Speaker
Description
This PhD project will investigate the mechanical behaviour of steel and aluminium alloys at cryogenic temperatures through experiments performed using neutron beam diffractometry with the SALSA strain diffractometer at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL). The aim is to correlate macroscopic stress–strain behaviour with lattice-scale strain evolution, providing new insights into deformation processes under ultra-low-temperature conditions.
Specimen preparation and initial laboratory characterisation will be carried out at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and FRM II facility. Strain measurements will be performed predominantly at the ILL, however collaboration with FRM II and other neutron facilities will support a comprehensive approach.
The research is driven by the need for materials capable of reliable performance in extreme environments, particularly for liquid hydrogen and liquefied natural gas applications that are central to the European green transition.
In summary, the project seeks to advance understanding of cryogenic deformation mechanisms and contribute to the design of alloys with improved performance in service.