The application of neutron diffraction to engineering problems

After more than two decades of extensive development, neutron diffraction has become an essential research tool for the study of mechanical behavior in materials. This article will focus on how information obtained from the diffraction peak position and width is used to answer important questions concerning the mechanical behavior of materials. The principle of strain measurements is described, and the concept of strain mapping is introduced. Examples are presented to illustrate the application of neutron diffraction to engineering problems, and new research opportunities are discussed that will be enabled by the next generation of instruments.