Engineering research theme covers the development, processing, and optimisation of materials and components for reliable performance in real-world applications. In this Theme, the research focuses on understanding how manufacturing routes, thermal and mechanical loading, and material composition govern microstructure, internal stresses, and damage evolution in engineering materials. The projects span metal additive manufacturing, high-temperature and cryogenic alloys, hard metals, stainless steels, and infrastructure materials such as asphalt. A common objective is to establish robust processing–structure–properties relationships that enable improved durability, safety, and sustainability in sectors including energy, transportation, aerospace, and civil engineering.
Neutron techniques play a central role in engineering research because they allow non-destructive probing of bulk materials under realistic conditions that are difficult to access with other methods. Neutrons penetrate deeply into dense metals and complex components, making it possible to study internal stresses, phase transformations, texture, and microstructural evolution in full-scale or near-industrial samples. Techniques such as neutron diffraction, small-angle neutron scattering, pair distribution function analysis, and neutron imaging enable in situ and operando investigations across wide temperature ranges, during mechanical loading, or throughout manufacturing and heat-treatment processes.
A key strength of neutron scattering and imaging in this Theme is the ability to directly link internal structure and stress evolution to macroscopic performance and lifetime. Neutron methods make it possible to follow load partitioning between phases, monitor residual stress development in additively manufactured parts, resolve early-stage phase transformations that lead to embrittlement, and visualise damage and self-healing processes inside opaque materials. When combined with modelling, microscopy, and complementary X-ray techniques, neutron-based approaches provide a comprehensive understanding of engineering materials in service. Together, these capabilities support the design of more reliable, longer-lasting, and resource-efficient materials and components for demanding industrial applications.