Industrial research projects now have the advantage of dedicated beamtime paired with the expertise at CHESS that is required to perform these studies.
Industrial users are able to gain access to CHESS via the Industrial Affiliate Program. A goal of MSN-C is to provide user support well above and beyond that supplied by a typical CHESS beamline – especially for the OEM users. The intent of MSN-C is to work with OEM users to construct the optimal material characterization and simulation solution not to just provide x-ray data.
Over the past 5 years, ONR has funded the InSitm center at CHESS with the mission of providing enhanced support to industrial users [39]. In that program, several novel residual stress measurement techniques emerged using both monochromatic (HEXD) and polychromatic x-rays (energy dispersive diffraction, EDD). The EDD technique enables penetration of up to several centimeters in steel, which rivals neutron diffraction. MSN-C will build strongly on the InSitm experience, in terms of both x-ray techniques and industrial user interaction.
Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. partnered with CHESS to test Caterpillar’s computer modeling and improve the firm’s welding technique.