Residual stresses inevitably appear and evolve during the fabrication and operation of metallic and ceramic-components. The stresses have significant impact on the mechanical properties and lifetime of a component. Metal and ceramics components are therefore designed with high safety factors, which increases material usage and operating costs. It is estimated that the automotive, energy and aerospace/space sectors can save more than 18 billion Euros annually by better understanding stresses.

While several solutions for measuring stresses exists, they have different drawbacks. On one hand lab-techniques are fairly accessible, however they are limited by shortcomings such as being unable to probe below the surface, being destructive, or only providing information about the stress in a single point or direction. On the other hand, measurements at large neutron- and synchrotron facilities addresses these issues, however there accessibility have proven to be a limiting factor for widespread adoption.

The VULCAN project is designing a new innovative instrument concept that will bridge the gap above by provide manufacturing industry with a unique and affordable instrument for measuring stresses inside metallic and ceramic structures, using neutrons as a probe. The instrument will be able to perform non-destructive mapping of stresses up to 10 cm into metals and will be able to measure the full stress tensor.

The instrument is being designed to be a turn-key container-size solution. This will enable installation at large manufacturing companies with very high demand for stress analysis as well as Research and Technology Organizations where it will provide easy access to stress measurements for the rest of the industry.

The instrument designed to improve the accuracy of simulation efforts as well as providing access to random sampling of stresses. This should enable a reduction in safety factors and provide generate substantial cut in both expenses and CO2 emissions.