Development and application of a miniaturized tensile testing device for in situ synchrotron microtomography experiments

• Published in: Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering Vol. 42; no. 2
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, André Fioravante, Isaac, Augusta Cerceau, Vitorino, Luisa Sá, de Oliveira, Paula Campos, Oréfice, Rodrigo Lambert, Brito, Pedro Paiva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Composite materials; Compression tests; Control equipment; Crack propagation; Data analysis; Electron acceleration; Engineering; Evolution; Fatigue tests; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; Image processing; Mechanical Engineering; Polymer matrix composites; Radiation damage; Synchrotron radiation; Technical Paper; Temporal resolution; Tensile tests; Viability; X ray microtomography; Carbon nanotubes; Damage evolution; Synchrotron radiation; Tensile strength; X-ray microtomography
• ISSN: 1678-5878; 1806-3691
• DOI: 10.1007/s40430-019-2163-3

The nondestructive nature of X-ray microtomography (µCT) associated with its suitable temporal resolution, obtained with the use of high energy polychromatic radiation from electron acceleration rings, allows in situ investigations of the damage evolution process during tensile loading in composite materials. In this context, the development of adequate scientific instrumentation as well as the understanding of the corresponding technology by research groups is paramount to guarantee reliability of the obtained results. In the present work, a miniaturized universal testing machine (tensile, compression and fatigue) was developed to be applied in in situ µCT experiments using synchrotron radiation with innovative technology. The equipment has a uniaxial load capacity of up to 300 N with 1 N resolution and can impose 0.01 mm resolution displacements following controlled deformation rates. In order to validate the developed equipment, tensile test results performed on sub-sized and standard annealed copper specimens were compared and in situ µCT tensile tests were performed in glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene matrix composites at the Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron (LNLS) in Campinas (SP, Brazil). Data analysis was performed by applying image processing techniques to successive tomograms in order to monitor crack propagation in the initial stages of damage evolution. The results obtained allowed the clarification of crack propagation mechanisms in the investigated composite materials and demonstrated the viability of the equipment’s intended application.