Internal friction and Young's modulus of V-Ti-Cr alloy before, during and after proton irradiation

Using a composite oscillator, the Young's modulus and the internal friction of annealed. plastically bent and bent-straightened V-4Ti-4Cr alloy specim ens have been measured, in a wide amplitude range, before, during and after proton irradiation. The proton energy and flux were 8 MeV and 10(12) p cm( -2) s(-1). The in situ dependencies on the proton beam current and temperat ure have been obtained. Softening and overheating (which looks like softeni ng-strenghtening of the alloy) effects, which arise due to radiation damage , have been revealed. The influence of beam heating and defect accumulation -annihilation on the acoustic properties of the annealed and pre-strained s amples, during and after proton irradiation, are briefly discussed. (C) 200 0 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.