The characterization of microstructures in three dimensions is reviewed, with an emphasis on the use of automated electron back-scatter diffraction techniques. Both statistical reconstruction of polycrystalline structures from multiple cross sections and reconstruction from parallel, serial sections are discussed. In addition, statistical reconstruction of second-phase particle microstructures from multiple cross sections is reviewed.
This paper describes some aspects of reconstruction of microstructures
in three dimensions. A distinction is drawn between tomographic approaches that
seek to characterize specific volumes of material, either with or without diffraction,
and statistical approaches that focus on particular aspects of microstructure. A
specific example of the application of the statistical approach is given for an
aerospace aluminum alloy in which the distributions of coarse constituent particles are
modeled. Such distributions are useful for modeling fatigue crack initiation and
propagation.
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