  We consider a method for neutron residual strain/stress analysis combining
features of transmission strain tomography (e.g. through Braggs edge imaging)
and neutron diffraction techniques. Analogous to transmission strain
tomography, our approach observes integrals of strain along the path of a beam,
however, rather than transmitted beams, we observe a diffracted beam. The
practical feasibility of neutron diffraction tomography is demonstrated in case
of a 2D axisymmetric sample where the reconstruction of the stress field is
determined from the measurement of a strain profile. The reconstruction is
compared to a set of measurements made using a traditional neutron stress
scanning technique in order to validate the new method. Similar strain accuracy
was achieved by the new technique within a reasonable measurement time. The
practical and theoretical challenges regarding the technique are also
discussed.
