ABSTRACT
A methodology for the mapping of residual stresses in metal alloys has been developed by analyzing an isotropic and homogeneous Al2024 alloy with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), combined with diffraction (4DSTEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) techniques of TEM. The investigations on the alloy's microstructure and elemental distributions were also carried out with conventional dark-field STEM (DFSTEM) and X-ray energy dispersive (EDS) techniques, respectively. Using the STEM-EELS technique, the Young's modulus (YM) is mapped in the (001) plane of the Al alloy in the same regions where the residual strain maps are generated in [1â¾ 00] and [010] directions by using 4DSTEM technique. The YM vs. residual strain plot for the Al 2024 alloy revealed that the value of YM decreased by about â¼ 7 % after the tensile residual strain reached 0.02 %. Whereas such a decrease in YM happens after the compressively residual strain reaches -0.015 %. The residual stress maps were also obtained in accordance with the Hooke's law i.e., by multiplying YM map with the corresponding residual strain maps.
