High-density three-dimensional mapping of internal strain by tracking microstructural features

The three-dimensional (3-D) strain map is useful to elucidate the relationships between microstructures and locally caused deformation and fracture. However, a robust tracking method, which enables error-free tracking in synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SR-CT) images with >10 000 microstructural features, is not currently available. In this study, a model sample was subjected to a tensile test and scanned by the SR-CT technique in order to develop a new tracking method. The developed tracking methods indicated a high tracking ratio and tracking success ratio of nearly 100% in a wide strain range, which included the assumed strain in a practical experiment. It was confirmed that tracking errors produce an incorrect strain distribution in 3-D strain mapping. This study verified the validity of the developed tracking method. The application of this method to high-resolution SR-CT images will make measurement and visualization of the strain distribution possible in three dimensions in bulk materials. (C) 2008 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.