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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/C002946/1
Title: Crack Nucleation and Short Crack Behaviour by Non-destructive In-situ Observation
Principal Investigator: Marrow, Professor J
Other Investigators:
withers, Professor P Preuss, Professor M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Materials
Organisation: University of Manchester, The
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 March 2005 Ends: 31 August 2008 Value (£): 412,027
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Eng. Dynamics & Tribology Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Since crack growth rates generally increase with crack length, the majority of the lifetime of a crack in structural components is spent when the crack is short. Uncertainties in short crack propagation behaviour therefore have a strong influence on lifetime prediction. Unfortunately, this is also the regime within which the study and modelling of crack behaviour is most difficult.Important technological advances mean that for the first time the growth of a crack and its relationship to its local environment can be studied non-destructively in detail in 3D. The key technical advances are.1. 3D imaging by ultrahigh resolution X-ray microtomography, and2. 3D grain mapping using the 3D X-ray microscope,We shall develop these techniques through the study of:a) Short fatigue cracks in aluminium, in particular the relative effects of crack and grain orientation.b) Short stress corrosion cracks in austenitic stainless steel, in particular the influence of crack resistant special grain boundaries.This innovative project will establish new methods for imaging crack growth and local microstructure in 3D and provide unique insights into the behaviour of short cracks and the early stages of damage development.
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Organisation Website: http://www.man.ac.uk