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The Ruddlesden-Popper ($A_{n+1}B_{n}\text{O}_{3n+1}$) compounds are a highly tunable class of materials whose functional properties can be dramatically impacted by their structural phase $n$. The negligible energetic differences associated with forming a sample with a single value of $n$ versus a mixture of $n$ makes the growth of these materials difficult to control and can lead to local atomic-scale structural variation arising from small stoichiometric deviations. In this work, we present a Python analysis platform to detect, measure, and quantify the presence of different $n$-phases based on atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images in a statistically rigorous manner. We employ phase analysis on the 002 Bragg peak to identify horizontal Ruddlesden-Popper faults which appear as regions of high positive compressive strain within the lattice image, allowing us to quantify the local structure. Our semi-automated technique offers statistical advantages by considering effects of finite projection thickness, limited fields of view, and precise sampling rates. This method retains the real-space distribution of layer variations allowing for a spatial mapping of local $n$-phases, enabling both quantification of intergrowth occurrence as well as qualitative description of their distribution, opening the door to new insights and levels of control over a range of layered materials., 8 pages, 5 figures

This paper presents the development of novel Carbon-Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates, tailored for the application of Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) and Computed Tomography (CT) to experimental mechanics analyses of these materials. Analogous to surface-based Digital Image Correlation (DIC), DVC is a relatively novel volumetric method that utilizes CT data to quantify internal three-dimensional (3D) displacements and implicit strain fields. The highly anisotropic and somewhat regular/self-similar microstructures found in well-aligned unidirectional (UD) materials at high fibre volume fractions are intrinsically challenging for DVC, especially along the fibre direction at microstructural length-scales on the order of a few fibre diameters. To permit the application of DVC to displacement and/or strain measurements parallel to the fibre orientation, the matrix was doped with a sparse population of sub-micrometre particles to act as displacement trackers (i.e. fiducial markers). Barium titanate particles (400 nm, ∼1.44 vol. %) were found to offer the most favourable compromise between contrast in CT images and the ability to obtain a homogeneous distribution in 3D space with sufficient particle compactness for local DVC analyses. This property combination was selected following an extensive Micro-focus Computed Tomography (µCT)-based qualitative assessment on a wide test matrix, that included 38 materials manufactured with a range of possible particle compositions, mean sizes and concentrations. By comparing the tensile behaviour of the particle-adapted material alongside its particle-free counterpart, we demonstrate through the application of in situ Synchrotron Radiation Computed Tomography (SRCT) that the macro- and micromechanical responses of the newly developed CFRP are consistent with standard production materials indicating its suitability as a model system for mechanistic investigations. ispartof: Journal Of Composite Materials vol:55 issue:14 status: Published online

This paper presents an experimental demonstration and validation of high-resolution three-dimensional experimental strain measurement using Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) on Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymers, via through-thickness strain analysis under a state of pure bending. To permit the application of DVC to displacements and/or strain measurements parallel to the fibre direction in well-aligned unidirectional materials at high volume fractions, a methodology was developed for the insertion of sparse populations of 400 nm BaTiO3 particles within the matrix to act as displacement trackers (i.e. fiducial markers). For this novel material system, measurement sensitivity and noise are considered, along with the spatial filtering intrinsic to established DVC data processing. In conjunction with Micro-focus Computed Tomography, the technique was applied to a simple standard specimen subjected to a four-point flexural test, which resulted in a linear strain distribution through the beam thickness. The high-resolution, fibre-level strain distributions (imaged at a voxel resolution of ∼0.64 µm) were compared against the classical beam theory (Euler–Bernoulli) in incrementally decreasing averaging schemes and different sub-set sizes. Different sampling and averaging strategies are reported, showing that DVC outputs can be obtained that are in very good agreement with the analytical solution. A practical lower limit for the spatial resolution of strain is discerned for the present materials and methods. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of DVC in measuring local strains parallel to the fibre direction, with corresponding potential for calibration and validation of micromechanical models predicting various fibre-dominated damage mechanisms.

The measuring of internal stress has not only a great scientific aspect, but is particularly important for nondestructive description of component or products in industry. It is expected that exceeding of local mechanical limits in the material can have catastrophic consequences. In this paper is mapped the deformation field of amorphous material under the nanoindenter tip using diffraction in Debye-Scherrer geometry. Using the FEM analysis, it was modeled the deformation field in such material. There is a great match in between measured and calculated data. The result is pointing out on large limits of internal stresses measuring by conventional standard methods.

Interfaces have been reported to significantly strengthen and toughen metallic materials. However, there has been a long-standing question on whether interface-affected-zone (IAZ) exists, and how it might behave. Here we report in situ high-resolution strain mapping near interfaces in a copper–bronze heterogeneous laminate, which revealed the existence of IAZs. Defined as the zone with strain gradient, the IAZ was found to form by the dislocations emitted from the interface. The IAZ width remained largely constant with a magnitude of a few micrometers with increasing applied strain. Interfaces produced both back stress strengthening and work hardening, which led to both higher strength and higher ductility with decreasing interface spacing until adjacent IAZs started to overlap, after which a tradeoff between strength and ductility occurred, indicating the existence of an optimum interface spacing for the best mechanical properties. These findings are expected to help with designing laminates and other heterogeneous metals and alloys for superior mechanical properties.

Free-standing semiconductor nanowires constitute an ideal material system for the direct manipulation of electrical and optical properties by strain engineering. In this study, we present a direct quantitative correlation between electrical conductivity and nanoscale lattice strain of individual InAs nanowires passivated with a thin epitaxial In0.6Ga0.4As shell. With an in situ electron microscopy electromechanical testing technique, we show that the piezoresistive response of the nanowires is greatly enhanced compared to bulk InAs, and that uniaxial elastic strain leads to increased conductivity, which can be explained by a strain-induced reduction in the band gap. In addition, we observe inhomogeneity in strain distribution, which could have a reverse effect on the conductivity by increasing the scattering of charge carriers. These results provide a direct correlation of nanoscale mechanical strain and electrical transport properties in free-standing nanostructures.

Nanobeam electron diffraction strain mapping has been used to measure the strain evolution in stainless steel under in situ deformation. As the amount of deformation increases, the leading dislocation of a planar slip band leaves behind a residual strain in the form of a small lattice expansion. Dislocation analysis confirmed that the dislocations involved were type. While the characteristic residual strain of planar slip has often been observed, it has never before been directly measured. Our results provide a view into the dynamic mechanisms of planar slip, and showcase the possibilities of multidimensional in situ imaging.

To evaluate heterogeneous strain distribution developed by pre-deformations in dual phase (DP) steel accurately, a combinational technique of Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) methods was newly introduced in this study. A good correlation is established between kernel average misorientation calculated by EBSD and local equivalent strain measured by DIC in ferrite matrix of DP steels regardless of the difference in deformation process, which means that an EBSD orientation map can be easily converted into an applicative strain map by employing the individual correlation formula. This new technique reveals that very large strain region is locally formed within dozens of micrometer from the punched edge in a punched DP steel. On the other hand, hard martensite grains dispersed in DP steel remarkably promote the heterogeneity of strain distribution in ferrite matrix. As a result, the large strain region is also developed in the form of bands in a cold-rolled DP steel by only 60% thickness reduction at least, as if it is affected by the distribution and morphology of martensite grains. In addition, the local strain mapping demonstrates that the equivalent strain of the large strain band in cold-rolled material is comparable to that of the heavily deformed edge in punched one. The very large strain band in ferrite matrix is characterized by ultrafine grained structure, which leads to the possibility for the losing ductility in ferrite matrix and the martensite cracking.

Inter-pass deformation is an effective method for refining the coarse β-grain structure normally produced in high-deposition-rate additive manufacturing processes, like wire-arc additive manufacturing. The effectiveness of applying contoured surface rolling deformation tracks to each added layer has been studied by developing, and applying, a large-area SEM-based strain mapping technique. This technique is based on calibration of the average point-to-point Local Average Misorientation (LAM) of α-phase lamellar variants in EBSD orientation data to the local effective plastic strain. Although limited in the strain range that can be measured, the technique has proven to be very effective for identifying the size and depth of the plastic zone induced by surface rolling, as well as the local strain distribution, up to a saturation limit of ~12%. The strain fields mapped showed a close correlation to the region and level of recrystallization that occurred in the deformation zones during rapid re-heating through the β transus. The β recrystallization identified was consistent with the local strain distribution within the plastic zones measured by the LAM method and previous work on the recrystallization mechanisms operating in WAAM inter-pass deformation processes.

For the determination of the shear properties such as strength, strain and modulus of unidirectionally reinforced composites, nearly a dozen measurement techniques exist, several of which have found their way into standards. One non-standardized method for sheet materials is the 10° off-axis tensile test of unidirectional coupons. The current work focuses on the experimental investigation of tensile testing of CFRP-UD coupon specimens using the 10° off-axis test and DIC strain mapping to measure the full-field deformation response. A sensitivity analysis on the measured stresses, strains and moduli is performed by varying the aspect ratio of the specimens and the location of strain measurement. Test related uncertainties such as the loading angle and specimen preparation details are investigated and quantified with the help of these full-field DIC measurements.

Cross correlation techniques applied to EBSD patterns have led to what has been termed “high-resolution EBSD” (HR-EBSD). The technique yields higher accuracy orientation and strain data which is obtained by comparing a given EBSD pattern with either a real or a simulated reference pattern. Real reference patterns are often taken from a “central” position in a given grain, where it is hoped that the material is “strain-free”, and they enable the determination of relative changes in orientation and strain from that present in the lattice at the reference position. Simulated patterns, on the other hand, enable comparison of the sample lattice with that of a perfect lattice, resulting in a measure of absolute strain and orientation. However, the simulated pattern method has several drawbacks, including the need to accurately specify microscope geometry, the lower fidelity/detail of simulated patterns compared with real patterns, and the potential for microscope-specific bias in the measured patterns (such as due to optical distortion). These drawbacks have led to much debate about the utility of the cross-correlation technique using simulated patterns. This paper is the first to assess the accuracy of the simulated pattern method relative to the real pattern approach in a setting where accuracy can be reasonably determined, thus providing a fair assessment of the potential of the simulated pattern technique. Based upon recent developments towards a standard material for assessing strain mapping techniques, this paper assesses the overall accuracy of the simulated pattern technique. Mismatch strains are calculated using both the real and simulated pattern techniques for a SiGe film deposited on a Si substrate. While the simulated pattern technique is not as accurate or precise as the real pattern technique for providing relative strains, it provides an estimate of absolute strain that is not available via the real pattern approach.

International audience; Precession electron diffraction has been used to provide accurate deformation maps of a device structure showing that this technique can provide a spatial resolution of better than 2 nm and a precision of better than 0.02%. The deformation maps have been fitted to simulations that account for thin specimen relaxation. By combining the experimental deformation maps and simulations, we have been able to separate the effects of the stressor and recessed sources and drains and show that the Si3N4 stressor increases the in-plane deformation in the silicon channel from 0.92 to 1.52 +/- 0.02%. In addition, the stress in the deposited Si3N4 film has been calculated from the simulations, which is an important parameter for device design.

Nanowires are a versatile platform to investigate and harness phonon and thermal transport phenomena in nanoscale systems. With this perspective, we demonstrate herein the use of crystal phase and mass disorder as effective degrees of freedom to manipulate the behavior of phonons and control the flow of local heat in silicon nanowires. The investigated nanowires consist of isotopically pure and isotopically mixed nanowires bearing either a pure diamond cubic or a cubic-rhombohedral polytypic crystal phase. The nanowires with tailor-made isotopic compositions were grown using isotopically enriched silane precursors 28SiH4, 29SiH4, and 30SiH4 with purities better than 99.9%. The analysis of polytypic nanowires revealed ordered and modulated inclusions of lamellar rhombohedral silicon phases toward the center in otherwise diamond-cubic lattice with negligible interphase biaxial strain. Raman nanothermometry was employed to investigate the rate at which the local temperature of single suspended nanowires evolves in response to locally generated heat. Our analysis shows that the lattice thermal conductivity in nanowires can be tuned over a broad range by combining the effects of isotope disorder and the nature and degree of polytypism on phonon scattering. We found that the thermal conductivity can be reduced by up to ∼40% relative to that of isotopically pure nanowires, with the lowest value being recorded for the rhombohedral phase in isotopically mixed 28Six30Si1–x nanowires with composition close to the highest mass disorder (x ∼ 0.5). These results shed new light on the fundamentals of nanoscale thermal transport and lay the groundwork to design innovative phononic devices., O.M. acknowledges support from NSERC-Canada (Discovery Grants and Strategic Partnership Grants), the Canada Foundation for Innovation, MRIF Québec (Coopération Québec-Catalogne), Mitacs, and Canada Research Chair. J.A. acknowledges funding from Generalitat de Catalunya 2014 SGR 1638 and the Spanish MINECO coordinated projects VALPEC and ANAPHASE (ENE2017-85087-C3-3-R). ICN2 acknowledges support from the Severo Ochoa Programme (MINECO, Grant No. SEV-2013-0295) and is funded by the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya.

This paper focuses on local strain distribution in the microstructure of high silicon ductile iron during cyclic loading. In-situ cyclic test was performed on compact-tension (CT) samples inside the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to record the whole deformation and obtain micrographs for microstructural strain measurement by means of digital image correlation (DIC) technique. Focused ion beam (FIB) milling was used to generate speckle patterns necessary for DIC measurement. The equivalent Von Mises strain distribution was measured in the microstructure at the maximum applied load. The results revealed a heterogeneous strain distribution at the microstructural level with higher strain gradients close to the notch of the CT sample and accumulated strain bands between graphite particles. Local strain ahead of the early initiated micro-cracks was quantitatively measured, showing high strain localization, which decreased by moving away from the micro-crack tip. It could be observed that the peak of strain in the field of view was not necessarily located ahead of the micro-cracks tip which could be because of the (i) strain relaxation due to the presence of other micro-cracks and/or (ii) presence of subsurface microstructural features such as graphite particles that influenced the strain concentration on the surface. The RightsLink Digital Licensing and Rights Management Service (including RightsLink for Open Access) is available (A) to users of copyrighted works found at the websites of participating publishers who are seeking permissions or licenses to use those works, and (B) to authors of articles and other manuscripts who are seeking to pay author publication charges in connection with the submission of their works to publishers.

A practical framework is developed in this work for extracting high-fidelity quantitative strain information from three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) experiments. The framework is applicable for continuum-scale deformation in elastic and plastic regimes in the presence of macroscopic strain gradients. The framework is developed, demonstrated, and validated by conducting 3D-DIC experiments and corresponding finite element analysis (FEA) on polycrystalline aluminum tensile specimens with and without macroscopic strain gradient subjected to uniaxial tensile deformation in both elastic and plastic regimes. The developed framework is expected to be applicable for continuum-scale deformation in other classes of materials.

Micropatterns are generated on a vast selection of polymeric substrates for various applications ranging from stretchable electronics to cellular mechanobiological systems. When these patterned substrates are exposed to external loading, strain field is primarily affected by the presence of microfabricated structures and similarly by fabrication-related defects. The capturing of such nonhomogeneous strain fields is of utmost importance in cases where study of the mechanical behavior with a high spatial resolution is necessary. Image-based non-contact strain measurement techniques are favorable and have recently been extended to scanning tunneling microscope and scanning electron microscope images for the characterization of mechanical properties of metallic materials, e.g. steel and aluminum, at the microscale. A similar real-time analysis of strain heterogeneity in elastomers is yet to be achieved during the entire loading sequence. The available measurement methods for polymeric materials mostly depend on cross-head displacement or precalibrated strain values. Thus, they suffer either from the lack of any real-time analysis, spatiotemporal distribution or high resolution in addition to a combination of these factors. In this work, these challenges are addressed by integrating a tensile stretcher with an inverted optical microscope and developing a subpixel particle tracking algorithm. As a proof of concept, the patterns with a critical dimension of 200 mu m are generated on polydimethylsiloxane substrates and strain distribution in the vicinity of the patterns is captured with a high spatiotemporal resolution. In the field of strain measurement, there is always a tradeoff between minimum measurable strain value and spatial resolution. Current noncontact techniques on elastomers can deliver a strain resolution of 0.001% over a minimum length of 5 cm. More importantly, inhomogeneities within this quite large region cannot be captured. The proposed technique can overcome this challenge and provides a displacement measurement resolution of 116 nm and a strain resolution of 0.04% over a gage length of 300 mu m. Similarly, the ability to capture inhomogeneities is demonstrated by mapping strain around a thru-hole. The robustness of the technique is also evaluated, where no appreciable change in strain measurement is observed despite the significant variations imposed on the measurement mesh. The proposed approach introduces critical improvements for the determination of displacement and strain gradients in elastomers regarding the real-time nature of strain mapping with a microscale spatial resolution.

Electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) has made an impressive impact on the characterization of materials by directly linking microstructure and crystallographic texture to provide very rich and quantitative datasets which in many instances have forced us to rethink how microstructure should be defined and analyzed. In this article we try to first give a very basic idea of how an EBSD map is obtained and what the data produced is like. We then give a brief history detailing some of the more major steps in developing the technique to what it is today. Finally, we explore two advanced and exciting technique areas of strain mapping and 3D microscopy and demonstrate how the EBSD technique continues to evolve to tackle new applications and bolster our materials characterization toolbox. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Strain mapping using the geometric phase analysis (GPA) technique was applied to Al–GP II (Guinier–Preston) nanoscale precipitates, using both high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) micrographs as well as the exit wave function (EWF) obtained by focal series reconstruction. The experimental strain results were compared with strain maps obtained from an atomic model which consisted of an Al supercell containing a GP II precipitate. It was built as a reference from literature data. The experimental results demonstrate a complex strain distribution and larger fluctuations than the reference strain maps. These differences were found to be partly a consequence of image artifacts produced by the technique as well as complex microstructural events which were present at the development stage studied.

Recent advances in X-ray microtomography have created the opportunity to image the interior of materials. Microstructural images that are similar to or about an order of magnitude higher in resolution than those currently obtained with light microscopy can now be obtained in three-dimensions using synchrotron radiation. Local strain mapping is readily enabled by processing these high-resolution tomographic images using either the microstructural tracking technique or the digital volume correlation technique. This article is a review of the methodology behind these techniques and discusses recent experimental research on three-dimensional (3D) strain mapping. Potential future research directions are also outlined.

The use of the scanning low energy electron microscopy (SLEEM) has been slowly making its way into the field of materials science, hampered not by limitations in the technique but rather by relative scarcity of these instruments in research institutes and laboratories. This paper reports the results obtained from an investigation of the microstructure of ultra fine-grained (UFG) copper fabricated using equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) method, namely in the as-pressed state and after annealing. SLEEM is very sensitive to the perfection of crystal lattice and using SLEEM, local strain can be effectively imaged.

An 18 mm thick three-pass slot weld specimen in austenitic stainless steel, manufactured for the purpose of benchmarking Finite Element weld residual stress simulation codes, is currently undergoing extensive non-destructive characterization within a research network. First results from the non-destructive full three dimensional spatially resolved macro-strain mapping in this specimen are presented here. Focussed high-energy synchrotron radiation together with the spiral slit technique was used to obtain depth-resolved information about the variation of lattice parameters. The results show a strong concentration of tensile strain, transverse to the weld at mid-depth of the weld. The maximum longitudinal strains were observed beneath the weld. Furthermore significant weld start- and stop-effects were observed.

The annihilation behavior of micro pores in an aluminum alloy casting during surface cold working was continuously observed using the synchrotron radiation microtomography. To analyze micro pore annihilation behavior, the displacement of artificially dispersed particles was measured and thereby local strain distributions were mapped in high-density. A peening treatment annihilated most of the micro pores with a diameter of over 10 mm in the upper part of the specimen that could initiate fatigue cracks. The annihilation behavior of the micro pores could be understood as a function of effective strain locally accumulated around them, and not as a function of local hydrostatic strain. The effective strain varied significantly, with some large pores remaining where local effective plastic strain was relatively low. The complete annihilation of large pores in the surface layer suggests that the application of sufficiently long surface cold working is effective in improving the high-cycle fatigue properties. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.M2010069]

In this study the strain-induced grain growth was simulated on an aluminum bicrystal by using channel-die compression. After compression of the bicrystal up to 5% deformation the strain mapping were characterized by using digital image correlation (DIC) technique and the 2D strain filed provided data to simulate grain growth using a modified Monte Carlo method. The strain-induced grain growth on grain boundary was simulated and compared with experiment after annealing at 450°C for 4 hours. The relation between the deformation heterogeneity and the grain growth was discussed in this work.

A tracking procedure for the high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been developed in order to measure 3-D local strain within a deforming material in high-density. A dispersion-strengthened copper alloy model sample with alumina particles, which contains micropores, was visualized by the synchrotron radiation CT. The pores observed in reconstructed CT volumes were used as tracking markers. The developed tracking method using a set of matching parameters, which classifies matched, pended and rejected markers, exhibited high ratio of success tracking. Furthermore, the ratio was improved by applying the spring model method, which is one of the particle image velocity (PIV) methods utilized in the field of the fluid mechanics, to the pended markers. The method based on the image analysis of CT imaging volumes provides us 3-D high-density strain mapping.

A number of mechanical tests and metallographic techniques have been used to investigate the mechanism of ductile fracture of AA5754 sheet. The sequence of events in the development of shear localization is clarified using in situ strain mapping on both the sample surface and through thickness direction during tensile tests. It is observed that the failure mode changes from cup-cone type to shearing with increasing Fe content in both continuous cast (CC) and direct-chill cast (DC) AA5754 sheets. However, this transition happens in CC with much lower Fe content than DC. As very little damage is found near the fracture surface, this suggests that damage may be a consequence of the shear process rather than a trigger that determines material ductility. For both CC and DC with same Fe content of 0.21%, fracture strain of CC is much lower than DC. It is postulated that this is due to the differences of particle distribution in these two materials, especially the increased fraction of stringer type structures which exist in CC material.

After more than two decades of extensive development, neutron diffraction has become an essential research tool for the study of mechanical behavior in materials. This article will focus on how information obtained from the diffraction peak position and width is used to answer important questions concerning the mechanical behavior of materials. The principle of strain measurements is described, and the concept of strain mapping is introduced. Examples are presented to illustrate the application of neutron diffraction to engineering problems, and new research opportunities are discussed that will be enabled by the next generation of instruments.

Four fundamental models, based on slip-line theory, are compared to experimental results obtained from deforming scribed billets in a single pass of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). Two ECAP die configurations, having sharp and round corners, are used to determine the experimental flow-line fields for Pb, pure Cu and pure Al billets. Two different types of deformation behavior are observed when using the die with a sharp-corner: (a) for the Cu and Al billets a gap develops at the outer corner of the die so that the material flows without filling the outer corner and (b) for Pb billets a “dead-metal” zone is formed which fills with material in the outer corner of the die. Strain mapping is used to delineate different spatial strain distributions for sharp-corner and round-corner dies.

Measuring the distribution of local strain at the microscopic level is a challenging problem, especially for materials subjected to large overall strain. In the present study, a novel microscopic strain mapping technique has been developed based on the analysis of surface topography using digital image correlation (DIC) software. The input is a series of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The method uses topographic features (such as surface slip traces) found in these images as the input. A commercially available optical strain measurement system (ARAMIS®, which is a trade name of the equipment from GOM mbH, Braunschweig, Germany) that utilizes the DIC methodology is used for this purpose. It was found that the best results were obtained using an incremental approach in which DIC is used to map the local strain increments following a modest amount of macroscopic deformation. This is essential when using topographic features such as slip traces that are not static. The accuracy and scale of the measurements are affected by image and facet size. The method has been validated, based on in situ deformation of an aluminium alloy within an SEM, using strains measured independently by means of surface indents. The results clearly reveal the details of the local shear on a sub-grain-size scale and the evolution of shear bands within the necking area, leading to local strains that exceed the average strain by a factor of 2.3.

A technique based on high-speed digital photography and image correlation for direct whole-field strain mapping of Portevin–Le Chatelier deformation bands is described. Results for a type B band show that the deformation band was formed within a few milliseconds and remained stationary as no motion of the band was detected.

Majorana zero modes (MZMs), prime candidates for topological quantum bits, are detected as zero bias conductance peaks (ZBPs) in tunneling spectroscopy measurements. Implementation of a narrow and high tunnel barrier in the next generation of Majorana devices can help to achieve the theoretically predicted quantized height of the ZBP. We propose a material-oriented approach to engineer a sharp and narrow tunnel barrier by synthesizing a thin axial segment of GaxIn1-xSb within an InSb nanowire. By varying the precursor molar fraction and the growth time, we accurately control the composition and the length of the barriers. The height and the width of the GaxIn1-xSb tunnel barrier are extracted from the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB)-fits to the experimental I-V traces., Comment: See doi: 10.5281/zenodo.5064400 for source data. No changes in this version compared to the previous version

A number of isolated single CVD (chemical vapour deposition) diamond crystals were mapped using confocal Raman microscopy at a spatial resolution of 1 μm. Both square and triangular faceted crystals were included. It was found that, in general, regions of both types of crystals which corresponded to (111) growth sectors showed an overall shift of the diamond peak to low wavenumber, while the regions which corresponded to (100) growth sectors showed a shift to high wavenumber. This is interpreted as deriving from the presence of high concentrations of defects in the (111) growth sectors resulting in an overall tensile strain in these regions, and a compressive stress where these low density regions border the higher quality diamond from (100) growth sectors.

A simple biomechanical test with real-time displacement and strain mapping is reported, which provides displacement vectors and principal strain directions during the mechanical characterization of heart valve tissues. The maps reported in the current study allow us to quickly identify the approximate strain imposed on a location in the samples. The biomechanical results show that the aortic valves exhibit stronger anisotropic mechanical behavior than that of the pulmonary valves before 18% strain equibiaxial stretching. In contrast, the pulmonary valves exhibit stronger anisotropic mechanical behavior than aortic valves beyond 28% strain equibiaxial stretching. Simple biochemical tests are also conducted. Collagens are extracted at different time points (24, 48, 72, and 120 h) at different locations in the samples. The results show that extraction time plays an important role in determining collagen concentration, in which a minimum of 72 h of extraction is required to obtain saturated collagen concentration. This work provides an easy approach for quantifying biomechanical and biochemical properties of semilunar heart valve tissues, and potentially facilitates the development of tissue engineered heart valves.

The E.ON UK ARCMAC gauge has been developed to provide for point-to-point biaxial creep strain measurements. Research is continuing to provide for strain field mapping about the ARCMAC point-to-point monitoring system. The aim is to have comprehensive monitoring of creep strain in high temperature steam pipes including bends, joints, welds and other pipe structural features. A requirement is that all creep strain measurements made satisfy the standards of the UK National Physical Laboratory that maintain liaison with the standards authorities in other countries. Creep strain and other monitoring equipment for power-station steam pipes need to be rugged and suitable for the many different locations in which they are to be installed. Appropriate equipment is also required for capturing data at different times from the installed gauges. The use of strain mapping is particularly required when monitoring non uniform sections of pipes. Results to be presented will show the current state-of-art measurement techniques now available.Copyright © 2008 by ASME

The strain distribution in heterostructured wurtzite InAs/InP nanowires is measured by a peak finding technique using high resolution transmission electron microscopy images. We find that nanowires with a diameter of about 20 nm show a 10 nm strained area over the InAs/InP interface and the rest of the wire has a relaxed lattice structure. The lattice parameters and elastic properties for the wurtzite structure of InAs and InP are calculated and a nanowire interface is simulated using finite element calculations. Both the method and the experimental results are validated using a combination of finite element calculations and image simulations.

Abstract Micromechanical testing techniques can reveal a variety of characteristics in materials that are otherwise impossible to address. However, unlike to macroscopic testing, these miniaturized experiments are more challenging to realize and analyze, as loading and boundary conditions can often not be controlled to the same extent as in standardized macroscopic tests. Hence, exploiting all possible information from such an experiment seems utmost desirable. In the present work, we utilize dynamic in situ microtensile testing of a nanocrystalline equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy in conjunction with initial feature tracking to obtain a continuous two-dimensional strain field. This enables an evaluation of true stress–strain data as well as of the Poisson’s ratio and allows to study localization of plastic deformation for the specimen. We demonstrate that the presented image correlation method allows for an additional gain of information in these sophisticated experiments over commercial tools and can serve as a starting point to study deformation states exhibiting more complex strain fields. Graphic abstract

It is widely stated that yield stress extraction from micro-compression testing can be unreliable due to factors such as the pillar taper, pillar-punch misalignment and lateral displacement for example through discrete slip events. This study reports on how these factors can be eradicated when using digital image correlation based strain mapping. This approach is demonstrated through a conventional micropillar compression experiment using the hexagonal MAX phase system Cr2AlC. The use of this approach enables the uncertainty of the extracted yield stress values to be significantly reduced and effectively increases the precision of critical resolved shear stress extraction for basal plane slip from ±52% to ±4% of the mean value. The findings suggest that the statistical variations commonly observed in micro-compression tests may frequently be linked to systematic errors in the stress measurements taken, and that precise evaluation of deformation statistics can only be facilitated if the pillar deformation morphology is closely monitored.

A considerable amount of information can be gained from combined collection of both digital image correlation (DIC) measurements, and of electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) data from the same area during in-situ deformation experiments. Such data collection remains a challenge, however, due the influence of the surface markers required for DIC on the EBSD data quality. In this work we demonstrate that by careful control of the sample preparation process, a two-step electropolishing method can be used to generate excellent surface markers for DIC where the markers are integral features on the surface. The method does not require any special equipment and can be used to collect high quality EBSD data and DIC data with sub-micron resolution on the same area during repeated loading as part of in-situ deformation experiments. Combined EBSD and DIC measurements are illustrated in this work for samples of Al deformed in tension to a strain of 10%. Due to the integral nature of the surface markers we demonstrate also that it is possible to perform DIC measurements up to large plastic strains, including the necked region within a tensile sample. A comparison of EBSD and DIC data collected from the same area of a tensile-deformed sample shows that although the EBSD data provide excellent information on the lattice rotations developed during deformation, these data cannot be directly used as a measure of local plastic strain on the scale of the deformation microstructure. The ability to collect both EBSD and DIC data during an in-situ experiment provides, therefore, an opportunity to explore further the complex relationship between local plastic strain heterogeneity and EBSD-based measures of crystal lattice rotation.