%0 journal article %@ 0022-2720 %A Haldrup, K., Nielsen, S.F., Beckmann, F., Wert, J.A. %D 2006 %J Journal of Microscopy (Oxford) %N 1 %P 28-35 %R doi:10.1111/j.1365-2818.2006.01565.x %T Inhomogeneous plastic flow investigated by X-ray absorption microtomography of an aluminium alloy containing marker particles %U https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2006.01565.x 1 %X By combining a synchrotron X-ray source and the microtomography technique, the displacement gradient tensor components can be measured directly throughout the volume of a metal sample containing highly absorbing marker particles to detect material flow. The present article describes application of these techniques to compression of a rectangular Al–W specimen with a central hole. The results show that the externally imposed axial displacement gradient is accommodated mainly in two 45° shear bands passing through the hole. A simple deformation analysis provides insight into shear band formation.