Comparative neutron and X-ray residual stress measurements on Al-2219 welded plate

A comparison between neutron data obtained on a welded Al alloy (AA2219) for the spacecraft industry at the ISIS spallation source, Chilton, Didcot, UK, and X-ray data collected at the HMI, X1 facility, Berlin, Germany, is presented. For neutron measurements, the time-of-flight (TOF) technique was exploited, leading to lattice parameter a via a Pawley-Rietveld refinement. A three-directional strain scan across the weld was done. For X-ray investigation, both texture and residual stress psi-mode scan analyses were carried out, the latter onto the front, back and side faces of the sample. Cr radiation for the [311] and Cu radiation for the [422] peaks were used. Results show a good agreement with previous works on the subject. The complementarity of the two sets of measurements is the underlined. Only together they do allow near-surface and bulk welding stresses to be combined in order to assess the whole stress field and its causes in the sample. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.