Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2019
The study of the mechanical behaviour of materials by X-ray measurements in a classical laboratory is limited by the possibilities of the X-ray tubes used. Some crystallographic planes are not conducive to good diffraction conditions and the radiation characteristics' may not be optimum. The use of synchrotron radiation resolves many of these problems by providing a continuously variable wavelength which allows measurements of stress and stress gradients to be carried out in very good conditions. The high intensity and perfectly monochromated radiation with a small beam divergence are very helpful for microstrain measurements.