Laser-Based High Temperature Material Characterization Method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025389629-A1
Application number	US-202519235800-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 12, 2025
Priority date	Jun 25, 2024
Publication date	Dec 25, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization comprising the steps of providing a mechanical test frame and chamber, loading a specimen in the mechanical test frame in the chamber, providing a laser, aligning the laser, sealing the chamber, evacuating 5 the chamber and optionally backfilling with a prescribed atmosphere, turning on the laser, applying mechanical loading to the specimen in the mechanical test frame, utilizing a load cell and a non-contact video extensometer, synchronizing the output of the load cell and non-contact video extensometer, and tracking the strain in the specimen. A device for laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization comprising a vacuum chamber with a laser 10 transmissible window and viewing window, a vacuum pump, a uniaxial tensile system inside the vacuum chamber, a thermocouple inside the vacuum chamber, laser optics inside the vacuum chamber, a function generator, a laser source, an IR camera, and a video camera.

First claim

What we claim is:

1 . A method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization, comprising the steps of:
providing a mechanical test frame and chamber; loading a specimen in the mechanical test frame in the chamber; providing a laser; aligning the laser; sealing the chamber; evacuating the chamber; turning on the laser; applying mechanical loading to the specimen in the mechanical test frame; utilizing a load cell and a non-contact video extensometer; synchronizing the output of the load cell and the non-contact video extensometer; and tracking the strain in the specimen.

2 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a thermocouple in contact with the specimen in the mechanical test frame in the chamber.

3 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
heating via the laser a first portion of the specimen; measuring temperature and rate of change of the specimen in the mechanical test frame in the chamber; and measuring temperature gradient of the specimen in the mechanical test frame in the chamber.

4 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
synchronizing the output of the load cell and the non-contact extensometer in a data acquisition system for stress-strain measurements.

5 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a mirror; and utilizing adjustments to the mirror to align the laser beam.

6 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a beam splitter and additional mirrors; and utilizing adjustments to the mirrors to align the laser beam to heat from top and bottom of the specimen.

7 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
cooling a second portion of the specimen; and tracking the strain in the specimen in the mechanical test frame in the chamber by following painted speckle pattern points, inclusions in the specimen, or machined grooves.

8 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
re-filling the chamber with a prescribed atmosphere after the step of evacuating the chamber.

9 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
utilizing an IR camera to monitor the temperature.

10 . The method of laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
achieving equilibrium temperature of the specimen prior to the step of applying mechanical loading to the specimen in the mechanical test frame.

11 . A device for laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization, comprising:
a vacuum chamber with a window; a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum chamber; a uniaxial tensile system inside the vacuum chamber; a thermocouple inside the vacuum chamber; a set of laser optics inside the vacuum chamber; a function generator; a laser source; an IR camera; and a video camera.

12 . The device for laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 11 ,
wherein the function generator drives a 50-watt CO2 laser.

13 . The device for laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 12 ,
wherein the ZnSe window is 99% transparent for the IR wavelengths.

14 . The device for laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 13 ,
wherein the IR camera and the video camera are outside the steel vacuum chamber; and wherein the IR camera and the video camera can view the sample for non-contact temperature and strain measurements.

15 . The device for laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 14 ,
wherein the CO2 mirror directs the laser into the specimen.

16 . The device for laser-based high temperature mechanical property characterization of claim 15 ,
wherein the IR camera is calibrated for temperature measurements up to 2,000° C.

Assignees

• Us Gov Sec Navy

Inventors

• Rudolf christopher
• Manzo Maurizio

Classifications

• G01N3/60

  Investigating resistance of materials, e.g. refractory materials, to rapid heat changes {(thermal testing of structures or apparatus G01M99/002)} · CPC title

• G01N2203/0226

  High temperature; Heating means · CPC title

• G01N2203/0641

  using optical, X-ray, ultraviolet, infrared or similar detectors · CPC title

• G01N2203/0075

  Strain-stress relations or elastic constants · CPC title

• G01N3/18 Primary

  Performing tests at high or low temperatures · CPC title