About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Environmentally Assisted Cracking: Theory and Practice
|
| Presentation Title |
Graph Theory-Based Evaluation of Intergranular Degradation in Polycrystalline Materials |
| Author(s) |
John Jin, Syeda Sumaiya, David P Field |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Syeda Sumaiya |
| Abstract Scope |
Intergranular degradation in polycrystalline materials poses a significant challenge in elevated-temperature and chemically aggressive environments. This work presents a graph-theory-based framework for evaluating how grain boundary network topology influences intergranular damage progression. Grain boundaries are modeled as weighted edges in a spatial graph, with weights dynamically updated to reflect degradation based on boundary character or stress exposure over time. This identifies preferential degradation paths and assesses microstructural resilience.
The model is validated through experiments on materials like 316 stainless steel subjected to mechanical loading, promoting high-temperature boundary-sensitive degradation. Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) is performed after testing to reconstruct the grain boundary network and identify features associated with localized damage. The combined computational and experimental approach provides a quantitative basis for understanding how boundary connectivity and character contribute to intergranular failure. This framework is adaptable to various degradation and can support the design of microstructures with enhanced resistance to boundary-sensitive damage. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |