Multiscale x-ray imaging facility for monitoring and modelling structural evolution in situ
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
This proposal is a collaborative effort forming part of the Univ. of Manchester's initiative to establish a multidisciplinary X-ray imaging room housing a number of open 'beamlines/hutches' in the Unit for Stress & Damage Characterisation. Although the system will be open beamlines as with synchrotron sources, magnification will be achieved using spot sources and geometric enlargement. This adds many challenges when designing in situ rigs to load, heat and provide special environments for testing on these laboratory beamlines. Unlike synchrotron sources where the specimen is meters away from the source with room on all sides, the highest magnifications can only be obtained in laboratory sources if the specimen is only a few millimetres from the source. The objective of the research at Imperial College is to design, build and commission a rig to apply programmed tension, compression and thermal loading whilst rotating specimens with very high accuracy. The control systems for the instrument will be designed so that it may also be used at synchrotron sources (e.g. Diamond, ESRF) if the finer temporal resolution available at these high flux sources is required for specific experiments.A landmark experimental investigation of damage evolution in semi-solid Al-Cu alloy will be performed to demonstrate the capabilites of the apparatus.This new instrument, coupled with the high resolution (and phase contrast) tomography, will allow the direct observation of damage accumulation in a range of materials whilst under load and at temperatures as high as 1000C. Further, as the loading/thermal profiles applied will be programmable, the three dimensional evolution of phases within the material will be directly quantifiable and attributable to either thermal or strain driving forces. This in situ observation instrument will complement existing electron microscopy techniques by allowing phases in the 1 to 100 micron size range to be observed in 3D. The many applications of such an instrument are listed in the main proposal, including: damage and phase evolution during semi-solid processing, sintering processes (both metal and ceramic), fatigue crack propagation at elevated temperature, processing of bio-materials, and void nucleation and coalescence during creep.
Organisations
Publications
Evans L
(2019)
Image based in silico characterisation of the effective thermal properties of a graphite foam
in Carbon
FONSECA J
(2013)
Quantifying the evolution of soil fabric during shearing using directional parameters
in Géotechnique
FONSECA J
(2013)
Quantifying the evolution of soil fabric during shearing using scalar parameters
in Géotechnique
Fonseca J
(2012)
Non-invasive characterization of particle morphology of natural sands
in Soils and Foundations
Fuloria D
(2009)
An X-ray microtomographic and finite element modeling approach for the prediction of semi-solid deformation behaviour in Al-Cu alloys
in Acta Materialia
Fusaro L
(2020)
Polylysine Enriched Matrices: A Promising Approach for Vascular Grafts.
in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology
Garcea S
(2017)
Mapping fibre failure in situ in carbon fibre reinforced polymers by fast synchrotron X-ray computed tomography
in Composites Science and Technology
Gardiner JD
(2018)
Alpha shapes: determining 3D shape complexity across morphologically diverse structures.
in BMC evolutionary biology
Garwood R
(2017)
Additional file 2: of The phylogeny of fossil whip spiders
Garwood R
(2017)
The phylogeny of fossil whip spiders
in BMC Evolutionary Biology
Description | This research helped lead to new developments in terms of both instruments to simulate a range of processes from biological (e.g. joint motion) to natural (e.g. volcanic eruptions) to man made (e.g. a jet engine) whilst taking 3D x-ray images in real time. Via the instruments, techniques and software developed, new insights into a range of processes have been developed improving our understanding of healthcare products (e.g. 3D laser printed implants for joint replacement) to understanding the performance of aeroengine components. |
Exploitation Route | The techniques, instruments and software are now being used by dozens of industrial and academic groups worldwide. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Description | This proposal had two key outcomes. The first was a series of techniques for quantifying three dimensional structures from microCT images. This software has since been used for a wide range of applications from quantifying (and patenting) biomedical implant structures through to improving the production of components for transport applications. The second outcome was the design and production (also supported by a Royal Society Grant) of a precision tester that simulates environments from those inside a jet engine to the inside of a volcano to walking, whilst allowing real time cat scans to be taken (using a synchrotron source). |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | High Resolution 4D imaging of degradation and self-repair processes - Resources |
Amount | £102,171 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K004530/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2012 |
End | 06/2016 |
Description | Structural evolution across multiple time and length scales |
Amount | £231,689 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I02249X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2011 |
End | 04/2016 |
Description | Structural evolution across multiple time and length scales - EPSRC Research Complex at Harwell grant |
Amount | £1,656,509 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I02249X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2011 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Tomographic Imaging |
Amount | £469,584 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/J010456/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | Queen's Anniversary Prize for 'New techniques in x-ray imaging of materials critical for power, transport and other key industries.' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | A half day event was held to celebrate the University of Manchester being awarded the 2013 Queen's Anniversary Prize, in recognition of our 'New techniques in x-ray imaging of materials critical for power, transport and other key industries.' By working collaboratively, both internally and externally with industry and facilities, Manchester has distinguished itself as having contributed via helping to develop a world leading UK capability, which includes the establishment of the Diamond Manchester Collaboration, Directed by Prof. Peter Lee. Of particular note was that during the past few years, Manchester has supported imaging activities, via the MXIF, with over 90 industries, 35 different UK Universities, and visitors from over 26 countries worldwide. The collaboration with Diamond, and the extensive activities at synchrotrons worldwide was also highlighted. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.royalanniversarytrust.org.uk/news/winners-announced-2013 |