Large Strain Deformation in Uranium 6 Wt Pct Niobium

摘要

The large strain deformation of polycrystalline uranium 6 wt pct niobium (U6Nb) was studied in situ during uniaxial tensile and compressive loading by time-of-flight neutron diffraction. Diffraction patterns were recorded at incremental strains to a maximum of approximately 0.13 tensile and 0.15 compressive true strain. A discrete reorientation of the crystallographic texture under tensile straining between 0.04 and 0.08 true strain is consistent with a previously unobserved mechanical deformation twinning mechanism, identified as either a (100) or (010) mechanical twin system. Beyond this, a continuous texture reorientation towards an (010) crystal orientations indicates that a slip mechanism is likely predominant. An analogous mechanical twin system was not observed in compression at large strain.