Use of a Virtual Laboratory to plan, execute and analyse Neutron Strain Scanning experiments

The new generation of dedicated Engineering Strain Scanners at neutron facilities such as ENGIN-X at ISIS and SMARTS at LANSCE offer considerable increases in both the throughput of samples and the density of measurements which are feasible within each sample. This trend is set to increase further with new neutron sources such as the SNS. In order to make full use of these advances the routine processes associated with setting up measurements, and analysing data need to be made as efficient as possible. This issue has been addressed on ENGIN-X by writing a new piece of software which provides support for many of these operations. The approach is based on a virtual lab consisting of three dimensional models of the sample and lab equipment such as collimators and positioner. A typical session using the package would be; 1) Generate the sample model using primitives or from surface points measured with a coordinate measurement machine, 2) Specify fiducial and measurement points on screen, 3) Locate the sample model within the virtual and real laboratories, 4) Execute the measurement sequence using automatically generated machine control scripts, 5). Analyse the data, 6). Display data using a variety of options including superimposed on the sample model. The inclusion of an accurate sample model within the virtual lab allows many other useful properties such as neutron path lengths and measurement gauge volumes to be determined; it is also a relatively simple matter to check for possible collisions between sample and lab equipment such as collimators thereby avoiding potentially costly mistakes. The software which is shortly to be installed at ENGIN-X has been designed with visiting industrial and academic researchers in mind; users who need to be able to control the instrument after only a short period of training.