Effect of low temperature on the yield behaviour of single crystal nickel-based superalloys

Engine redesign has lowered the temperatures in the roots of turbine blades to a temperature range in which the properties of the material are not well explored. This PhD addresses the basic mechanisms of yield and flow in single crystal materials across a wide range of temperatures. The focus will be on the effects of composition, temperature and orientation on the mechanism of yield, investigated principally using advanced TEM techniques. In particular, the extent to which Kear-Wilsdorf locking contributes to flow strength will be investigated, and algorithms developed to incorporate this into models of yield.