Texture Analysis and Modeling

The popLA (preferred orientation package - Los Alamos) texture analysis software package, developed at Los Alamos by Fred Kocks and collaborators, provides a comprehensive treatment of material texture analysis by reducing, visualizing and discetrtizing texture data in a flexible format. The distribution of crystal orientation, or texture, in polycrystalline materials is calculated and displayed by a wide variety of graphic formats for comparison with published results. Once distributions have been determined, standard methods can be used to predict mechanical properties employed by industry to design and control efficient metals and ceramics processing techniques.

PopLA is a set of computer programs that help analyze textures in materials. It is designed as a coherent package, but individual programs may be used separately. Compatibility with other packages is achieved through various conversion programs. popLA is primarily designed to evaluate pole figures generated by 4-circle goniometer X-ray diffraction equipment but can also be used with pole figures generated from other sources (e.g. neutron or electron diffraction). popLA's data analysis programs correct pole figure data for background X-ray counts, the drop in measured intensity which occurs at the edge of the sample due to geometric considerations, and sample misalignment. Two types of analyses, the harmonic method and the WIMV method, may be used to calculate the orientation distribution of the sample. Pole figures and orientation distributions determined by popLA may be displayed for screen capture.

PopLA is only available for PC-based platforms.

popLA

• Reduction of raw data from X-ray, neutron, or electron diffraction techniques.
• Graphical representation of textures in a flexible format.
• Discrete texture representations through a weighted set of orientations; provides interface between experimental textures and other simulation codes.
• Anisotropic property predictions, including average elastic constants and r-values.
• Serves as a research tool for investigating microstructure/property relationships.

The primary developer of popLA was Fred Kocks, Fellow and Technical Staff Member (retired) at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Please direct any technical questions regarding popLA applications or operations to popLA@lanl.gov.