Raman Spectroscopy as a potential strain gauge

<p>Raman Spectroscopy is increasingly being used to better understand a range of Earth Science processes. Notable recently is the application of Raman Spectroscopy to carbonaceous material in strained rocks. Here we investigate the changes in Raman Spectral response in strained material relative to an unstrained equivalent, drawing on examples from the published literature and our own work. We consider inconsistencies in the relative changes in Raman Spectral parameters of strained material and their potential causes. In doing so we look at some of the current methods for determining Raman Spectral parameters in rocks and what they might tell us about the strain state of carbon in a single rock sample. Finally, we consider the implications for use of Raman Spectroscopy of carbonaceous material as a geothermometer as well as a future potential strain gauge. </p>

The Effect of Elastic Straining on a 6060 Aluminium Alloy during Natural or Artificial Ageing

The effect on hardness and precipitate microstructure of elastically straining a 6060 Al-Mg-Si alloy during natural ageing or artificial ageing has been investigated. The elastic strain is here defined as 50 % of the material yield strength. All heat treatments where elastic straining was applied led to an increased hardness compared to the unstrained reference material. Quantitative investigations of the precipitate microstructure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) did not indicate any significant difference in precipitate parameters as compared to the unstrained reference material. Therefore the increased strength in the elastically strained material is being linked to strain induced dislocations based on faster ageing kinetics compared to unstrained reference samples.

Performance of Source Follower Buffers Implemented with Standard and Strained Triple-Gate nFinFETs

In this work the application of standard and strained triple-gate FinFETs in unity-gain source-follower configuration is compared. The analysis is performed by evaluating the buffer voltage gain with respect to the fin width and channel length as well as the total harmonic distortion. It is demonstrated that the application of strained material in narrow FinFETs, when the devices are operating in double-gate mode, can be beneficial for the performance of buffers in any channel length. On the other hand, for triple-gate FinFETs or quasi-planar ones the degradation of the output conductance overcomes the transconductance improvements from strained material and the performance of standard buffers is better than of strained ones. Narrow strained buffers also offer better harmonic distortion.

A Model to Predict the Effect of Pre-Strain on the Fracture Toughness of Line Pipe Steel

New and existing pipelines can be subjected to high plastic strains. Denting a pipeline causes permanent plastic deformation. Onshore pipelines subject to subsidence, frost heave or earthquake loading can experience significant plastic strain during service. Offshore pipelines that are reeled prior to laying, or are laid in deep water, or are operating at high temperatures and high pressures, can experience significant plastic strain both prior to, and during, service. Experimental studies have indicated that pre-strain (permanent plastic deformation) has a detrimental effect on the fracture toughness of steel; it reduces the resistance to crack initiation, reduces the resistance to crack growth, and increases the transition temperature. Consequently, there is a need for a thorough understanding of the effect of pre-strain on the fracture toughness of line pipe. Accordingly, a theoretical model for predicting the effect of tensile pre-strain on the ductile fracture toughness has been developed using the local approach. The effect of pre-strain is expressed in terms of an equation for the ratio of the fracture toughness of the pre-strained material to that of the virgin (not pre-strained) material. The model indicates that the effect of tensile pre-strain on the material’s fracture toughness can be characterised in terms of the effect of pre-strain on the stress-strain characteristics of the material, the critical fracture strain for a stress state corresponding to that during pre-strain, and several parameters that relate to the conditions for ductile fracture (or cleavage fracture). The implications of the model are that it may be possible to estimate the reduction in toughness caused by pre-strain simply from a full stress-strain curve of the virgin material. The model has been validated against the results of crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) tests conducted by Tokyo Gas on two line pipe steels subject to uniaxial tensile pre-strain. It is shown that the predictions and trends of the theoretical model are in broad agreement with the test results.

A Model of Pre-Strain Effects on Fracture Toughness

A simple theoretical model for predicting the effect of tensile pre-strain on fracture toughness has been developed using the local approach. The HRR singularity is assumed to describe the stress-strain field around the crack tip. A stress-modified critical strain-controlled model is assumed to describe ductile fracture (and a critical stress-controlled model for cleavage fracture). The Rice and Tracey void growth model is used to characterize the variation of the critical strain with the stress state. The model further assumes that the fracture process does not change with increasing pre-strain. The effect of pre-strain is expressed in terms of an equation for the ratio of the fracture toughness of the pre-strained material to that of the virgin material. The model indicates that the effect of tensile pre-strain on fracture resistance can be characterized in terms of the effect of pre-strain on the stress-strain characteristics of the material, the critical fracture strain for a stress state corresponding to that during pre-strain, and several parameters that relate to the conditions for ductile fracture (or cleavage fracture). Previous experimental studies of the effect of pre-strain on toughness are summarized and compared with the predictions of the model.

ACTIVATED STRAIN RELIEF OF Ge/Si(100) ISLANDS

Stress concentration at the boundary of Ge/Si(100) islands drives strain relief mechanisms activated at higher growth temperature, T. Si interdiffusion for T≥ 550° C forms a reduced misfit alloy allowing specific cluster morphologies to exist at sizes greater than those for pure Ge islands. This interdiffusion also affects the pathway for island shape changes. Trenches formed at the island base result from diffusion of the most highly strained material to regions of lower strain and precede dislocation formation for T≥ 600° C .

X-Ray Microbeam Measurement of Local Texture and Strain in Metals

Synchrotron x-ray sources provide high-brilliance beams that can be focused to submicron sizes with Fresnel zone-plate and x-ray mirror optics. With these intense, tunable or broadbandpass x-ray microbeams, it is now possible to study texture and strain distributions in surfaces, and in buried or encapsulated thin films. The full strain tensor and local texture can be determined by measuring the unit cell parameters of strained material. With monochromatic or tunable radiation, at least three independent reflections are needed to determine the orientation and unit cell parameters of an unknown crystal. With broadbandpass or white radiation, at least four reflections and one measured energy are required to determine the orientation and the unit cell parameters of an unknown crystal. Routine measurement of local texture and strain is made possible by automatic indexing of the Laue reflections combined with precision calibration of the monochromator-focusing mirrors-CCD detector system. Methods used in implementing these techniques on the MHATT-CAT beam line at the Advanced Photon Source will be discussed.