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At least 37 records · Page 2

Defect And Damage Characterization Of Additively Manufactured Titanium Alloy Ti-5553 Using Traditional Computed Tomography Volume Segmentation And Machine Learning Algorithms

The mechanical response of a component is affected by defects, such as porosity, arising from the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) fabrication process. Thus, it is important to develop accurate and efficient inspection methods for identifying porosity. In this work, porosity identified in an X-ray computed tomography (XCT) volume of a Ti-5553 coupon was compared to pores identified in a serial sectioned volume that represented the ground truth. The porosity of the XCT scan was identified using contrast-based, ISO-based, and machine learning (ML) methods for segmentation. Large inherent porosity was easy to identify, but the ISO thresholding still struggled due to the intensity gradient resulting from both the beam hardening in XCT and the uneven lighting of the serial sectioning panels. Further, the results show that ML-based methods were better suited for identifying small pores and reducing the amount of false positives. Additionally, high strain-rate impact testing was done on some of the XCT samples as well as post-mortem XCT inspection, and the same suite of segmentation and quantification tools were used to identify the large spallation cavities. The comparison of porosity pre- and post-mortem provides insight on the influence of the LPBF porosity on the formation of spall cavities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Uncertainty Characterization of Silicon Damage Metrics

Here, a general formulation of silicon damage metrics and associated energy-dependent response functions relevant to the radiation effects community is provided. Using this formulation, a rigorous quantitative treatment of the energy-dependent uncertainty contributors is performed. This resulted in the generation of a covariance matrix for the displacement kerma, the NRT-based damage energy, and the 1-MeV(Si) equivalent damage function. Lastly, when a careful methodology is used to apply a reference 1-MeV damage value, the systematic uncertainty in the fast fission region is seen to be removed and the uncertainty for integral metrics in broad-based fission-based neutron fields is demonstrated to be significantly reduced.

1-MeV(Si)↗

Characterizing Early Damage Evolution in CMCs

Silicon carbide / silicon carbide ceramic matrix composites (SiC/SiC CMCs) are structural ceramics that are well-suited for the extreme environment conditions of space and aerospace applications largely due to their low weight, creep resistance, damage tolerance, and high specific strength. In CMCs, the initiation and accumulation of damage depends on characteristics of the constituent landscape including porosity, interfacial properties, and geometric distribution of CMC constituents. In order to accurately predict the lifetimes of these advanced composites, it is critical to understand the evolution of damage and to characterize which early damage mechanisms subsequently lead to crack coalescence and macroscopic failure. In this study, SiC/SiC minicomposites are characterized through an experimental approach combining acoustic emission (AE) with tensile testing in-SEM (scanning electron microscope), in order to examine early damage initiation (below the proportional limit) and its evolution at room temperature. The approach provides insight into the relative activity of early damage mechanisms in CMCs at both the surface and subsurface levels and sheds light on the impact of fabrication choices on the evolution of damage to final failure. The potential application of this combined approach towards the characterization of damage in SiC/SiC CMCs under more complex testing conditions will also be discussed.

damage evolution↗

NDE for Characterizing Oxidation Damage in Reinforced Carbon-Carbon

In this study, coated reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) samples of similar structure and composition as that from the NASA space shuttle orbiter s thermal protection system were fabricated with slots in their coating simulating craze cracks. These specimens were used to study oxidation damage detection and characterization using NDE methods. These specimens were heat treated in air at 1143 and 1200 C to create cavities in the carbon substrate underneath the coating as oxygen reacted with the carbon and resulted in its consumption. The cavities varied in diameter from approximately 1 to 3 mm. Single-sided NDE methods were used since they might be practical for on-wing inspection, while x-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) was used to measure cavity sizes in order to validate oxidation models under development for carbon-carbon materials. An RCC sample having a naturally-cracked coating and subsequent oxidation damage was also studied with x-ray micro-CT. This effort is a follow-on study to one that characterized NDE methods for assessing oxidation damage in an RCC sample with drilled holes in the coating. The results of that study are briefly reviewed in this article as well. Additionally, a short discussion on the future role of simulation to aid in these studies is provided.

Roth, Don J.↗

Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) for Characterizing Oxidation Damage in Cracked Reinforced Carbon-Carbon

In this study, coated reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) samples of similar structure and composition as that from the NASA space shuttle orbiter's thermal protection system were fabricated with slots in their coating simulating craze cracks. These specimens were used to study oxidation damage detection and characterization using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods. These specimens were heat treated in air at 1143 C and 1200 C to create cavities in the carbon substrate underneath the coating as oxygen reacted with the carbon and resulted in its consumption. The cavities varied in diameter from approximately 1 to 3mm. Single-sided NDE methods were used because they might be practical for on-wing inspection, while X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) was used to measure cavity sizes in order to validate oxidation models under development for carbon-carbon materials. An RCC sample having a naturally cracked coating and subsequent oxidation damage was also studied with X-ray micro-CT. This effort is a follow-on study to one that characterized NDE methods for assessing oxidation damage in an RCC sample with drilled holes in the coating.

Roth, Don J.↗

Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) for Characterizing Oxidation Damage in Cracked Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC)

In this study, coated reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) samples of similar structure and composition as that from the NASA space shuttle orbiter's thermal protection system were fabricated with slots in their coating simulating craze cracks. These specimens were used to study oxidation damage detection and characterization using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods. These specimens were heat treated in air at 1143 and 1200 C to create cavities in the carbon substrate underneath the coating as oxygen reacted with the carbon and resulted in its consumption. The cavities varied in diameter from approximately 1 to 3 mm. Single-sided NDE methods were used since they might be practical for on-wing inspection, while x-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) was used to measure cavity sizes in order to validate oxidation models under development for carbon-carbon materials. An RCC sample having a naturally-cracked coating and subsequent oxidation damage was also studied with x-ray micro-CT. This effort is a follow-on study to one that characterized NDE methods for assessing oxidation damage in an RCC sample with drilled holes in the coating.

Roth, Don J.↗

Characterization of Low-Velocity Impact Damage in Toughened Non-Crimp Fabric Laminates

The damage response of resin-infused composites was investigated using quasi-static indentation (QSI) and instrumented drop-weight impact testing. The test specimens were composed of six layers of non-crimp fabrics where each layer contained +45°, 90°, −45°, and 0° plies. The goals of the testing were to identify damage responses that may differ from traditional thermoset materials and provide damage characterization data to evaluate current damage prediction analyses and aid improvements to current damage models. The damage was characterized using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonic testing (UT). Incremental QSI loading was used on a single specimen to investigate damage growth in nine steps at progressively higher loads. Realtime acoustic emission data were used to determine the unloading points. Unlike typical thermoset composites, the force-displacement was smooth and showed no obvious indications of damage. The primary damage consisted of large lines of fiber fracture on the plies near the impact surface and delaminations through the thickness. Nine specimens were impacted at nominal impact energies of 25 ft-lbs, 30 ft-lbs, and 35 ft-lbs. The force histories at each energy followed nearly identical paths. Again, no obvious signs of damage were observed in any of the force histories. The general damage response in the dynamic tests was similar to the QSI-loaded specimens. However, repeat specimens impacted with a given impact energy showed variations in the damage. Some characteristics of the damage response were different than those typically observed in thermoset composites and will need to be evaluated using current analysis methods.

Composite Materials↗

Characterization of Low-Velocity Impact Damage in Toughened Non-Crimp Fabric Laminates

The damage response of resin-infused composites was investigated using quasi-static indentation (QSI) and instrumented drop-weight impact testing. The test specimens were composed of six layers of non-crimp fabrics where each layer contained +45°, 90°, −45°, and 0° plies. The goals of the testing were to identify damage responses that may differ from traditional thermoset materials and provide damage characterization data to evaluate current damage prediction analyses and aid improvements to current damage models. The damage was characterized using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonic testing (UT). Incremental QSI loading was used on a single specimen to investigate damage growth in nine steps at progressively higher loads. Realtime acoustic emission data were used to determine the unloading points. Unlike typical thermoset composites, the force-displacement was smooth and showed no obvious indications of damage. The primary damage consisted of large lines of fiber fracture on the plies near the impact surface and delaminations through the thickness. Nine specimens were impacted at nominal impact energies of 25 ft-lbs, 30 ft-lbs, and 35 ft-lbs. The force histories at each energy followed nearly identical paths. Again, no obvious signs of damage were observed in any of the force histories. The general damage response in the dynamic tests was similar to the QSI-loaded specimens. However, repeat specimens impacted with a given impact energy showed variations in the damage. Some characteristics of the damage response were different than those typically observed in thermoset composites and will need to be evaluated using current analysis methods.

Composite Materials↗

Latent Tracks in Ion-Irradiated LiTaO 3 Crystals: Damage Morphology Characterization and Thermal Spike Analysis

Systematic research on the response of crystal materials to the deposition of irradiation energy to electrons and atomic nuclei has attracted considerable attention since it is fundamental to understanding the behavior of various materials in natural and manmade radiation environments. This work examines and compares track formation in LiTaO3 induced by separate and combined effects of electronic excitation and nuclear collision. Under 0.71–6.17 MeV/u ion irradiation with electronic energy loss ranging from 6.0 to 13.8 keV/nm, the track damage morphologies evolve from discontinuous to continuous cylindrical zone. Based on the irradiation energy deposited via electronic energy loss, the subsequently induced energy exchange and temperature evolution processes in electron and lattice subsystems are calculated through the inelastic thermal spike model, demonstrating the formation of track damage and relevant thresholds of lattice energy and temperature. Combined with a disorder accumulation model, the damage accumulation in LiTaO3 produced by nuclear energy loss is also experimentally determined. The damage characterizations and inelastic thermal spike calculations further demonstrate that compared to damage-free LiTaO3, nuclear-collision-damaged LiTaO3 presents a more intense thermal spike response to electronic energy loss owing to the decrease in thermal conductivity and increase in electron–phonon coupling, which further enhance track damage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Strain-Based Damage Determination Using Finite Element Analysis for Structural Health Management

A damage determination method is presented that relies on in-service strain sensor measurements. The method employs a gradient-based optimization procedure combined with the finite element method for solution to the forward problem. It is demonstrated that strains, measured at a limited number of sensors, can be used to accurately determine the location, size, and orientation of damage. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the general procedure. This work is motivated by the need to provide structural health management systems with a real-time damage characterization. The damage cases investigated herein are characteristic of point-source damage, which can attain critical size during flight. The procedure described can be used to provide prognosis tools with the current damage configuration.

Hochhalter, Jacob D.↗

Analysis and Characterization of Damage and Failure Utilizing a Generalized Composite Material Model Suitable for Use in Impact Problems

A material model which incorporates several key capabilities which have been identified by the aerospace community as lacking in state-of-the art composite impact models is under development. In particular, a next generation composite impact material model, jointly developed by the FAA and NASA, is being implemented into the commercial transient dynamic finite element code LS-DYNA. The material model, which incorporates plasticity, damage, and failure, utilizes experimentally based tabulated input to define the evolution of plasticity and damage and the initiation of failure as opposed to specifying discrete input parameters (such as modulus and strength). The plasticity portion of the orthotropic, three-dimensional, macroscopic composite constitutive model is based on an extension of the Tsai-Wu composite failure model into a generalized yield function with a non-associative flow rule. For the damage model, a strain equivalent formulation is utilized to allow for the uncoupling of the deformation and damage analyses. In the damage model, a semi-coupled approach is employed where the overall damage in a particular coordinate direction is assumed to be a multiplicative combination of the damage in that direction resulting from the applied loads in the various coordinate directions. Due to the fact that the plasticity and damage models are uncoupled, test procedures and methods to both characterize the damage model and to covert the material stress-strain curves from the true (damaged) stress space to the effective (undamaged) stress space have been developed. A methodology has been developed to input the experimentally determined composite failure surface in a tabulated manner. An analytical approach is then utilized to track how close the current stress state is to the failure surface.

Finite Element Method↗

Microscale Characterization of Damage Accumulation in CMCs

The developing roles of damage mechanisms in the failure response of SiC/SiC minicomposites was investigated by the characterization of microscale damage accumulation with respect to microstructure. A multi-modal approach combining spatially resolved acoustic emission (AE) with tensile testing in-SEM (scanning electron microscope) was used to simultaneously examine surface (observed in-SEM) and bulk damage (monitored via AE). Strong agreement was shown between the evolving crack density estimated by AE and in-SEM measurements. The following were observed: (i) in-plane matrix content and distribution impacted crack growth; (ii) spatially-distributed matrix cracks generated varying stress-dependent AE; and (iii) certain individual cracks became more probable failure locations due to unique combinations of damage mechanisms that drove their growth. This approach enabled characterizing potential failure determinants and suggests that early damage behavior is related to certain microstructural features (e.g. surface flaws), while subsequent damage behavior is coupled to interactions of local mechanisms evolving with stress.

ceramic matrix composites↗

Engine materials characterization and damage monitoring by using x ray technologies

X ray attenuation measurement systems that are capable of characterizing density variations in monolithic ceramics and damage due to processing and/or mechanical testing in ceramic and intermetallic matrix composites are developed and applied. Noninvasive monitoring of damage accumulation and failure sequences in ceramic matrix composites is used during room-temperature tensile testing. This work resulted in the development of a point-scan digital radiography system and an in situ x ray material testing system. The former is used to characterize silicon carbide and silicon nitride specimens, and the latter is used to image the failure behavior of silicon-carbide-fiber-reinforced, reaction-bonded silicon nitride matrix composites. State-of-the-art x ray computed tomography is investigated to determine its capabilities and limitations in characterizing density variations of subscale engine components (e.g., a silicon carbide rotor, a silicon nitride blade, and a silicon-carbide-fiber-reinforced beta titanium matrix rod, rotor, and ring). Microfocus radiography, conventional radiography, scanning acoustic microscopy, and metallography are used to substantiate the x ray computed tomography findings. Point-scan digital radiography is a viable technique for characterizing density variations in monolithic ceramic specimens. But it is very limited and time consuming in characterizing ceramic matrix composites. Precise x ray attenuation measurements, reflecting minute density variations, are achieved by photon counting and by using microcollimators at the source and the detector. X ray computed tomography is found to be a unique x ray attenuation measurement technique capable of providing cross-sectional spatial density information in monolithic ceramics and metal matrix composites. X ray computed tomography is proven to accelerate generic composite component development. Radiographic evaluation before, during, and after loading shows the effect of preexisting volume flaws on the fracture behavior of composites. Results from one-, three-, five-, and eight-ply ceramic composite specimens show that x ray film radiography can monitor damage accumulation during tensile loading. Matrix cracking, fiber-matrix debonding, fiber bridging, and fiber pullout are imaged throughout the tensile loading of the specimens. In situ film radiography is found to be a practical technique for estimating interfacial shear strength between the silicon carbide fibers and the reaction-bonded silicon nitride matrix. It is concluded that pretest, in situ, and post-test x ray imaging can provide greater understanding of ceramic matrix composite mechanical behavior.

Baaklini, George Y.↗

A Model-Based, Bayesian Solution for Characterization of Complex Damage Scenarios in Aerospace Composite Structures

Ultrasonic damage detection and characterization is commonly used in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of aerospace composite components. In recent years there has been an increased development of guided wave based methods. In real materials and structures, these dispersive waves result in complicated behavior in the presence of complex damage scenarios. Model-based characterization methods utilize accurate three dimensional finite element models (FEMs) of guided wave interaction with realistic damage scenarios to aid in defect identification and classification. This work describes an inverse solution for realistic composite damage characterization by comparing the wavenumber-frequency spectra of experimental and simulated ultrasonic inspections. The composite laminate material properties are first verified through a Bayesian solution (Markov chain Monte Carlo), enabling uncertainty quantification surrounding the characterization. A study is undertaken to assess the efficacy of the proposed damage model and comparative metrics between the experimental and simulated output. The FEM is then parameterized with a damage model capable of describing the typical complex damage created by impact events in composites. The damage is characterized through a transdimensional Markov chain Monte Carlo solution, enabling a flexible damage model capable of adapting to the complex damage geometry investigated here. The posterior probability distributions of the individual delamination petals as well as the overall envelope of the damage site are determined.

H. Reed↗

Thermography Inspection for Early Detection of Composite Damage in Structures During Fatigue Loading

Advanced composite structures are commonly tested under controlled loading. Understanding the initiation and progression of composite damage under load is critical for validating design concepts and structural analysis tools. Thermal nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is used to detect and characterize damage in composite structures during fatigue loading. A difference image processing algorithm is demonstrated to enhance damage detection and characterization by removing thermal variations not associated with defects. In addition, a one-dimensional multilayered thermal model is used to characterize damage. Lastly, the thermography results are compared to other inspections such as non-immersion ultrasonic inspections and computed tomography X-ray.

Zalameda, Joseph N.↗

Characterization of Damage Progression in SCS-6/timetal 21S (0)4 Under Thermomechanical Fatigue Loadings

A detailed experimental investigation was performed at a single maximum cyclic stress (sigma max) level to physically characterize the progression of thermomechanical fatigue (lW) damage in continuously reinforced (0 deg) SCS-6/Timetal 21S, a titanium matrix composite. In-phase (IP) and out of-phase (OP) loadings were investigated at sigma max = 1000 MPa with a temperature cycle from 150 to 6500 C. Damage progression, in terms of macroscopic property degradation, was experimentally quantified through an advanced TMF test methodology which incorporates explicit measurements of the isothermal static moduli at the TMF temperature extremes and the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) as functions of the TMF cycles. Detailed characterization of the physical damage progression at the microstructural level was performed by interrupting multiple TMF tests at various stages of mechanical property degradation and analyzing the microstructure through extensive destructive metallography. Further, the extent of damage was also quantified through residual static strength measurements. Results indicated that damage initiation occurred very early in cyclic life (N less than 0.1Nf) for both the IP and OP TMF loadings. IP TMF damage was found to be dominated by fiber breakage with a physical damage progression in the microstructure which was difficult to quantify. OP TMF loadings produced matrix cracking exclusively associated with surface initiations. Here, damage progression was easily distinguished in terms of both the number of cracks and their relative inward progressions toward the outer fiber rows with increased cycling. The point at which the leading cracks reached the outer fiber rows (when localized fiber/matrix de-bonding and matrix crack bridging occurred) appeared to be reflected in the macroscopic property degradation curves.

Castelli, Michael G.↗