beta Phase decomposition in Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr

The decomposition of the beta phase during rapid cooling of the near beta titanium alloy Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr has been studied using in situ X-ray synchrotron diffraction combined with ex situ conventional laboratory X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Evidence is found supporting the suggestion by De Fontaine et al. (Acta Mater. 1971:19) that embryonic omega structures form by the correlation of linear (111)beta defects at high temperatures. Further Cooling causes increased correlation of these defects and the formation of athermal omega structures within the beta matrix at temperatures similar to 500 degrees C. Post-quench aging at 570 degrees C resulted in the nucleation of alpha laths after similar to 90 s at temperature, with the laths all initially belonging to a single variant type. Aging for 30 min produced an even distribution of alpha precipitates with a lath morphology similar to 1.5 mu m x 0.2 mu m in size composed of both the expected Burgers variants. Mechanical property data suggests that the omega structures alone have no real effect: however, hardness increases were observed as the alpha phase developed. The utilization of thermal regimes similar to those presented in this paper could offer a method to engineer the alpha phase in near beta titanium alloys and hence control mechanical properties. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Automated 3D Pre-Vis for Modern Production

Hand-drawn storyboards have served the industry for decades and in recent years artist-created digital pre-vis animations have allowed directors, screenwriters and commissioners to ‘see’ their film long before the first scene is shot. However the nature of programme-making is changing. Digital effects, mixed-reality production and now stereoscopic 3D are becoming mainstream. Blurring the distinction between production and post-production, they bring complex planning issues that leave linear pre-vis approaches wanting. This paper describes ANSWER, a new approach to the creative process of film production based on a symbolic notation system akin to a musical score. The notation populates a machine-processable semantic model, or ontology, of the director’s creative intent, which in turn is used to automatically create lightweight 3D pre-vis animations. ANSWER is also integrated with DFT Bones Dailies, so that in post-production editors can quickly synchronise and compare pre-vised and actual footage