Complete nondestructive evaluation of three-dimensional residual stress distribution using X-ray diffraction

It is interesting to consider just how many of us don't think about the importance of mechanical engineering when we go about our daily lives. Whether we are crossing bridges, getting into our cars, riding on trains, flying in planes or entering buildings, we are relying on mechanical engineers and researchers to have performed an enormous amount of calculations to ensure the integrity of these structures. Indeed, the main purpose of many engineering activities is to design structures against failure. By employing physics, mathematical principles, experience, technical knowledge and modelling capabilities, teams can confidently predict the safe operations of complex engineering systems. Dr Masaru Ogawa, who is based at the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Kogakuin University, is working alongside Professor Alexander M Korsunsky and a number of researchers to elucidate the origins and effects of residual stresses. They are using the eigenstrain reconstruction method to estimate 3D residual stress distribution.