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At least 361 records · Page 20

Advances in Non-Contact Measurement of Creep Properties

As the required service temperatures for superalloys increases, so do the demands on testing for development of these alloys. Non-contact measurement of creep of refractory metals using electrostatic levitation has been demonstrated at temperatures up to 2300 C using samples of only 20-40 mg. These measurements load the spherical specimen by inertial forces due to rapid rotation. However, the first measurements relied on photon pressure to accelerate the samples to the high rotational rates of thousands of rotations per second, limiting the applicability to low stresses and high temperatures. Recent advances in this area extend this measurement to higher stresses and lower-temperatures through the use of an induction motor to drive the sample to such high rotational speeds. Preliminary results on new measurements on new materials will be presented.

Hyers, Robert↗

Thermal barrier coating life prediction model

The objectives of this research were to determine the predominant modes of degradation of a plasma sprayed thermal barrier coating (TBC) system, and then to develop and verify life prediction models accounting for these degradation modes. The TBC system consists of a low pressure plasma sprayed (LPPS) bond coat layer of Ni-22Cr-10Al-O.3Y, an air plasma sprayed (APS) yttria partially stabilized zirconia (ZrO sub 2-8Y sub 2 O sub 3) top coat on a conventionally cast Rene 80 (Ni base) substrate. Thermal cycle testing of TBCs was employed to evaluate the effect of coating edges, bond coat oxidation, bond coat creep, top coat thickness, and bond coat thickness.

Pilsner, B.↗

Biaxial Stress Limit for ULDB Film

The current ULDB design applies stress to the shell film biaxially to control creep in the latitudinal direction. The recent change in design paradigm, from a uniaxial to biaxial stress state basis, arose from a new perspective that the biaxial loading can control strain in both principal surface dimensions as discussed below. The current ULDB project path was thus enabled by a more thorough understanding of the nonlinear viscoelastic properties of the shell film material, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Although a very similar material is also used in NASA zero-pressure (ZPB) and long-duration balloons (LDB), the different stress state requires a new approach to shell material qualification.

Sterling, W. J.↗

Elastic properties of granular materials under uniaxial compaction cycles

Data on andesitic and basaltic sands are presented showing compressional sound velocity, density, and creep as functions of uniaxial loading through several compaction cycles. Maximum pressures over which acoustic measurements were made were in the range from 600 to 700 bars. The dynamic elastic modulus varies with pressure in a manner analogous to that of a static elastic modulus defined by small pressure perturbations on a typical compaction cycle. After several compaction cycles, two compressional elastic moduli apparently exist at low pressure (thus two modes of compressional wave propagation through the samples are indicated). The elastic moduli observations are briefly discussed in terms of a general expression for compressibility.

Warren, N.↗

Precision Cryogenic Dilatometer

A dilatometer based on a laser interferometer is being developed to measure mechanical creep and coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of materials at temperatures ranging from ambient down to 15 K. This cryogenic dilatometer has been designed to minimize systematic errors that limit the best previously available dilatometers. At its prototype stage of development, this cryogenic dilatometer yields a strain measurement error of 35 ppb or 1.7 ppb/K CTE measurement error for a 20-K thermal load, for low-expansion materials in the temperature range from 310 down to 30 K. Planned further design refinements that include a provision for stabilization of the laser and addition of a high-precision sample-holding jig are expected to reduce the measurement error to 5-ppb strain error or 0.3-ppb/K CTE error for a 20-K thermal load. The dilatometer (see figure) includes a common-path, differential, heterodyne interferometer; a dual-frequency, stabilized source bench that serves as the light source for the interferometer; a cryogenic chamber in which one places the material sample to be studied; a cryogenic system for cooling the interior of the chamber to the measurement temperature; an ultra-stable alignment stage for positioning the chamber so that the sample is properly positioned with respect to the interferometer; and a data-acquisition and control system. The cryogenic chamber and the interferometer portion of the dilatometer are housed in a vacuum chamber on top of a vibration isolating optical table in a cleanroom. The sample consists of two pieces a pillar on a base both made of the same material. Using reflections of the interferometer beams from the base and the top of the pillar, what is measured is the change in length of the pillar as the temperature in the chamber is changed. In their fundamental optical and electronic principles of operation, the laser light source and the interferometer are similar to those described in Common-Path Heterodyne Interferometers (NPO-20786), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 25, No. 7 (July 2001), page 12a, and Interferometer for Measuring Displacement to Within 20 pm (NPO- 21221), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 27, No. 7 (July 2003), page 8a. However, the present designs incorporate a number of special geometric, optical, and mechanical features to minimize optical and thermal-expansion effects that contribute to measurement errors. These features include the use of low-thermal expansion materials for structural components, kinematic mounting and symmetrical placement of optical components, and several measures taken to minimize spurious reflections of laser beams.

Dudik, Matthew↗

Investigation of high temperature fracture of T-111 and ASTAR-811C

The high temperature deformation and fracture behavior of T-111 and ASTAR-811C were studied over the temperature range 982 to 2205 C (1800 to 4000 F). As-cast and wrought-recrystallized material as well as GTA welds in sheet and plate were evaluated using conventional tensile and creep tests. Post test examinations were performed using optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A high temperature region of reduced ductility, in terms of tensile elongation, was identified for both alloys. The reduction in tensile elongation became more severe with increase in grain size, being near catastrophic for the as-cast specimens. Optical and electron metallography indicated that even for failures at very low total strain, considerable deformation of a very localized nature had occurred prior to fracture.

Gold, R. E.↗

Rupture testing for the quality control of electrodeposited copper interconnections in high-speed, high-density circuits

Printed Wiring Multilayer Board (PWMLB) structures for high speed, high density circuits are prone to failure due to the microcracking of electrolytic copper interconnections. The failure can occur in the foil that makes up the inner layer traces or in the plated through holes (PTH) deposit that forms the layer to layer interconnections. It is shown that there are some distinctive differences in the quality of Type E copper and that these differences can be detected before its use in a PWMLB. It is suggested that the strength of some Type E copper can be very low when the material is hot and that it is the use of this poor quality material in a PWMLB that results in PTH and inner layer microcracking. Since the PWMLB failure in question are induced by a thermal stress, and since the poorer grades of Type E materials used in these structures are susceptible to premature failure under thermal stress, the use of elevated temperature rupture and creep rupture testing is proposed as a means for screening copper foil, or its PTH equivalent, in order to eliminate the problem of Type E copper microcracking in advanced PWMLBs.

Zakraysek, Louis↗

Dispersoids in rapidly solidified B2 nickel aluminides

Rapid solidification processing has been successfully used to create a uniform distribution of 30-nm TiB2 and HfC precipitates in a B2-ordered NiAl matrix, in order to enhance the matrix material's high-temperature strength and creep behavior. Attention is drawn to the question of the stability of carbide and boride dispersoids in an NiAl matrix during high-temperature exposures. The present alloys were consolidated at temperatures above 1422 K; the small size of precipitates in materials processed at such high temperatures gives an indication of their thermal stability, and further coarsening of the precipitates at elevated service temperatures is rendered unlikely by their low solubility in the matrix.

Jha, S. C.↗

Cu-Cr-Nb-Zr Alloy for Rocket Engines and Other High-Heat- Flux Applications

Rocket-engine main combustion chamber liners are used to contain the burning of fuel and oxidizer and provide a stream of high-velocity gas for propulsion. The liners in engines such as the Space Shuttle Main Engine are regeneratively cooled by flowing fuel, e.g., cryogenic hydrogen, through cooling channels in the back side of the liner. The heat gained by the liner from the flame and compression of the gas in the throat section is transferred to the fuel by the liner. As a result, the liner must either have a very high thermal conductivity or a very high operating temperature. In addition to the large heat flux (>10 MW/sq m), the liners experience a very large thermal gradient, typically more than 500 C over 1 mm. The gradient produces thermally induced stresses and strains that cause low cycle fatigue (LCF). Typically, a liner will experience a strain differential in excess of 1% between the cooling channel and the hot wall. Each time the engine is fired, the liner undergoes an LCF cycle. The number of cycles can be as few as one for an expendable booster engine, to as many as several thousand for a reusable launch vehicle or reaction control system. Finally, the liners undergo creep and a form of mechanical degradation called thermal ratcheting that results in the bowing out of the cooling channel into the combustion chamber, and eventual failure of the liner. GRCop-84, a Cu-Cr-Nb alloy, is generally recognized as the best liner material available at the time of this reporting. The alloy consists of 14% Cr2Nb precipitates in a pure copper matrix. Through experimental work, it has been established that the Zr will not participate in the formation of Laves phase precipitates with Cr and Nb, but will instead react with Cu to form the desired Cu-Zr compounds. It is believed that significant improvements in the mechanical properties of GRCop-84 will be realized by adding Zr. The innovation is a Cu-Cr-Nb-Zr alloy covering the composition range of 0.8 to 8.1 weight percent Cr, 0.7 to 7.2 weight percent Nb, 0.1 to 1.5 weight percent Zr, and balance Cu. The alloy combines two known strengthening mechanisms - dispersion strengthening by Cr2Nb precipitates (GRCop-84), and precipitation strengthening by CuxZr (AMZIRC) - to produce a synergistic increase in the capabilities of the alloy with the goal of achieving properties greater than either of the methods could achieve alone. The anticipated advantages of the alloy are higher strength at temperatures up to 700 C, improved creep strength, and significantly higher LCF lives relative to GRCop-84. The thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, and processing of the alloy are anticipated to remain largely unchanged relative to GRCop-84.

Ellis, David L.↗

Downslope movement of material on Deimos

Viking Orbiter images have shown downslope movement of loose material to be an important surface process on Deimos. Loose surface material moves downslope from prominent ridges and accumulates in topographic lows. In some areas, up to 10 m of surface material have been removed; in others, craters up to 200 m in diameter have been filled completely by material moving downslope. Brighter material associated with, and probably derived from crater rims, also moves downslope and forms tapered streamers up to 3 km in length which appear as prominent features on the satellite. The mechanism for downslope movement is uncertain, but thermal creep, micrometeroroid bombardment and impact-related seismic shaking may be involved. Certain craters show conspicuous infilling even though their prominent rims should prevent material moving downslope from reaching their interiors. Such fill must have been emplaced ballistically - the amounts of sediment suggest that over half of all ejecta produced on Deimos are retained on the satellite. Phobos appears to retain little ejecta and shows little evidence of downslope movement of debris.

Thomas, P.↗

Continuous fiber-reinforced titanium aluminide composites

An account is given of the fabrication techniques, microstructural characteristics, and mechanical behavior of a lightweight, high service temperature SiC-reinforced alpha-2 Ti-14Al-21Nb intermetallic-matrix composite. Fabrication techniques under investigation to improve the low-temperature ductility and environmental resistance of this material system, while reducing manufacturing costs to competitive levels, encompass powder-cloth processing, foil-fiber-foil processing, and thermal-spray processing. Attention is given to composite microstructure problems associated with fiber distribution and fiber-matrix interfaces, as well as with mismatches of thermal-expansion coefficient; major improvements are noted to be required in tensile properties, thermal cycling effects, mechanical damage, creep, and environmental effects.

Mackay, R. A.↗

Compositional effects on mechanical properties of hafnium-carbide-strengthened molybdenum alloys

The mechanical properties of swaged rod thermomechanically processed from arc melted Mo-2Re-Hf-C alloys containing as much as 0.9-mol% HfC were evaluated. The low-temperature ductilities of these alloys were not influenced by the amount of HfC present but by the amount of Hf in excess of stoichiometry. Maximum ductility occurred at 0.2- to 0.3-at.% excess Hf. At 0.3- to 0.5-mol% HfC, alloy strength varied directly with the Mo content of extracted carbide particles, both decreasing as the amount of excess Hf increased. Additions of 2-at.% Re had little effect on strength or ductility. Tensile and creep strengths of Mo-2Re-0.7Hf-0.5C alloy equaled or exceeded those of other high strength Mo alloys.

Witzke, W. R.↗

Mechanical properties of a fiberglass prepreg system at cryogenic and other temperatures

The compressor driving the flow in the National Transonic Facility, which is nearing completion at the Langley Research Center, has 25 fiberglass blades. E-glass cloth with a pre-impregnated epoxy resin has been selected as the material for the fan blades because of its low cost, high damping, and fatigue resistance. A complete characterization is presented of this fan blade fiberglass system at temperatures of 367 K, room temperature, and 89 K. The characterization test results suggest that the material follows the general trends of metals and other glass-reinforced plastics at cryogenic temperatures. A slight diminution in strength was observed at the elevated temperature. The tests included the following: tensile, compression, fatigue, inplane shear, interlaminar shear, thermal expansion, creep, and thermal cycle.

Klich, P. J.↗

Patterns of brittle deformation under extension on Venus

The development of fractures at regular length scales is a widespread feature of Venusian tectonics. Models of lithospheric deformation under extension based on non-Newtonian viscous flow and brittle-plastic flow develop localized failure at preferred wavelengths that depend on lithospheric thickness and stratification. The characteristic wavelengths seen in rift zones and tessera can therefore provide constraints on crustal and thermal structure. Analytic solutions were obtained for growth rates in infinitesimal perturbations imposed on a one-dimensional, layered rheology. Brittle layers were approximated by perfectly-plastic, uniform strength, overlying ductile layers exhibiting thermally-activated power-law creep. This study investigates the formation of faults under finite amounts of extension, employing a finite-element approach. Our model incorporates non-linear viscous rheology and a Coulomb failure envelope. An initial perturbation in crustal thickness gives rise to necking instabilities. A small amount of velocity weakening serves to localize deformation into planar regions of high strain rate. Such planes are analogous to normal faults seen in terrestrial rift zones. These 'faults' evolve to low angle under finite extension. Fault spacing, orientation and location, and the depth to the brittle-ductile transition, depend in a complex way on lateral variations in crustal thickness. In general, we find that multiple wavelengths of deformation can arise from the interaction of crustal and mantle lithosphere.

Neumann, G. A.↗

The Effect of Redox Conditions on Seismic Waves in Iron-Bearing Olivine: Implications for Understanding Planetary Interiros Through Seismilogy

Seismic data, inclusive of velocities and attenuation, can be utilized to elucidate the physical state of planetary interiors]. However, numerous micromechanical factors have been either experimentally demonstrated, or theoretically considered, to affect the propagation and dissipation of seismic energy within crystalline solids - including, but not limited to, changes in grain size, temperature, melt fraction, pressure and dislocation density. Thus, observed variations in seismic wave speeds and attenuation may be used to ultimately ‘map’ variations in physical properties, such as those listed above, within planetary bodies. But, in order to complete a successful inversion of seismic data into representations of physical properties, a first requirement is to obtain a fundamental laboratory based understanding of how each of these possible factors individually influences seismic waves. Here we conduct an experimental study with the initial objective to further understand one of the most commonly invoked, yet least studied, mechanisms that could alter intrinsic seismic wave attenuation: water content (occurring as chemically-bound hydroxyl). The historical basis for determining the effect of water on seismic properties was established predominantly through analogy with large-strain creep experiments conducted on olivine under water-saturated conditions. While these deformation experiments routinely demonstrate a weakening of olivine in the presence of water, they represent a fundamentally different deformation regime in comparison to the microstrains experienced due to a passing seismic wave. Thus, in order to directly assess the effects of water on seismic properties, small-strain experiments are required. Substantially modified seismic properties in the presence of water have been observed previously at low strains and low frequencies, but only in a single exploratory study conducted under water-saturated conditions. Thus, to properly test the theoretical predictions we conducted a systematic study of the seismic properties of olivine using low-frequency torsional oscillation on aggregates containing varying concentrations of bound hydroxyl, for the first time at under saturated conditions.

Cline, C. J., II↗

A Frequency-Dependent Q Model Based Upon Transient Rheological Properties of Heterogeneous Materials

Seismic attenuation at low frequency has previously been modeled using two approaches: (1) Examination of all possible microstructural dislocation mechanisms that involve irreversible thermodynamics [Minster and Anderson 1981, P. Trans. R.S. Lond, A, 299]; (2) Parameterized superposition of one-dimensional analogue springs and dashpots, usually consisting of a three-parameter standard linear solid arrangement [Liu et al. 1976, G.J.R.A.S., 47]. The first approach is appealing in that a strong connection is made between micromechanical dissipation and short-term creep that can be studied in the laboratory. The second approach has the advantage of providing a robust 'fit' to actual seismic observations, but has little intrinsic physical content...

Ivins, Erik R.↗

Composition effects on mechanical properties of HfC-strengthened molybdenum alloys

The mechanical properties of swaged rod thermomechanically processed from arc-melted Mo-2Re-Hf-C alloys containing as much as 0.9 mol pct HfC have been evaluated. The low temperature ductilities of these alloys were not influenced by the amount of HfC present but by the amount of Hf in excess of stoichiometry. Maximum ductility occurred at 0.2 to 0.3 at. pct excess Hf. At 0.3 to 0.5 mol pct HfC, alloy strength varied directly with the Mo content of extracted carbide particles, both decreasing as the amount of excess Hf increased. Additions of 2 at. pct Re had little effect on strength or ductility. Tensile and creep strengths of Mo-2Re-0.7Hf-0.5C alloy equaled or exceeded those of other high strength Mo alloys.

Witzke, W. R.↗

SSME main combustion chamber life prediction

Typically, low cycle fatigue life is a function of the cyclic strain range, the material properties, and the operating temperature. The reusable life is normally defined by the number of strain cycles that can be accrued before severe material degradation occurs. Reusable life is normally signified by the initiation or propagation of surface cracks. Hot-fire testing of channel wall combustors has shown significant mid-channel wall thinning or deformation during accrued cyclic testing. This phenomenon is termed cyclic-creep and appears to be significantly accelerated at elevated surface temperatures. This failure mode was analytically modelled. The cyclic life of the baseline SSME-MCC based on measured calorimeter heat transfer data, and the life sensitivity of local hot spots caused by injector effects were determined. Four life enhanced designs were assessed.

Cook, R. T.↗