The VULCAN diffractometer at the SNS is designed to tackle a broad range of problems in materials science and engineering.  The primary use of this instrument is for stress-related studies, including mapping of the residual stress distribution in components and the determination of deformation behaviors under applied load.  Other uses include in-situ measurements of materials kinetics in chemistry, stress, texture, and microstructure.  For mapping experiments, the measurement time with a sampling volume of 1 mm³ will be minutes.  This will make possible parametric studies of components subjected to different fabrication or operating conditions.  Load-frame and furnaces will be an integrated part of the instrument.  With its high flux and a large detector array, VULCAN is also ideally suited for the study of texture and transformation kinetics.  Equipped with a 2D area detector, which would allow simultaneous measurements of small angle neutron scattering data, VULCAN will become a great tool for understanding the intricate interplay between stress, texture, and microstructure in materials.

For more information on VULCAN, see http://www.sns.anl.gov/instruments/elastic/vulcan.shtml