This project is in collaboration with the Hydro-Quebec Research Institute (IREQ) and the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM) on the mechanical test performance of miniature-scale micro-tensile specimens. The objective of the thesis project is to create an efficient and reliable fabrication route for producing micro-tensile specimens and to validate the accuracy of a newly custom-built micro-tensile bench at IREQ. The fabrication techniques developed and outlined in this thesis use the underlying fundamental physical mechanisms of secondary electron microscopy (SEM), focused-ion beam (FIB), and the femtosecond (fs)-laser machining for producing optimal quality micro-tensile specimens. The mechanical testing of the specimens is geared towards studying the localized deformation occurring in the microstructure when the size of the specimen only limits a number of grains and grain boundaries in order to target the specific detailed measurement of the mechanical behaviour of individual grains and interfaces. The goal for creating an optimal fabrication route for micro-tensile specimens is to carry out micro-mechanical testing of the primary turbine steels of 415 martensitic stainless steel used in the manufacture of Francis turbine components at Hydro-Quebec. The mechanical testing of single phase and interphase interface 415 steel micro-tensile specimens are considered building blocks to developing digital twin models of the steel microstructure. The experimental data from the mechanical tests would be fed into the crystal plasticity finite element models (CPFEM) that are currently being developed by researchers at IREQ. With the development of digital twin models, engineers at IREQ would be able to predict crack initiation at the microstructure level (prior to crack propagation into macro-scale cracks) by observing the evolution of the grain’s crystallographic orientation and morphology, as well as deformation mechanisms such as martensite formation and twinning produced from localized induced strains in the microstructure. In addition, self-organized dislocation processes such as dislocation nucleation and dislocation escape through the free surface can also be studied using the CPFEM models for size-limited mechanical deformation behaviour of miniature-scale mechanical test specimens. The fabrication routes studied in this thesis project use the combination of the fs-laser and plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) to machine the micro-tensile specimens. (100) single crystal copper was the ideal material chosen to validate the accuracy of the micro-tensile bench and quality of the fs-laser-machined tensile specimens, due to its ductile nature and well-characterized properties studied in literature. A mechanical size effect was studied for single crystal copper specimens with different gauge thicknesses. It was observed from the micro-tension testing that the strength of the specimens increased with decreasing gauge thickness occurring in the size-limited tensile gauges. In addition, it was determined there was negligible differences in the size effect seen between the PFIB-machined copper micro-tensile specimens and the fs-laser-machined micro-tensile specimens, demonstrating that the fs-laser is a reliable machining route for the micro-tensile specimens. X-ray computed tomography was used to validate the correct geometry of the machined gauge section produced from an innovative gauge thinning method adopted from IREQ’s research collaborator, Dr. Robert Wheeler. As well, finite-element analysis (FEA) was performed to determine the deformation behaviour under both linear-elastic and non-linear elastoplastic conditions of (100) copper and 415 steel models simulated in pure tension, prior to the fabrication of the micro-tensile specimens, respectively. Furthermore, significant progress has been made towards targeting martensite grains in the 415-steel microstructure using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis to produce single crystal and interphase interface micro-tensile specimens. A workflow towards grain targeting using EBSD analysis has been developed, as well as for the relocation of grains using reference fiducial marks for future fabrication of the single crystal and interphase interface 415 micro-tensile specimens. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Hydro-Quebec is an energy utilities company that operates the design of Francis hydro-turbines to supply hydroelectric power across the province of Quebec. The hydro-turbines have an expected service life of 70 years. Unfortunately, the turbines can get replaced by new ones prior to reaching half of its service life, due to the development of severe fatigue crack growth in the primary components of the turbines. A solution proposed by the researchers at the Hydro-Quebec Research Institute (IREQ) is to determine a linkage between the turbine’s steel’s microstructure and the mechanical behaviour of the turbine steels. Deformation of the material starts at the microstructure level, where dislocations glide through the material lattice, causing both reversible (elastic) and irreversible (plastic) deformation. Therefore, a solution was proposed by the researchers at IREQ to create computational models of the steel microstructure to predict the deformation of the steel’s microstructure. Being able to predict the deformation mechanisms through the simulation models of the microstructures allows for engineers at Hydro-Quebec to schedule regular maintenance of the turbines more efficiently and provide metallurgists the knowledge on what is occurring at the microstructure level and what can be done to improve the chemical and physical composition of the steel. To develop the digital twin models, experimental data must be collected through mechanical testing of miniature mechanical test specimens of the turbine steels. The mechanical properties of the single phases and interphase interface specimens are fed into the models as building blocks to building a microstructure map of the turbine steels. Micro-tension testing of micro-tensile specimen provides direct information about the material’s mechanical properties. In this work, a reliable and efficient fabrication route for micro-tensile specimens was developed for the purpose of extracting mechanical properties of single phase and interphase interface turbine steel specimens using focused ion beam (FIB) and femtosecond laser machining.

No description available.

Объектом исследования являлось изучение микроструктуры и механических свойств сталей типа 32Г2ФА. На основе литературных данных и дюрометрических испытаний проведен анализ значений параметра отпуска и определен коэффициент С. Исследована микроструктура сталей после различных режимов отпуска методами электронной и оптической микроскопии. / The object of the study was the study of the microstructure and mechanical properties of steels of the 32G2FA type. On the basis of literature data and durometric tests, an analysis of the values of the tempering parameter was carried out and the coefficient C was determined. The microstructure of steels after various tempering regimes has been studied by electron and optical microscopy.

No description available.

The use of pre-hardened mold steels has increased appreciably over the years; more than 80% of the plastic mold steels are used in pre-hardened condition. These steels are delivered to the customer in finished state i.e. there is no need of any post treatment. With hardness around ~40HRC, they have properties such as good polishability, good weldability, corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity. Machinability is a very important parameter in pre-hardened mold steels as it has a direct impact on the cost of the mold. In normal machining operations involving intricate or near net shapes, machining constitutes around 60% of the total mold cost. Efforts are underway to explore every possible way to reduce costs associated with machining and to make production more economical. All the possible parameters which are considered to affect the machinability are being investigated by the researchers. This thesis work focuses on the effect of prior austenite grain size on the machinability of pre-hardened mold steel (Uddeholm Nimax).  Austenitizing temperatures and holding times were varied to obtain varying grain sized microstructures in different samples of the same material. As it was difficult to delineate prior-austenite grain boundaries, experimental and empirical methods were employed to obtain reference values. These different grain sized samples were thereafter subjected to machining tests, using two sets of cutting parameters. Maximum flank wear depth=0.2mm was defined for one series of test which were more akin to rough machining, and machining length of 43200mm or maximum wear depth=0.2mm were defined for second series of tests which were similar to finishing machining. The results were obtained after careful quantative and qualitative analysis of cutting tools. The results obtained for Uddeholm Nimax seemed to indicate that larger grain sized material was easier to machine. However, factors such as retained austenite content and work hardening on machined surface, which lead to degradation of machining operations were also taken into consideration. Uddeholm Nimax showed better machinability in large grained samples as retained austenite(less than 2%) content was minimal in the large grained sample. Small grained sample in Uddeholm Nimax had a higher retained austenite (7+2%) which resulted in degradation of machining operation and a lesser cutting tool life.

Les Alliages à Mémoire de Forme Magnétiques (AMFM) sont des matériaux actifs qui présentent des comportements inhabituels par rapport aux matériaux " classiques ". Ils peuvent par exemple présenter de larges déformations réversibles sous l'action d'un champ magnétique ou sous une action mécanique. Ce sont des candidats potentiels pour des applications dans des domaines de pointe (automobile, aéronautique, spatial, etc.). Les AMFM présentent par ailleurs un avantage indéniable par rapport aux matériaux à mémoire de forme " thermique " en raison de leur réponse dynamique à haute fréquence. Il est bien connu que ces comportements sont dus à un couplage magnéto-mécanique et à un phénomène physique lié à l'orientation des variantes de martensite. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'analyser les comportements magnéto-mécaniques des AMFM. Pour ce faire, nous étudions expérimentalement et théoriquement, la réorientation martensitique dans les AMFM. Tout d'abord, une analyse énergétique en 2D/3D est proposée et intégrée dans des diagrammes d'état pour une étude systématique de la réorientation martensitique dans les AMFM sous chargements tridimensionnels quelconques. Ainsi, des critères de large déformation réversible sous des chargements cycliques sont obtenus. L'analyse énergétique montre que les AMFM, sollicités sous chargement multiaxiaux présentent plus d'avantages que ceux sollicités en 1D ; en particulier, on montre que l'état multiaxial permet d'augmenter (d'améliorer) la contrainte fonctionnelle, ce qui augmente le champ d'application des ces matériaux. Ensuite, afin de valider les prédictions de l'analyse énergétique, des expériences bi-axiales ont été effectuées sur des éprouvettes en AMFM. Les résultats révèlent que la dissipation intrinsèque et la déformation de transformation dues à la réorientation martensitique sont constantes dans tous les états de contraintes. De plus, les résultats ont permis de valider nos prédictions théoriques quant à l'augmentation de la contrainte fonctionnelle. Enfin, afin de prédire les comportements magnéto-mécaniques des AMFM sous des chargements multiaxiaux, un modèle tridimensionnel est développé dans le cadre de la thermodynamique des processus irréversibles avec liaison interne. Toutes les variantes de martensite ont été considérées et l'effet de température a également été pris en compte. Les simulations numériques montrent un très bon accord (rejoignent/confirment les résultats) avec les résultats expérimentaux existant dans la littérature. Le modèle a ensuite été programmé dans un code de calcul par éléments finis afin d'étudier les comportements non linéaires de flexion des poutres en AMFM. L'effet géométrique et l'effet d'anisotropie du matériau ont été systématiquement pris en compte.

Pseudoelastic NiTi shape memory alloys exhibit different stress–strain curves and modes of deformation in tension vs. compression. We have recently shown that under a combination of compression and shear, heterogeneous deformation can occur. In the present study, we use digital image correlation to systematically analyze how characteristic features of the nominally uniaxial engineering stress–strain curves (particularly the martensite nucleation peak and the plateau length) are affected by extensometer parameters in tension, compression, and the novel load case of shear-compression. By post-experimental analysis of full surface strain field data, the effect of the placement of various virtual extensometers at different locations (with respect to the nucleation site of martensite bands or inhomogeneously deforming regions) and with different gauge lengths is documented. By positioning an extensometer directly on the region corresponding to the nucleating martensite band, we, for the first time, directly record the strain-softening nature of the material—a specific softening behavior that is, for instance, important for the modeling community. Our results show that the stress–strain curves, which are often used as a basis for constitutive modeling, are affected considerably by the choice of extensometer, particularly under tensile loading, that leads to a distinct mode of localized deformation/transformation. Under compression-shear loading, inhomogeneous deformation (without lateral growth of martensite bands) is observed. The effects of extensometer gauge length are thus less pronounced than in tension, yet systematic—they are rationalized by considering the relative impact of differently deforming regions.

The present thesis is devoted to the investigation of modulated structures as well as the direct measurement of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in Ni-Mn based magnetic shape memory (MSM) Heusler compounds in pulsed magnetic fields after analyzing isothermal entropy data taken in static magnetic fields. The emphasis is on the modulated structure of MSM Heusler compounds because of lower twinning stress which facilitates the easy transformation from austenite to martensite structure. Synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction (SXRPD) was carried out to study the modulated structure and NPD for antisite disorder as Ni and Mn have easily the same atomic scattering factor. Direct measurement of the adiabatic temperature change ΔTad was done in pulsed magnetic fields, because of fast response of ~10 to 100 ms to the sample temperature on magnetic field, providing adiabatic conditions. It also gives an opportunity of very high magnetic fields up to 70 T because of short pulse duration during the measurement. The modulated structure has been studied for the off-stoichiometric Ni2Mn1.4In0.6 and Ni1.9Pt0.1MnGa MSM Heusler compounds from SXRPD and NPD. Ni2Mn1.4In0.6 exhibits martensitic transition at TM ~ 295 K and Curie temperature TC ~ 315 K. Rietveld refinement reveals uniform atomic displacement in the modulated structure of martensite phase and the absence of premartensite phase and phason broadening of the satellite peaks which was further confirmed by HRTEM study. Therefore, the structural modulation in Ni2Mn1.4In0.6 can be successfully explained in term of the adaptive phase model. Whereas, Ni1.9Pt0.1MnGa shows the premartensite phase in addition to the martensite and austenite phases and follows the soft phonon model. The temperature dependent ac-susceptibility shows the change in slope at different temperatures 365, 265, 230 and 220 K corresponding to the Curie temperature TC, first premartensite T1, second premartensite T2 and martensite temperature TM, respectively. Temperature-dependent high resolution SXRPD data analysis shows first, a nearly 3M modulated premartensite phase with an average cubic-like feature i.e. negligible Bain distortion of the elementary L21 unit cell results from the austenite phase. This phase then undergoes an isostructural phase transition 3M like premartensite phase with robust Bain distortion in the temperature range from 220 to 195 K. Below 195 K, the martensite phase appears which results from the larger Bain-distorted premartensite phase. In this work, the magnetocaloric properties of Ni2.2Mn0.8Ga and Ni1.8Mn1.8In0.4 magnetic shape memory (MSM) Heusler compounds were studied. Ni2.2Mn0.8Ga exhibits the reversible conventional MCE, measured from isothermal entropy change ΔSM and adiabatic temperature change ΔTad because of the geometric compatibility condition (GCC) for cubic austenite phase to tetragonal martensite phase as a consequence of low thermal hysteresis of the martensite phase transition. The reversible MCE has been confirmed by applying more than one pulse in the hysteresis region at 317 K. Ni1.8Mn1.8In0.4 possess improved reversible behavior of inverse MCE due to the closely satisfying of GCC from cubic austenite to modulated monoclinic martensite structure. The maximum value of ΔSM has been found to the same for both heating and cooling curves measured from isothermal magnetization M(T) curves until a magnetic field of 5 T. The adiabatic temperature change ΔTad results in a value of -10 K by applying a magnetic field of 20 T in a pulsed magnetic field. Furthermore, reversible magnetostriction of 0.3% was observed near the first-order martensite phase transition temperatures 265, 270 and 280 K. A reduction of thermal hysteresis has been found in MSM Heusler compounds Ni2Mn1.4In0.6 and Ni1.8Co0.2Mn1.4In0.6 with the application of hydrostatic pressure followed by GCC from pressure dependent x-ray diffraction in both austenite and martensite phase. By increasing pressure, the lattice parameters of both phases change in such a way that they increasingly satisfy the GCC. The approach of GCC for different kind of martensite structures (tetragonal, orthorhombic and monoclinic) will help to design new MSM Heusler compounds taking advantage of first-order martensite phase transition.

Объектом исследования является структурно-текстурное состояние легированной хромоникелевой стали 12ХН3А после цементации. В качестве материалов для проведения исследований использовались образцы среднеуглеродистой легированной хромоникелевой стали 12ХН3А после цементации в твёрдом карбюризаторе. В ходе работы использовалась ориентационная электронная микроскопия, основанная на дифракции обратно рассеянных электронов (EBSD) и металлографический анализ. Зафиксирован металлургический дефект – полосчатость, а также выявлена аномальная структура цементированного слоя, где в одном исходном аустенитном зерне распад γ фазы происходит, как по мартенситным, так и по перлитным механизмам. По «восстановленным» ориентационным картам и полюсные фигурам к ним, можно сказать, что ориентационные соотношения при γ→α′ превращение являются промежуточными между ориентационными соотношениями Курдюмова - Закса и Нишиямы - Вассермана. Ориентировки при γ→α (в перлите) не соответствуют ни одной ориентации полученной из ориентационных соотношений Курдюмова-Закса или Нишиямы-Вассермана. Показано, что между аустенитом и ферритом (в перлите) наблюдаются следующие ориентационные соотношения <100>γ‖<113>αп; <111>γ‖<111>αп, <110>γ‖<112>αп. Между ферритом и цементитом наблюдаются следующие ориентационные соотношения: <110>Fe3C‖<112>αп; <103>Fe3C‖<103>αп. Ключевые слова: сложнолегированная латунь, медно-цинковые сплавы, синхронизаторы коробок передач автомобиля, прессование, механические свойства, твердость, анизотропия, пластичность. / The object of the study is the structural-texture state of alloyed chromium-nickel steel 12ХН3А after cementation. As materials for the study, samples of medium-carbon alloyed chromium-nickel steel 12ХН3А after cementation in a solid carburetor were used. In the course of the work, orientational electron microscopy based on diffraction of backscattered electrons (EBSD) and metallographic analysis was used. A metallurgical defect - banding was detected, and an anomalous structure of the cemented layer was detected, where in one initial austenite grain the γ phase decay occurs, both in martensitic and perlite mechanisms. According to the "restored" orientation maps and the pole figures to them, we can say that the orientation relations as γ → α 'transformation are intermediate between the Kurdyumov-Sachs and Nishiyama-Wasserman orientation relations.

Методом ориентационной микроскопии (EBSD) исследованы структурно-текстурные состояния бесшовных труб из сталей 08ХМФЧА, 25ХМФБ,10Х13Н3МФБ, после горячей прокатки и термических обработок. Установлено, что все структуры (феррит, бейнит, мартенсит) в изделиях как после горячей деформации, так и после термических обработок, характеризуются наличием выраженной кристаллографической текстуры, которую наиболее точно можно определить, как аксиальную, ось которой <111> является параллельной касательной к диаметру трубы. Показано, что процесс формирования текстуры также, как и наблюдающаяся в процессе термической обработки текстурная наследственность, определяются следующими правилами отбора определенных ориентаций α-фазы при γ-α-превращении: 1) наличием стабильных деформационных ориентировок аустенитных зерен; 2) специальными разориентациями (границами) между зернами γ–фазы, на которых начинается превращение; 3) ориентационными соотношениями, реализующимися при превращении; 4) термическими напряжениями, возникающими в изделии при его охлаждении. Последние являются ответственными за формирование специфической кристаллографической текстуры γ-α-превращения в бесшовных стальных трубах. / Microstructure and texture in seamless 0.08C–Cr–Mo–V; 0.25C–Cr–Mo–V–Nb; 0.08–13Cr–3Ni–Mo–V–Nb steel pipes were studied in as rolled and heat treated states using orientation EBSD microscopy. It was found that all types of microstructure (ferrite, martensite, bainite) as well as after hot rolling and after heat treatment have well defined axial crystallographic texture where <111> direction is predominately perpendicular to pipe surface. It was shown that texture formation in heat treated states is inherited due to following factors important for rules of orientation selection during γ to α phase transformation: 1) occurrence of stable orientation of austenite grains resulted from straining; 2) special misorientation (boundaries) of austenite grains where transformation starts; 3) orientation relationships known for phase transformation; 4) thermal stresses in product formed during cooling. The last can be considered as factor defining special texture in steel seamless pipes.