (University of Manchester). An open framework for computational materials science: formability predictions and microstructural evolution with MatFlow.
?Professor Chad Sinclair (The University of British Columbia). Prediction of precipitate-free zones in AA6XXX extrusions.
?Dr Conghui Liu (University of Manchester). Multi-dimensional study of fatigue crack initiation in a near-alpha titanium alloy.
?Professor Bjørn Holmedal (Norwegian University of Science and Technology). Open, efficient and robust implementations of crystal and continuum plasticity models in FEM.
?Dr Mike Atkinson (University of Manchester). Linking crystal plasticity texture predictions to process models using Gaussian process regression.
?Dr Alec Davis (University of Manchester). Recent developments in wire-based titanium additive manufacturing for aerospace applications.
?Dr Thomas Flint (University of Manchester). Recent developments in mathematical modelling frameworks for advanced manufacturing processes.
There was a poster presentation competition over lunch. The presentation allowed LightForm's associated PhD students to showcase their work to academic and industrial colleagues and to discuss their research with experts in their field. The posters were judged by volunteers from LightForm's Independent Advisory Board, who said the quality of all the work as outstanding.
The symposium demonstrated an impressive volume of work for with project presentations of high technical quality, demonstrating detailed scientific understanding. Attendees appreciated and enjoyed the event. The impact of this is that LightForm's work was disseminated, industry partners felt engaged, the Advisory Board we given a thorough overview of the grant's work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description LightForm International Launch Event - October 2017. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The LightForm International launch event was held in Manchester on October 19 2017.

Totalling 62 attendees (32 industry, 30 university or research organisation), representing 22 companies and 10 universities/research organisations.

The morning session comprised an introduction to LightForm from the research team and three industrial scene-setting talks from Constellium, Impression Technologies, and Rolls Royce spanning both the supply chain and alloy type aluminium, titanium and magnesium.

The need for a paradigm shift to integrate materials technology into the manufacturing with light alloys was a recurring theme across industries and sectors and is central to the vision of LightForm. The afternoon session comprised a workshop where ideas and input from industry and research organisation delegates were sought on industry specific research topics, on effective routes to collaboration, and on areas for cross-industry collaboration.

64 inputs were received, comprising potential PhD projects, general comments on the research programme, and suggestions for collaborative workshops.

Of the 11 workshop topics identified, 6 had a modelling focus and this led to us initiating a workshop on simulation of metal forming, to be held in 2019 in conjunction with the IoM3 (Formed in the UK).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description LightForm LinkedIn Website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact LightForm presence on LinkedIn platform which promotes research highlights, posts job advertisements, highlights upcoming events. In 16 months the site has gained 174 new followers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023
URL https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightform-uk/
 
Description LightForm Research Showcase 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The LightForm Research Showcase 2018 took place on Tuesday 25 September 2018 at Cambridge University.

The first of our planned LightForm Research Showcases, presented to academics, students and the LightForm Steering Committee, presenting the culmination of LightForm research to date.

Steering Committee Chair, Dr Michael Clinch, observed that the Showcase demonstrated an impressive volume of work for the first year of the programme, with project presentations of high technical quality, demonstrating detailed scientific understanding.
We were fortunate enough to have in attendance, academics and students from Cambridge University who also benefited from the Showcase's varied range of presentations which comprised of:

Michael Atkinson The University of Manchester Simulating strain path reversal using full-field crystal plasticity modelling

Kai Zhang Imperial College London Microstructure evolution in the thermal-mechanical behaviours of alloys

Dr Jinghua Zheng Imperial College London Investigation of fast ageing method for AA6082

Dr Alex Cassell The University of Manchester Recent developments in the characterisation of aluminium alloy microstructures by electron microscopy - microchemistry in 7xxx aluminium alloys the non-uniform distribution of elements

Nick Byres The University of Manchester Investigating grain size distribution abnormalities in Ti-6Al-4V

Dr Christopher Daniel The University of Manchester High temperature deformation micromechanics in dual-phase titanium alloys

Dr Hugh Shercliff & Dr Patryk Jedrasiak Cambridge University Modelling of hot deformation testing

Dr Nicolas Gruel (assisted by Nick Byers) The University of Manchester LightForm data management and data sharing application
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description LightForm Research Showcase 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The LightForm Research Showcase 2021 took place on Thursday 18 November and Friday 19 November 2021 online via zoom. This LightForm Research Showcase was presented to academics, students, industry and the LightForm Steering Committee, presenting the culmination of LightForm research to date. The Showcase demonstrated an impressive volume of work for with project presentations of high technical quality, demonstrating detailed scientific understanding.
In-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of hot titanium deformation - Christopher Daniel
The texture evolution during hot rolling of Ti-6Al-4V - Xiaohan Zeng
Heat Stamping of Ti-6Al-4V sheet (video) - Famin Tian
The effect of texture on the ductility of alpha-beta Ti alloys - Wayne Heatman
Modelling dynamic precipitation in aluminium alloys - Madeleine Bignon
Dynamic precipitation in pre-aged AA7075 during warm stretching - Ziyu Ma
Development of biaxial testing for formability evaluation - Victoria Yardley
Investigating and modelling the effect of prior deformation on creep age forming - Kevin Tanswell
A novel integrated framework for reproducible formability predictions using virtual materials testing - Thomas Jailin
Crystal plasticity modelling of formability in recycled 6xxx alloys - Inigo Howe
Multilevel statistical modelling of texture evolution in BCC alloys - Michael Atkinson
CALPHAD-informed phase field modelling of quench sensitivity in 7xxx alloys - Yichao Yao
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://lightform.org.uk/news-views-events/LightForm-Research-Showcase-2021
 
Description LightForm Seminar - Adventures in lowering the cost of titanium alloy components in the Steel City 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Dr Martin Jackson from the University of Sheffield presented the LightForm seminar "Adventures in lowering the cost of titanium alloy components in the Steel City", at The University of Manchester, School of Materials in February 2019.

The seminar focused on the findings of the The Sheffield Titanium Alloy Research (STAR) groups work with aerospace and automotive supply chain, in relation to reducing the cost of titanium processing and improve the performance of critical titanium parts.
The first part of the seminar described emerging powder to product hybrid near net shape processes, such as FAST-forge and powder to wire processes such as Conform.
The second part of the seminar described work with key industrial partners enabling the better understanding of the effects of upstream forging and machining on component fatigue performance.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description LightForm Seminar - Multi-scale simulation towards the understanding of the deformation mechanisms and microstructure evolution in titanium based alloys 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Professor Dongsheng Xu from the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a LightForm seminar at The University of Manchester, School of Materials on Tuesday 17 April 2018.

The seminar which included undergraduates and postgraduates, academics and technicians, focused on research of multi-scale simulations carried out on titanium alloys and titanium intermetallic compounds in order to understand the microstructure evolution, deformation and fracture behaviour under different conditions, demonstrating the effects of temperature, external stress on the nucleation and growth and how these findings inform the practical design of some new alloys and thermal mechanical processing routes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description MATERIAL SELECTION IN DESIGN for schools and colleges 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact This resource encourages students to explore and consider the selection of materials in the design process:

Dr Hugh Shercliff has developed and trialled secondary school teaching resources, with a number of 4th year MEng undergraduats. The objective is to set science
and maths content at GCSE and A level within an engineering context.

A number of resources relate to materials in design, exploring the trade-offs between mechanical properties, cost and density in light weight design, using the core concept
of "material property charts".

Worksheets have been trialled with pupils in a local Cambridge school, guest lectures delivered in various schools to groups of around 30
6th form students.

A practical outreach activity has been designed using bending of beams to explore stiffness and weight on a low-cost portable test rig, and trialled successfully by a group of 20 visiting 6th form students.

Work continues to build a number of bending test rigs for LightForm students to take on outreach visits, and to publish a set of resources for GCSE and A level. Future MEng projects will investigate the potential in primary teaching and Key Stage 3 of linking science to DT, and embedding engineering context in science and computing
teaching.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Manufacturing the Future Seminar Series 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Seminar series (10 seminars in total) from large EPSRC Manufacturing the Future theme grant holders. This was done in collaboration with the Henry Royce Institute. Seminars were held in-person and also streamed online. Across all events we has approximately 350 attendees (both in-person and online) with many people from industry attending, and academics as far as China attending. The improved collaboration links between grants, and promoted sharing best practice in running large grants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Medlock Primary School Outreach Activity 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Three outreach activities (chocolate impact tester, plastic heat gun/badge maker, and plasticine shaping) were used to demonstrate materials science and engineering to two groups of about 30 primary school children (year 2 and 3). The activities sparked questions and enthusiastic discussion about materials and science. Excellent feedback received from the school.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://lightform.org.uk/outreach
 
Description New materials processing technologies for forming lightweight structural components 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Plenary Lecture at the World University Forum on Materials Science & Engineering Leadership, Wuhan, China, 10-12 Oct. 2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Newsletters 2022 (4 separate newsletters) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Quarterly newsletters containing research highlights, upcoming events associated with the grant, staffing updates, were sent to a list of subscribers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Polish School Outreach 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact In January 2023, Dr Patryk Jedrasiak, invited by teachers from local primary schools in Myslibórz, Poland, delivered a series of seven short talks on science and technology to pupils from 7th and 8th grades.

Each talk discussed academic careers, touching on the subject of women in science, and presenting the profile of one the most outstanding scientist in history, Marie Curie-Sklodowska. The pupils were then encouraged to speculate about the technologies and areas of scientific endeavour that they believe are particularly promising and inspiring. Discussed examples included gene therapies, artificial intelligence, nuclear fusion and exploration of Mars. Finally, Dr Jedrasiak talked his own past education and applications of his current research on lightweight alloys, giving the pupils an opportunity to ask questions and offering advice.

The schools host pupils from both urban and rural areas, with latter accounting for over 40% of the population of the region, traditionally being among the poorest areas of Poland. Regional GDP per capita of €10.900 ranks it among lowest in the EU (with the EU average of €29.900).

The region is also particularly susceptible to human capital flight ("brain-drain"). Although the proportion of population with high education in the region is close to the EU average (29.8% compared to 33.4%), R&D personnel accounts for only 0.9% of the total employment in the region, and R&D expenditure accounts for only 0.61% of the regional GDP (compared to EU averages of correspondingly 2.3% and 2.23%). Despite low overall unemployment rate in the region (3.5%), only 78.3% of recent graduates are employed (source: Eurostat, European Commission).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Running LightForm Stand at LightMAT Conference 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Running LightForm stand at the LightMAT conference 2019, to communicate to an academic and industry audience about the current research being undertaken by the LightForm group.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://lightform.org.uk/news-views-events/lightmat-featuring-lightform
 
Description School visit (Medlock primary school) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Provided age-appropriate demonstrations of materials science and specifically concepts relating to forming materials. The activities were "hands on", allowing the children to easily engage.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description ScienceX Science Festival Stand - How to design a sustainable bike 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We designed a stand for a local annual science festival which is organised by the faculty of science and engineering at the University of Manchester. The event took place over a Saturday and Sunday in November and was held at the Manchester Central Library. The event was attended by children aged 3-12 years old and their parents. Our hands-on stand focussed on basic metallurgy (selection of materials) and manufacturing principles(stamping, extruding, welding), and testing using a Charpy impacter. This sparked discussions with children and their parents with increased understanding of metallurgy and materials science.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Vision development talks (annually) to the Global Innovation Design Programme at Royal College of Art 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Contributed to students' engineering vision development from the lightweight manufacturing perspective. 30-50 MA/MSc students participated the talk each time, followed by Q&As and discussion.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018,2019,2020