Non-contact measurement of the stress within granular materials via neutron diffraction

Abstract

For some time neutron diffraction approaches have provided the ability to look within solid materials in order to make accurate measurements of stress and strain. More recently this technique has been applied to granular materials with some very promising results. Measurements of this type provide detailed information on the distribution of the full triaxial stress state at all points within a sample; something that is not yet achievable using any other method. In this paper we outline the basic principles behind the method and provide an example of the type of data that it can provide. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.