The MEENA group manages the following labs: the laser-ultrasonic multifunctional apparatus for characterization and processing (LUMAC), the FT-NMT04 high-temperature in-situ nanomechanical testing system, and the nuclear metallurgy lab. We are under the State of Oregon license (ORE90005) to receive, handle and characterize low-radioactivity materials.

LUMAC

This system integrates laser-ultrasonic testing and laser-shockwave processing techniques for spatially-resolved characterization, surface treatment and microstructure engineering.  

  • Laser induced surface acoustic wave (SAW): high-throughput and low-cost methodologies to generate material-property maps of ~100 µm spatial resolution. 
    • Broadband and narrowband SAWs to reveal the depth-dependent material properties including the density, Young’s modulus, and Poisson ratio; 
    • Non-linear SAW to investigate the distributions of defects and other microstructure features and to assess the dynamic fracture strengths. 
  • Laser shock adhesion test (LASAT): to quantify the interfacial fracture toughness and bond strength of a coating layer by detecting the coating delamination in response to a shockwave generated by a high-energy pulsed laser. 
  • Materials processing: to modify the microstructure and surface structure of materials for enhanced mechanical and corrosion properties by means of laser shock peening (LSP) and laser texturing.

In-situ nanomechanical testing

The FT-NMT04 nanoindenter allows for in-situ nanomechanical testing inside of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at up to 800 Celcius. Enabled features include but not exclusively: high-throughput nanoindentation mapping at sub-micron spatial resolution, nanoindentation creep, microcantilever bending, micropillar compression, and micro-tensile tests. 

The Nuclear Metallurgy Lab

This lab facilitates metallurgical sample preparation and basic characterization. Available tools include: low to medium speed cutters, mounting press, sample grinders/polishers, analytical balances, basic electrochemistry setups and metallurgical microscopes.