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At least 397 records · Page 22

Parametric studies to determine the effect of compliant layers on metal matrix composite systems

Computational simulation studies are conducted to identify compliant layers to reduce matrix stresses which result from the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch and the large temperature range over which the current metal matrix composites will be used. The present study includes variations of compliant layers and their properties to determine their influence on unidirectional composite and constituent response. Two simulation methods are used for these studies. The first approach is based on a three-dimensional linear finite element analysis of a 9 fiber unidirectional composite system. The second approach is a micromechanics based nonlinear computer code developed to determine the behavior of metal matrix composite system for thermal and mechanical loads. The results show that an effective compliant layer for the SCS 6 (SiC)/Ti-24Al-11Nb (Ti3Al + Nb) and SCS 6 (SiC)/Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (Ti-15-3) composite systems should have modulus 15 percent that of the matrix and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the compliant layer roughly equal to that of the composite system without the CL. The matrix stress in the longitudinal and the transverse tangent (loop) direction are tensile for the Ti3Al + Nb and Ti-15-3 composite systems upon cool down from fabrication. The fiber longitudinal stress is compressive from fabrication cool down. Addition of a recommended compliant layer will result in a reduction in the composite modulus.

Caruso, J. J.↗

Parametric studies to determine the effect of compliant layers on metal matrix composite systems

Computational simulation studies are conducted to identify compliant layers to reduce matrix stresses which result from the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch and the large temperature range over which the current metal matrix composites will be used. The present study includes variations of compliant layers and their properties to determine their influence on unidirectional composite and constituent response. Two simulation methods are used for these studies. The first approach is based on a three-dimensional linear finite element analysis of a 9 fiber unidirectional composite system. The second approach is a micromechanics based nonlinear computer code developed to determine the behavior of metal matrix composite system for thermal and mechanical loads. The results show that an effective compliant layer for the SCS 6 (SiC)/Ti-24Al-11Nb (Ti3Al + Nb) and SCS 6 (SiC)/Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (Ti-15-3) composite systems should have modulus 15 percent that of the matrix and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the compliant layer roughly equal to that of the composite system without the CL. The matrix stress in the longitudinal and the transverse tangent (loop) direction are tensile for the Ti3Al + Nb and Ti-15-3 composite systems upon cool down from fabrication. The fiber longitudinal stress is compressive from fabrication cool down. Addition of a recommended compliant layer will result in a reduction in the composite modulus.

Caruso, J. J.↗

Elevated-Temperature Tensile-Testing of Foil-Gage Metals

Automated system for measuring strain in metal foils at temperatures above 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) uses mechanical extensometer and displacement transducer. System includes counterbalance feature, which eliminates weight contribution of extensometer and reduces grip pressure required for attachment to specimen. Counterbalancing feature overcomes two major difficulties in using extensometers with foil-gage specimens: (1) Weight of extensometer and transducer represents significant fraction of total load applied to specimen and may actually damage it; and (2) grip pressure required for attachment of extensometer to specimens may induce bending stresses in foil-gage materials.

Blackburn, L. B.↗

Ionization states of metallic absorption-line systems in continua of quasars

Ionization states of metallic absorption-line systems in continua of quasars (QSO's) are studied, assuming that the metallic lines arise in gaseous halos of high-redshift galaxies in photoionization equilibrium under the background UV radiation, and constraints on the intensity and spectral shape of the UV radiation are obtained. Then a structure of absorbers suitable for all of the metallic absorption line systems are discussed.

Denda, Kiyomi↗

Comparison of super-high-energy-propulsion-systems based on metallic hydrogen propellant for ES to LEO space transportation

The application is studied of metallic H2 as a rocket propellant, which contains a specific energy of about 52 kcal/g in theory yielding a maximum specific impulse of 1700 s. With the convincing advantage of having a density 14 times that of conventional liquid H2/liquid O2 propellants, metallic H2 could satisfy the demands of advanced launch vehicle propulsion for the next millennium. Provided that there is an atomic metallic state of H2, and that this state is metastable at ambient pressure, which still is not proven, the results are given of the study of some important areas, which concern the production of metallic H2, the combustion, chamber cooling, and storage. The results show that the use of metallic H2 as rocket propellant could lead to revolutionary changes in space vehicle philosophy toward small size, small weight, and high performance single stage to orbit systems. The use of high metallic H2 mass fractions results in a dramatic reduction of required propellant volume, while gas temperatures in the combustion chamber exceed 5000 K. Furthermore, it follows, that H2 (liquid or slush) is the most favorable candidate as working fluid. Jet generated noise due to high exhaust velocities could be a problem.

Thierschmann, M.↗

Development of Metallic Thermal Protection Systems for the Reusable Launch Vehicle

A reusable Thermal Protection System (TPS) that is not only lightweight, but durable, operable and cost effective is one of the technologies required by the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) to achieve the goal of drastically reducing the cost of delivering payload to orbit. Metallic TPS is one of the systems being developed to meet this challenge. Current efforts involve improving the superalloy honeycomb TPS concept, which consists of a foil-gage metallic box encapsulating a low density fibrous insulation, and evaluating it for RLV requirements. The superalloy honeycomb TPS concept is mechanically attached to the vehicle structure. Improvements include more efficient internal insulation, a simpler, lighter weight configuration, and a quick-release fastener system for easier installation and removal. Evaluation includes thermal and structural analysis, fabrication and testing of both coupons and TPS panels under conditions simulating RLV environments. Coupons of metallic honeycomb sandwich, representative of the outer TPS surface, were subjected to low speed impact, hypervelocity impact, and rain erosion testing as well as subsequent arcjet exposure. Arrays of TPS panels have been subjected to radiant heating in a thermal/vacuum facility, aerodynamic heating in an arcjet facility and acoustic loading.

Blosser, Max L.↗

Performance of a Haynes 188 metallic standoff thermal protection system at Mach 7

A flight weight, metallic thermal protection system (TPS) model applicable to reentry and hypersonic vehicles was subjected to multiple cycles of both radiant and aerothermal heating to evaluate its aerothermal performance and structural integrity. The TPS was designed for a maximum operating temperature of 1255 K and featured a shingled, corrugation stiffened corrugated skin heat shield of Haynes 188, a cobalt base alloy. The model was subjected to 3 radiant preheat/aerothermal tests for a total of 67 seconds and to 15 radiant heating tests for a total of 85.9 minutes at 1255 K. The TPS limited the primary structure to temperatures below 430 K in all tests. No catastrophic failures occurred in the heat shields, supports, or insulation system. The TPS continued to function even after exposure to a differential temperature 4 times the design value produced thermal buckles in the outer skin. The shingled thermal expansion joint effectively allowed for thermal expansion of the heat shield without allowing any appreciable hot gas flow into the model cavity, even though the overlap gap between shields increased after several thermal cycles.

Avery, D. E.↗

Controlled Conversion of Sodium Metal From Nuclear Systems to Sodium Chloride

A series of three bench-scale experiments was performed to investigate the conversion of sodium metal to sodium chloride via reactions with non-metal and metal chlorides. Specifically, batches of molten sodium metal were separately contacted with ammonium chloride and ferrous chloride to form sodium chloride in both cases along with iron in the latter case. Additional ferrous chloride was added to two of the three batches to form low melting point consolidated mixtures of sodium chloride and ferrous chloride, whereas consolidation of a sodium-chloride product was performed in a separate batch. Samples of the products were characterized via X-ray diffraction to identify attendant compounds. The reaction of sodium metal with metered ammonium chloride particulate feeds proceeded without reaction excursions and produced pure colorless sodium chloride. The reaction of sodium metal with ferrous chloride yielded occasional reaction excursions as evidenced by temperature spikes and fuming ferrous chloride, producing a dark salt-metal mixture. This investigation into a method for controlled conversion of sodium metal to sodium chloride is particularly applicable to sodium containing elevated levels of radioactivity—including bond sodium from nuclear fuels—in remote-handled inert-atmosphere environments.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

First-principles study of interfaces in Al/SiC metal-matrix composite system

In this work, first-principles calculations were performed on the interfaces between Al and SiC, which is a widely used strengthening agent in aluminum metal-matrix-composites (Al/MMC). C-terminated interfaces have much larger work of adhesion than Si-terminated interfaces, indicating that the former has much stronger interfacial bonding. The electron localization function shows that the chemical bonding between Al and C has a strong covalent character, while the bonding between Al and Si is largely metallic. As a result of the vastly different chemical bonding, the work of adhesion for C-terminated interfaces increases with the number of dangling bonds at the interface, while the opposite trend was observed for Si-terminated interfaces. Additionally, the interface energy for Si-terminated interfaces is comparable to that for C-terminated interfaces, suggesting both types of terminations can coexist in the Al/SiC system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Aerothermal performance and damage tolerance of a Rene 41 metallic standoff thermal protection system at Mach 6.7

A flight-weight, metallic thermal protection system (TPS) model applicable to Earth-entry and hypersonic-cruise vehicles was subjected to multiple cycles of both radiant and aerothermal heating in order to evaluate its aerothermal performance, structural integrity, and damage tolerance. The TPS was designed for a maximum operating temperature of 2060 R and featured a shingled, corrugation-stiffened corrugated-skin heat shield of Rene 41, a nickel-base alloy. The model was subjected to 10 radiant heating tests and to 3 radiant preheat/aerothermal tests. Under radiant-heating conditions with a maximum surface temperature of 2050 R, the TPS performed as designed and limited the primary structure away from the support ribs to temperatures below 780 R. During the first attempt at aerothermal exposure, a failure in the panel-holder test fixture severely damaged the model. However, two radiant preheat/aerothermal tests were made with the damaged model to test its damage tolerance. During these tests, the damaged area did not enlarge; however, the rapidly increasing structural temperature measuring during these tests indicates that had the damaged area been exposed to aerodynamic heating for the entire trajectory, an aluminum burn-through would have occurred.

Avery, D. E.↗

Magnetic field induced partially polarized chiral spin liquid in a transition metal dichalcogenide moiré system

As one of the most intriguing states of matter, the chiral spin liquid (CSL) has attracted much scientific interest while its existence and mechanism in crystalline strongly correlated systems remain hotly debated. On the other hand, strong correlation driven emergent phenomena can be realized in twisted transition metal dichalcogenide bilayers with a tremendously tunable large length scale providing a new platform for the emergence of CSLs. Here, we focus on a strongly correlated model relevant to heterobilayer WSe 2 /MoSe 2 and investigate the Mott insulating phase at half filling under an out-of-plane magnetic field. Considering both its orbital and spin Zeeman effects we identify three conventionally ordered phases including a 120° Néel phase, a stripe phase, and an up-up-down phase. For intermediate fields an emergent quantum spin liquid phase is identified with partial spin polarization. We further characterize its topological nature as the v = 1/2 Laughlin CSL through the topological entanglement spectrum and quantized spin pumping under spin flux insertion. In addition, we map out the quantum phase diagram for different twisted angles in an experimentally accessible parameter regime.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Experimental, numerical and analytical evaluation of j × B -thrust for fast-liquid-metal-flow divertor systems of nuclear fusion devices

Abstract Divertor systems of fusion devices are exposed to intense heat loads from plasmas, which degrade solid plasma-facing components. Fast liquid metal (LM) flow divertors may be more advantageous for this purpose but have risk of piling due to intense magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) drag. However, severe deceleration of the flow could be countered with the injection of currents that are transverse to external magnetic fields, allowing to thrust the flow with j × B (Lorentz) forces. Given that the injection of currents as an approach to propel LM-divertor flows has remained experimentally understudied, this article focuses on the evaluation of j × B -thrust and finding its drawbacks. j × B -thrust was experimentally tested with free-surface-LM flows, a vertical magnetic field and an externally applied current. Experiments were reviewed with a theoretical model, showing agreement in the trends of theory and experiments. Full 3D-MHD-free-surface-flow simulations were also performed with FreeMHD and confirmed the sensitivity to unstable flow behavior in LM systems when applying external currents. Furthermore, excessive power requirements are expected for the implementation of j × B -thrust at the reactor scale, making these systems inefficient for commercial devices. This paper evidences that the simple operation of a LM-flow divertor with j × B -thrust, without any of the instabilities caused from reactor plasmas or parasitic currents, already presents intrinsic challenges.

Magnetohydrodynamics↗

Comparison of metal oxide absorbents for regenerative carbon dioxide and water vapor removal for advanced portable life support systems

Metal-oxide absorbents (MOAs) have a demonstrated capability for removal of both metabolic CO2 and H2O from breathing atmospheres, simplifying portable life support system (PLSS) design and affording reversible operation for regeneration. Attention is presently given to the comparative performance levels obtained by silver-oxide-based and silver/zinc-oxide-based systems, which also proved to be longer-lasting than the silver oxide-absorber system. The silver/zinc system is found to substantially simplify the ventilation loop of a prospective Space Station Freedom PLSS.

Stonesifer, Greg T.↗

Lithium metal synthesis

System and methods for producing lithium metal from an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell with a lithium permeable membrane therebetween.

Hryn, John N.↗

Experimental determination of systems suitable for study as monotectic binary metallic alloy solidification models

Transparent binary metallic alloy solidification models are important in attempts to understand the processes causing liquid-liquid and solid-liquid phase transformations in metallic alloy systems. These models permit visual observation of the phase transformation and the processes proceding solidification. The number of these transparent monotectic binary models needs to be expanded to distinguish between the unique and general phenomena observed. The expansion of the number of accurately determined monotectic phase diagrams of model systems, and contribution to a data base for eventual use with UNIFAC group contribution methods is examined.

Smith, J. E., Jr.↗