Author(s)

S. Sánchez-Beitia & J. Barrallo

Abstract

X-ray diffraction technique for residual stresses quantification in metallic parts has been widely applied for decades in many industrial sectors. This paper describes the calibration at a laboratory of this technique in order to adapt it for the quantification of the mechanical stresses in metallic structures. A small structure specifically built for this research has been repeatedly loaded at the laboratory. In each load level the stresses in a bar of the structure have been quantified by means of X-ray diffraction technique. Correlation between the stresses deducted experimentally and the applied stresses is excellent. As a conclusion it can be stated that the X-ray diffraction technique can be used for stress analysis in metallic elements. The technique is absolutely non destructive and appropriate to be used in Heritage Constructions. Keywords: structural stresses, residual stresses, X-ray diffraction technique, metallic structures. 1 Introduction One of the most interesting challenges of the scientific community in the structural analysis field is the development of new non destructive experimental techniques (NDT). The research here presented deals with the applicability of the X-ray diffraction technique for stresses quantification in metallic structures. The main problem in all cases for in-situ stresses measurements is that they have already been applied. Considering that it is not possible to apply any load (or unload) to a real structure, a parameter needs to be selected that can be determined experimentally. The experimental value of this parameter should lead to the deduction of the stress states. In this case the appropriate parameter is the separation \“d” of the crystallographic planes of the steel phases (ferrite,

Keywords

structural stresses, residual stresses, X-ray diffraction technique, metallic structures