Welcome to the Residual Stress User Center

The Residual Stress User Center (RSUC) is one of six user centers at the High Temperature Materials Laboratory (HTML), which is a DOE User Facility dedicated to solving materials problems that limit the efficiency and reliability of systems for power generation and energy conversion, distribution, storage and use.

The RSUC provides world-class facilities and a staff of technical experts for characterizing both surface and through-thickness stresses with state-of-the-art x-ray, synchrotron, and neutron diffraction facilities.

Residual stresses affect important properties such as fatigue life, fracture strength, onset of yield, and microcracking. X-ray and neutron diffraction methods are available in the RSUC to measure macro- and micro-residual stresses in polycrystalline and single crystal materials ranging from small specimens (thin films) to large industrial components.

Click here for step by step instructions for the proposal process, agreement process, and publication process for accessing the HTML User Center facility.

The principal contact is Dr. Camden R. Hubbard, RSUC User Center Leader; tel. (865) 574-4472, e-mail hubbardcr@ornl.gov.