4 4 6 METALLOGRAPHY

The mean grain diameter d is obtained as follows:

d (mm) = {Af2 = i

(6-21)

(NAy

The ASTM grain size number G can be calculated from NA (no. of grains per
square millimeter) using the following relationship:
log NA
G = - ^ ^ - 2.95
[log 2]
or,

G = [3.322 log NA] - 2.95

(6-22)

Values for d, A, and A^ as a function of G are listed in cols. 2,6, and 8 of Table 6-5.
Figure 6-8 provides an example of the Jeffries procedure. In performing the grain
count, it is best to mark off the grains as they are counted in order to obtain an
accurate count. Several randomly chosen areas should be selected and measured,
and the average calculated. In most work, the grain size number is rounded to the
nearest one-half unit.
Triple-point count method Euler's Law, as described by Smith [44], can also be
used to determine grain size, although the method is used infrequently. Grainboundary triple points P within a known area are counted. If a quadruple point,
i.e., a 4-ray grain junction, is observed, it is counted as two units. The number of
grains per unit area, JY^, is given by the following relationship:
772 + 1
NA =
AT

(6-23)

where AT is the total measurement area at IX. The ASTM grain size can be
estimated by the triple-point method, as shown in Figure 6-9.
If either the Jeffries or the triple-point count method are used to estimate the
number of grains per square inch at 100X rather than the number per square
millimeter at IX, the ASTM grain size number can be calculated from the
following:
G =

+ 1
(6-24)
0.301
where NA is the number of grains per square inch at 100X. Again, the value of G is
generally rounded to the nearest one-half unit. If NA has been determined in the
traditional manner (square millimeters at IX), Eq. (6-22) is used to calculate G.
If the triple-point count technique is used at a magnification M other than
100X to determine the number of grains per square inch at the magnification of the
micrograph [substitute the area of the test grid itself for the test grid area
computed to IX, AT, in Eq. (6-23)], this value can be converted to the number per
square inch at 100X by the following relationship:
/ M\2
2
2 X
^(lOOX.in ) - NA(M, in ) (TTJ^J
(6"25)