Page 243 - Neutrons for Sciences and Society
P. 243
2018 UPDATE: The ILL between 2005 and 2018
proprietary research), complementing the core subjects studied at ILL (physics, chemistry, biology ...). Some examples are presented below:
Neutrons and technological progress
Until recent years mechanical components were designed
on the basis of workpieces that had been milled or cast and optimising the manufacturing and the safety was obtained through extremely performing computer software aimed at optimising internal stresses under fatigue or extreme conditions. Industrial processes have recently included the new method of Additive Layer Manufacturing or 3-D printing, especially in the case of very complex or vital
components. However,
the existing software
cannot determine internal
stresses properly in the
case of 3D-printing; they
need recalibration that
relies on the experimental
determination of stresses
through neutron methods.
Indeed, neutron beams
allow the accurate and
non-intrusive measure of
residual internal stresses in
bulk and complex pieces
(Fig. 11.9).
Fig. 11.9: A component of a meteorology satellite (built by the Renishaw company for Thales Alenia Space) being investigated at the SALSA instrument. Residual internal stresses are being determined in 3D-printed Aluminium pieces.
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