Invited Speaker

Dr. Qiang Zhu

Dr. Qiang Zhu

Professor, Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering,
Southern University of Science and Technology, China
Speech Title: Application of High-throughput Compression Creep Testing Method in Rapid Evaluation of Creep Behavior of Superalloys

Abstract: As one of the principals supporting platforms and key technologies of the "Materials Genome Initiative", high-throughput experimental technology has drastically transformed the landscape of material development by substantially reducing both the development time and associated costs. One area where this impact is particularly evident is in the development of materials for aeroengines and gas turbine blades, where creep testing is a vital component of the development process. Traditionally, tensile creep testing methods have been utilised, but these are both time-consuming and expensive. In response to this challenge, this study introduces a novel approach of a rapid compression creep technique. This innovative method facilitates simultaneous testing of eight samples, thus significantly reducing the time and cost compared to traditional methods. Crucially, this study has successfully utilized the compression creep data to establish a quantitative correlation with tensile creep data, leading to accurate predictions of stress rupture life. Furthermore, this new testing method can also be employed for the rapid screening of creep properties during the development of new materials, allowing for a swift determination of creep stress exponents. This technique also offers the capability to screen the chemical composition of engineering materials. Thus, the rapid compression creep technique represents a significant advance in the field, offering a new method for the rapid evaluation of high-temperature performance in superalloys.

Keywords: High-throughput experimental technology, compressive and tensile creep, evaluation of creep behavior.


Biography: Prof. Qiang Zhu has obtained his Dr.-Ing. degree in Materials Science from the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany in 1994. After short worked in the same university, he came to the UK to work for University of Sheffield, University of Cambridge and Cummins Turbo Technologies Ltd UK until September 2010. He then moved to the General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals (Beijing, China) as Vice Chief Engineer and chief scientist. Since 2016 he works as Chair Professor for the Southern University of Science and Technology (Shenzhen, China).
Prof. Zhu’s R&D activities involve development of light metals and superalloys, their forming processing technologies and mechanical characterization. His current R&D interests focus on semi-solid processing of aluminum alloys, additive manufacturing (3D printing) of light metals, superalloys, steels and titanium alloys, failure analysis and fracture mechanics, simulation and modelling of forming processes etc. He has published over 200 papers and 60 patents. Among the numerous honors and awards, he has received the outstanding contribution to semi solid processing of alloys and composites (2018), the 2009 international award on Squeeze/semi solid casting from the North America Die Casting Association and two Steve Pawer awards from Cummins Turbo Technologies (2014, 2016), 1st Prize of Technology Innovation from the China Non-Ferrous Metal Association.