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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Towards a multiscale approach for understanding irradiation induced swelling and creep in 316 stainless steels - A coupled cluster dynamics and crystal plasticity approach

Structural materials undergo mechanical degradation, in part due to irradiation-induced swelling and creep, under nuclear reactor conditions. While swelling results from the migration and clustering of irradiation-induced atomic-scale mobile defects, the interaction of mesoscale dislocations with these defects causes creep deformation. A coupled crystal plasticity (CP) and mean-field cluster dynamics (CD) approach is presented to investigate the effect of irradiation on the long-term mechanical behavior of 316 stainless steel, which are under consideration for use in nuclear reactors. The temporal evolution of Frenkel pairs and extended defect population, under a chosen irradiation flux and temperature, is predicted using the CD model. The impact of the irradiation defects on the stress state, and the resulting dislocation-mediated inelastic deformation, is modeled concurrently with the CP model. The inelastic deformation is irradiation flux dependent, and early-stage defect evolution determines the later-stage mechanical behavior in 316 stainless steel.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

On the failure mechanisms of Cr-coated 316 stainless steel in bending fatigue tests

Here, fully-reversed cyclic bending tests were conducted on uncoated and Cr-coated 316 stainless steel specimens. At high stresses, the uncoated specimens outperformed the Cr-coated ones, while the trend reversed at low stresses. For Cr-coated specimens subjected to high stress amplitude loading, experimental observations showed crack initiation at the Cr/substrate interface due to shear steps formed from dislocation activities in the substrate—a conclusion supported by accompanying finite element analysis. Interfacial crack initiation was not observed under low stress amplitudes. This difference in fatigue crack initiation mechanisms induced an opposite trend in fatigue life between high and low stress amplitudes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2011

Characterization of Electron Beam Free-Form Fabricated 2219 Aluminum and 316 Stainless Steel

Researchers at NASA Langley Research Center have developed an additive manufacturing technology for ground and future space based applications. The electron beam free form fabrication (EBF3) is a rapid metal fabrication process that utilizes an electron beam gun in a vacuum environment to replicate a CAD drawing of a part. The electron beam gun creates a molten pool on a metal substrate, and translates with respect to the substrate to deposit metal in designated regions through a layer additive process. Prior to demonstration and certification of a final EBF3 part for space flight, it is imperative to conduct a series of materials validation and verification tests on the ground in order to evaluate mechanical and microstructural properties of the EBF3 manufactured parts. Part geometries of EBF3 2219 aluminum and 316 stainless steel specimens were metallographically inspected, and tested for strength, fatigue crack growth, and fracture toughness. Upon comparing the results to conventionally welded material, 2219 aluminum in the as fabricated condition demonstrated a 30% and 16% decrease in fracture toughness and ductility, respectively. The strength properties of the 316 stainless steel material in the as deposited condition were comparable to annealed stainless steel alloys. Future fatigue crack growth tests will integrate various stress ranges and maximum to minimum stress ratios needed to fully characterize EBF3 manufactured specimens.

Ekrami, Yasamin↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-energy synchrotron x-ray study of deformation-induced martensitic transformation in a neutron-irradiated Type 316 stainless steel

An unusual tensile deformation behaviour in the form of a propagating band along the sample gauge was observed in two neutron-irradiated 316 stainless steel samples during room-temperature tests, leading to a combination of high strength and high ductility. These bands were not observed in an unirradiated counterpart. With the help of in situ high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction, the phase-specific crystal information was tracked at different deformation levels in each sample. Post-irradiation and post-deformation samples were examined using electron microscopy to characterize various microstructural features. All samples displayed a deformation-induced martensitic phase transformation, which was identified as a second strain-hardening mechanism accompanying the dislocation hardening. The deformation-induced martensitic transformation was rationalized by the effect of applied stress on the effective martensite start temperature. The results showed that the irradiation did not alter the dislocation hardening and the martensitic transformation mechanisms, but the increased yield strength in irradiated materials facilitated the localized phase transformation at the onset of plastic deformation, in contrast to the unirradiated material which required pre-straining. The hardening effect of the martensitic transformation reduced the tendency towards necking and mitigated the loss of ductility in the irradiated material by carrying the deformation in the form of a propagating band. Despite the beneficial effect from the martensitic transformation, this study indicates that this mechanism cannot not be activated at typical operating temperatures of nuclear reactors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1976

Application of strainrange partitioning to the prediction of creep-fatigue lives of AISI types 304 and 316 stainless steel

As a demonstration of the predictive capabilities of the method of Strainrange Partitioning, published high-temperature, low cycle, creep-fatigue test results on AISI Types 304 and 316 stainless steel were analyzed and calculated, cyclic lives compared with observed lives. Predicted lives agreed with observed lives within factors of two for 76 percent, factors of three for 93 percent, and factors of four for 98 percent of the laboratory tests analyzed. Agreement between observed and predicted lives is judged satisfactory considering that the data are associated with a number of variables (two alloys, several heats and heat treatments, a range of temperatures, different testing techniques, etc.) that are not directly accounted for in the calculations.

Saltsman, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Application of Strainrange Partitioning to the prediction of creep-fatigue lives of AISI Types 304 and 316 stainless steel

As a demonstration of the predictive capabilities of the method of Strainrange Partitioning, published high-temperature, low cycle, creep-fatigue test results on AISI Types 304 and 316 stainless steel were analyzed and calculated cyclic lives compared with observed lives. Predicted lives agreed with observed lives within factors of two for 76 percent, factors of three for 93 percent, and factors of four for 98 percent of the laboratory tests analyzed. Agreement between observed and predicted lives is judged satisfactory considering that the data are associated with a number of variables (two alloys, several heats and heat treatments, a range of temperatures, different testing techniques, etc.) that are not directly accounted for in the calculations.

Saltsman, J. F.↗
DOE OSTI2025

On Stability and Electrochemical Performance of 316 Stainless Steel in Wastewater: Implications for Resource Recovery

Electrochemical nutrient recovery systems rely on stable electrode materials capable of operating in chemically complex wastewater environments. We investigated corrosion resistance and interfacial electrochemical behavior of 316 stainless steel (SS316) in a synthetic wastewater matrix representative of centrate streams, a key knowledge gap in electrochemical phosphorus recovery. A comprehensive suite of electrochemical techniques (chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) and surface characterization methods (scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction) were employed. Results revealed that wastewater containing typical ionic constituents (such as PO 4 3- , NH 4 + , and divalent cations) exhibited enhanced cathodic activity and the formation of a more stable, protective surface film on SS316 that mitigated chloride-induced corrosion. In contrast, SS316 in the NaCl solution showed significant susceptibility to passive layer breakdown and localized corrosion. Time-resolved EIS further confirmed improved interfacial stability and restricted charge transfer in WW over time, in stark contrast to the progressive passive layer degradation in NaCl. Surface analyses corroborated these findings, showing limited surface attack in WW compared to distinct localized corrosion features in NaCl. These findings indicate that competing ionic species in WW effectively mitigate chloride aggressiveness, enhance SS316 stability, and demonstrate improved electrode longevity and reliability for sustainable wastewater-based electrochemical phosphorus recovery applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design of an additively manufactured functionally graded material of 316 stainless steel and Ti-6Al-4V with Ni-20Cr, Cr, and V intermediate compositions

This study presents a method for designing a computationally informed gradient pathway to fabricate a functionally graded material (FGM) with terminal alloys of 316 stainless steel (SS316) and Ti-6Al-4V via directed energy deposition additive manufacturing with powder feedstock. In this work, the grading is accomplished through the introduction of intermediate elements and alloys (Ni-20Cr, Cr, and V) to avoid the brittle Fe-Ti intermetallic phases that form in the direct liquid phase joining of Ti-alloys and stainless steels. Using a combination of equilibrium calculations and Scheil-Gulliver simulations, a compositional pathway was designed to avoid deleterious phases. FGM samples were fabricated and experimentally characterized to determine the viability of the pathway. A change in phases from fcc to bcc was predicted to occur within the Ni-20Cr/Cr gradient region, and this was validated through experimental characterization. No detrimental phases (intermetallic, Laves, or σ phases) formed along the gradient path, demonstrating a successful computationally-informed design and fabrication of an FGM from SS316 to Ti-6Al-4V.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1976

Fatigue crack growth at elevated temperature 316 stainless steel and H-13 steel

Crack growths were measured at elevated temperatures under four types of loading: pp, pc, cp, and cc. In H-13 steel, all these four types of loading gave nearly the same crack growth rates, and the length of hold time had negligible effects. In AISI 316 stainless steel, the hold time effects on crack growth rate were negligible if the loading was tension-tension type; however, these effects were significant in reversed bending load, and the crack growth rates under these four types of loading varied considerably. Both tensile and compressive hold times caused increased crack growth rate, but the compressive hold period was more deleterious than the tensile one. Metallographic examination showed that all the crack paths under different types of loading were largely transgranular for both CTS tension-tension specimens and SEN reversed cantilever bending specimens. In addition, an electric potential technique was used to monitor crack growth at elevated temperature.

Chen, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Environmental degradation of 316 stainless steel in high temperature low cycle fatigue

Procedures based on modification of the conventional Strainrange Partitioning method are proposed to characterize the time-dependent degradation of engineering alloys in high-temperature, low-cycle fatigue. Creep-fatigue experiments were conducted in air using different waveforms of loading on 316 stainless steel at 816 C (1500 F) to determine the effect of exposure time on cyclic life. Reductions in the partitioned cyclic lives were observed with an increase in the time of exposure (or with the corresponding decrease in the steady-state creep rate) for all the waveforms involving creep strain. Excellent correlations of the experimental data were obtained by modifying the Conventional Strainrange Partitioning life relationships involving creep strain using a power-law term of either: (1) time of exposure, or (2) steady-state creep rate of the creep-fatigue test. Environmental degradation due to oxidation, material degradation due to the precipitation of carbides along the grain boundaries and detrimental deformation modes associated with the prolonged periods of creep were observed to be the main mechanisms responsible for life reductions at long exposure times.

Kalluri, Sreeramesh↗
DOE OSTI2025

Report on Updated Properties Handbook of Printed Stainless Steel 316

This report focuses on summarizing mechanical behavior of 316H stainless steel (SS) printed using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). 316H SS is one of the six alloys that has been qualified for use in nuclear reactors. The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies (AMMT) program has identified the use of the additive manufacturing (AM) process of LPBF as one of the manufacturing modalities to fabricate components for nuclear applications. Unlike wrought material, AM material displays significant heterogeneity in properties, resulting from changes in process parameters, machine-to-machine variability, and minor changes in feedstock chemistry from one batch to another. Although significant work has been done on 316L SS in the literature and has been summarized in several review papers, very limited data exist on 316H SS. Therefore, this report aims to provide a concise summary of the properties of 316H SS printed using different machines and at different locations as a part of the AMMT program.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Effects of an External Magnetic Field on Keyhole Mode Laser Melting of 316 Stainless Steel

Keyhole-mode laser melting is an efficient method for joining or cutting large, thick components, but controlling keyhole depth and fluctuations has remained challenging. Applying an external magnetic field can control melt pool flows and indirectly influence keyhole morphology and dynamics. The induced Lorentz force, comprising Seebeck and damping components, plays a crucial role in the melt pool dynamics, depending on temperature gradient, flow rates, and magnetic field orientation and magnitude. This research investigates the effects of an external magnetic field on keyhole behavior during laser spot melting of 316 stainless steel using synchronized high-speed synchrotron X-ray and thermal imaging. Findings revealed that a longitudinal magnetic field (120 mT) increased keyhole depth but exacerbated lateral fluctuations, resulted in a 20% increase in the melt pool temperature gradient and a 27% decrease in cooling rate. Conversely, a transverse magnetic field (760 mT) reduced keyhole depth and improved porosity formation. The findings suggest that a decrease in keyhole depth correlates with a decrease in fluctuations, and vice versa. These insights enhance understanding of external magnetic fields’ impact on laser melting, with implications for improving part quality.

Alamdari, Aslan Bafahm [The Ohio State Univ., Colu↗
DOE OSTI2025

Assessment of Microstructure Prediction Capabilities for Powder Bed Fusion Stainless Steel 316

The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies program aims to accelerate the development, qualification, demonstration, and deployment of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies to enable reliable and economical nuclear energy. However, the characteristic process-structure-property relationships of additive manufacturing (AM) materials pose challenges for the qualification and certification of AM nuclear components. In particular, component-scale variations in microstructure and properties can be driven by localized changes in melt pool dynamics due to how process parameters interact with different part geometries. Computational modeling tools can play a crucial role in predicting and controlling this variability. This report presents final results on process modeling tools designed to predict microstructure variability in additively manufactured stainless steel 316 parts. It details the software packages and physical modeling approaches employed to simulate an AM component within an automated process modeling workflow. Results are demonstrated through comparisons between predicted microstructures and experimental measurements across various representative processing conditions. The report concludes by discussing identified challenges and future opportunities for connecting the developed simulation workflow with mechanics simulations for prediction of part performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Preliminary Results on Process Modeling Tools for Determining Variability in Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel 316 Parts

The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies program aims to accelerate the development, qualification, demonstration, and deployment of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies to enable reliable and economical nuclear energy. However, the distinct characteristics of additive manufacturing (AM) materials, stemming from their unique processing history, microstructure, and properties, pose significant challenges for the qualification and certification of nuclear components. These challenges primarily arise from component-scale variations in microstructure and properties influenced by local process conditions and geometry, which affect thermal history, melt pool dynamics, and microstructure evolution. Computational modeling tools can play a crucial role in predicting and controlling this variability. This report presents preliminary results on process modeling tools designed to predict microstructure variability in additively manufactured stainless steel 316 parts. It details the software packages and physical modeling approaches employed to simulate an AM component within an automated process modeling workflow. Initial results are demonstrated through comparisons between predicted microstructures and experimental measurements across various representative processing conditions. The report concludes by discussing the challenges inherent in process modeling of AM components and outlines a plan for future development needs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2019

Effects of Surface Treatments on Stainless Steel 316 Exposed to Potable Water Containing Silver Disinfectant

Silver has been selected as the forward disinfectant candidate for potable water systems in future space exploration missions. To develop a reliable antibacterial system that requires minimal maintenance, it is necessary to address relevant challenges to preclude problems for future missions. One such challenge is silver depletion in potable water systems. When in contact with various materials, silver ions can be easily reduced to silver metal or form insoluble compounds. The same chemical properties that make ionic silver a powerful antimicrobial agent also result in its quick inactivation or depletion in various environments. Different metal surface treatments, such as thermal oxidation and electropolishing, have been investigated for their effectiveness in reducing silver disinfectant depletion in potable water. However, their effects on the metal surface microstructure and chemical resistance have not often been included in the studies. This paper reports the effects of surface treatments on stainless steel 316 (SS316) exposed to potable water containing silver ion as a disinfectant. Early experimental results showed that thermal oxidation, when compared with electropolishing, resulted in a thicker oxide layer but compromised the corrosion resistance of SS316.

Li, Wenyan↗
DOE OSTI2025

Report on the Integration of Experimental and Modeling Data for Initial Equivalence Study of Mechanical Performance in Irradiated LPBF 316 Stainless Steel

To ensure the rapid development, deployment, and use of advanced nuclear technologies, faster qualification approaches are needed. Typically, the primary pathway uses traditional data packages consistent with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, which does not consider the environmental effects the material will experience such as corrosion and radiation damage. Examining radiation effects requires a significant amount of space in US facilities at the Advanced Test Reactor and the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and suffers from natural gradients in temperature and neutron flux profiles. Ion irradiation may enable rapid assessment of radiation-induced damage to a material and is proposed as part of an accelerated materials qualification framework through the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies program. To enhance the utility of ion irradiation as an examination tool, this report provides the initial assessment of engineering-relevant properties of microstructures produced from ion irradiation in the near-surface volume. Nanoindentation, Vickers hardness, and known tensile properties were brought together with simple mathematical models and experimental data for an initial equivalence study of the mechanical performance of irradiated laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 316 stainless steels across length scales. Direct observation of the calculated ion irradiation yield stress and measured neutron irradiation yield stress at 2 dpa showed that both datasets exhibit the same trend with irradiation temperature and overlap within an acceptable band of stress values. Ion irradiations at 10 dpa serve as a prediction of properties to compare to postirradiation examination of HFIR-irradiated LPBF 316H further in the program. This work is a significant demonstration of the Licensing Approach with Ions and Neutrons, which uses ion irradiations to generate mechanical property information more rapidly than through neutron irradiations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Promoted Combustion Behavior of 316 Stainless Steel and 6061 Aluminum Alloys in Elevated Pressure Nitrox Environments

Promoted combustion testing (outlined in the ASTM G124 “Standard Test Method for Determining the Combustion Behavior of Metallic Materials in Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres”) refers to a useful testing method to evaluate how metallic materials will behave when combusted in environments with high oxygen concentrations, elevated pressure, or both. These tests yield data which is useful for engineers and scientists from a variety of industries who need and rely on oxygen systems. Oxygen Compatibility Assessments (OCA’s) are vital for ensuring that materials will be safe for use, and these assessments rely on data from OCA’s or interpolation if a desired pressure/concentration is outside of previously tested bounds. It was identified that these bounds leave out significant areas of data for materials which are tested at high pressures (above 1500 psi) and variable oxygen concentrations (with nitrogen as the diluent gas). For this reason, the authors posited that conducting promoted combustion testing on materials above 1500 psi and in various concentrations of oxygen would be incredibly useful in future analyses for oxygen compatibility with similar environments (such as breathing air) as well as for further understanding of how materials behave at very high pressures (such as 10000 psi). Two materials were selected which are commonly used in industry today - 316 stainless steel and 6061 aluminum – and they were tested and analyzed for the purposes of this study.

oxygen compatibility↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydrogen embrittlement of additively manufactured austenitic stainless steel 316 L

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a promising means of production of austenitic stainless steel (SS) parts for hydrogen service. The hydrogen embrittlement resistance of SS 316 L parts manufactured by powder-bed-fed selective laser melting (SLM) and directed energy deposition (DED) was examined using slow strain rate tensile testing. The influence of the hierarchical AM microstructures on mechanical response, microstructural evolution, and void formation were analyzed using multiscale electron microscopy. Furthermore, the presence of hydrogen reduced ductility in as-built DED materials, but did not significantly influence the response in as-built SLM material or heat-treated materials. Microstructural features driving these different responses are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗