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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 73 records · Page 4

THERMAL/STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE AXION QUANTUM METROLOGY CAVITY AND ITS COMPONENTS

This research was centered around maximizing the capability to cool dielectric material within a containment unit, or Photonic Band Gap (PBG) cavity, designed for detecting axion dark matter and identifying the unit’s thermal properties. There are multiple types of PBG cavities, but the latest version that axion researchers wish to use has been theorized to contain possible issues related to its thermal properties. Thermal conductivity is an issue with the dielectric material because it is made from alumina which is highly insulative. This is important since the research is being done in a cryogenic environment and the thermal noise affects the quantum bit used for detecting the axion to photon conversion process. Therefore, any improvements to this unit should be justified and implemented but are not entirely limited to thermal contact related aspects of PBG cavities. A prospect of using sapphire in place of alumina also exists, but this is a more expensive, less tested, and more elusive material to justify the creation of a full dielectric structure out of sapphire. Thermal aspects of the cavity were analyzed using finite element method (FEM) and an experiment designed to test different thermal joint materials. FEM was used to check the contraction of the cavity during cooling, the contact quality between the dielectric material and cavity wall, theheat flow rate through the assembly, and helps visualize the cavity’s reaction to different design changes. A simple comparison between thermal conductivity curves justified the usage of sapphire over alumina from a thermal property point of view. Thus, the method of experimentation had an additional dielectric material, sapphire, to test with and compare to alumina. The thermal test identified which material is best to use for a thermal joint but also simultaneously found the conductance of the joint and dielectric material as well as an estimate for what the temperature is inside the larger scale cavity since a thermometer cannot be placed inside the PBG when it cools. Initially, the cavity simulation was tested for structural deformation properties and stress distribution since it is made of copper which contracts heavily in comparison to most other materials. The reduction in volume of the cavity was less than anticipated which gave more room for a possible usage of a modified thermal joint for additional contact area and higher conductivity.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Benchmarking materials property prediction methods: the Matbench test set and Automatminer reference algorithm

Abstract We present a benchmark test suite and an automated machine learning procedure for evaluating supervised machine learning (ML) models for predicting properties of inorganic bulk materials. The test suite, Matbench, is a set of 13 ML tasks that range in size from 312 to 132k samples and contain data from 10 density functional theory-derived and experimental sources. Tasks include predicting optical, thermal, electronic, thermodynamic, tensile, and elastic properties given a material’s composition and/or crystal structure. The reference algorithm, Automatminer, is a highly-extensible, fully automated ML pipeline for predicting materials properties from materials primitives (such as composition and crystal structure) without user intervention or hyperparameter tuning. We test Automatminer on the Matbench test suite and compare its predictive power with state-of-the-art crystal graph neural networks and a traditional descriptor-based Random Forest model. We find Automatminer achieves the best performance on 8 of 13 tasks in the benchmark. We also show our test suite is capable of exposing predictive advantages of each algorithm—namely, that crystal graph methods appear to outperform traditional machine learning methods given ~10 4 or greater data points. We encourage evaluating materials ML algorithms on the Matbench benchmark and comparing them against the latest version of Automatminer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development of Design Analysis Methods for C/SiC Composite Structures

The stress-strain behavior at room temperature and at 1100 C (2000 F) was measured for two carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composite materials: a two-dimensional plain-weave quasi-isotropic laminate and a three-dimensional angle-interlock woven composite. Micromechanics-based material models were developed for predicting the response properties of these two materials. The micromechanics based material models were calibrated by correlating the predicted material property values with the measured values. Four-point beam bending sub-element specimens were fabricated with these two fiber architectures and four-point bending tests were performed at room temperature and at 1100 C. Displacements and strains were measured at various locations along the beam and recorded as a function of load magnitude. The calibrated material models were used in concert with a nonlinear finite element solution to simulate the structural response of these two materials in the four-point beam bending tests. The structural response predicted by the nonlinear analysis method compares favorably with the measured response for both materials and for both test temperatures. Results show that the material models scale up fairly well from coupon to subcomponent level.

Sullivan, Roy M.↗

Thermal mechanical analysis of sprag clutches

Work done at Case Western Reserve University on the Thermal Mechanical analysis of sprag helicopter clutches is reported. The report is presented in two parts. The first part is a description of a test rig for the measurement of the heat generated by high speed sprag clutch assemblies during cyclic torsional loading. The second part describes a finite element modeling procedure for sliding contact. The test rig provides a cyclic torsional load of 756 inch-pounds at 5000 rpm using a four-square arrangement. The sprag clutch test unit was placed between the high speed pinions of the circulating power loop. The test unit was designed to have replaceable inner ad outer races, which contain the instrumentation to monitor the sprag clutch. The torque loading device was chosen to be a water cooled magnetic clutch, which is controlled either manually or through a computer. In the second part, a Generalized Eulerian-Lagrangian formulation for non-linear dynamic problems is developed for solid materials. This formulation is derived from the basic laws and axioms of continuum mechanics. The novel aspect of this method is that we are able to investigate the physics in the spatial region of interest as material flows through it without having to follow material points. A finite element approximation to the governing equations is developed. Iterative Methods for the solution of the discrete finite element equations are explored. A FORTRAN program to implement this formulation is developed and a number of solutions to problems of sliding contact are presented.

Mullen, Robert L.↗

Thermophysical properties of simple liquid metals: A brief review of theory

In this paper, we review the current theory of the thermophysical properties of simple liquid metals. The emphasis is on thermodynamic properties, but we also briefly discuss the nonequilibrium properties of liquid metals. We begin by defining a 'simple liquid metal' as one in which the valence electrons interact only weakly with the ionic cores, so that the interaction can be treated by perturbation theory. We then write down the equilibrium Hamiltonian of a liquid metal as a sum of five terms: the bare ion-ion interaction, the electron-electron interaction, the bare electron-ion interaction, and the kinetic energies of electrons and ions. Since the electron-ion interaction can be treated by perturbation, the electronic part contributes in two ways to the Helmholtz free energy: it gives a density-dependent term which is independent of the arrangement of ions, and it acts to screen the ion-ion interaction, giving rise to effective ion-ion pair potentials which are density-dependent, in general. After sketching the form of a typical pair potential, we briefly enumerate some methods for calculating the ionic distribution function and hence the Helmholtz free energy of the liquid: monte Carlo simulations, molecular dynamics simulations, and thermodynamic perturbation theory. The final result is a general expression for the Helmholtz free energy of the liquid metal. It can be used to calculate a wide range of thermodynamic properties of simple metal liquids, which we enumerate. They include not only a range of thermodynamic coefficients of both metals and alloys, but also many aspects of the phase diagram, including freezing curves of pure elements and phase diagrams of liquid alloys (including liquidus and solidus curves). We briefly mention some key discoveries resulting from previous applications of this method, and point out that the same methods work for other materials not normally considered to be liquid metals (such as colloidal suspensions, in which the suspended microspheres behave like ions screened by the salt solution in which they are suspended). We conclude with a brief discussion of some non-equilibrium (i.e., transport) properties which can be treated by an extension of these methods. These include electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, viscosity, atomic self-diffusion coefficients, concentration diffusion coefficients in alloys, surface tension and thermal emissivity. Finally, we briefly mention two methods by which the theory might be extended to non-simple liquid metals: these are empirical techniques (i.e., empirical two- and three-body potentials), and numerical many-body approaches. Both may be potentially applicable to extremely complex systems, such as nonstoichiometric liquid semiconductor alloys.

Stroud, David↗

The control of stoichiometry in Epitaxial semiconductor structures. Interfacial Chemistry: Property relations. A workshop review

A workshop on the control of stoichiometry in epitaxial semiconductor structures was held on August 21-26, 1995 in the hotel Stutenhaus at Vesser in Germany. The secluded location of the workshop in the forest of Thuringia and its informal style stimulated extensive private discussions among the participants and promoted new contacts between young scientists from Eastern and Western Europe and the USA. Topics addressed by the presentations were interactions of precursors to heteroepitaxy and doping with the substrate surface, the control of interfacial properties under the conditions of heteroepitaxy for selected materials systems, methods of characterization of interfaces and native point defects in semiconductor heterostructures and an in depth evaluation of the present status of the control and characterization of the point defect chemistry for one specific semiconductor (ZnGeP2), including studies of both heterostructures and bulk single crystals. The selected examples of presentations and comments given here represent individual choices - made by the author to highlight major points of the discussions.

Bachmann, Klaus J.↗

A comparison of finite-difference and finite-element methods for calculating free edge stresses in composites

It is pointed out that edge delamination is a serious failure mechanism for laminated composite materials. Various numerical methods have been utilized in attempts to calculate the interlaminar stress components which precede delamination in a laminate. There are, however, discrepancies regarding the results provided by different methods, taking into account a finite-difference procedure, a perturbation procedure, and finite element approaches. The present investigation has the objective to assess the capacity of a finite difference method to predict the character and magnitude of the interlaminar stress distributions near an interface corner. A second purpose of the investigation is to determine if predictions by finite element method in-plane, interlaminar stress components near an interface corner represent actual laminate behavior.

Bauld, N. R., Jr.↗

Additive manufactured interpenetrating phase composite

A method for preparing metal/metal interpenetrating phase composites is provided. The method includes forming a preform using additive manufacturing. The preform defines a materially continuous three-dimensional open-cell mesh structure. The preform includes a first metal having a melting point. The method further includes pre-heating the preform to a first temperature less than the melting point of the first metal. The method includes infiltrating the preform with a second metal in liquid form. The second metal has a melting point lower than the melting point of the first metal. The method also includes allowing the second metal to cool and form a solid matrix. The solid matrix defines a continuous material network.

Pawlowski, Alex E.↗

Preparation of Thermoelectric Materials From Melts

A review of melt preparation techniques is presented covering necessary phase relationships, synthesis/alloying and crystal growth of thermoelectric materials. The processes described require the knowledge of composition-temperature or composition- temperature-pressure phase diagrams. This knowledge enables the selection of the appropriate method of preparation, apparatus design and processing. The materials, from a technological point of view, will be roughly divided into three categories: low temperature materials (group V chalcogenides based on Bi2Te3), middle temperature materials (group IV chalcogenides based on PbTe) and high temperature materials (Si-Ge solid solutions). All known methods of preparation from melts are described, and a comparative analysis is given. (complete abstract)

thermoelectrics↗

GCR: Class B Code Case

This PowerPoint presentation is for Joint ART Materials/AMMT Program Review, Germantown, MD, on June-5-8, 2023. It will discuss development to revamp the ASME Section III Division 5 Class B design rules. There will be a plan in the FY24 to assess extrapolation methods for other Class A materials, alternative strain range evaluations for fatigue damage, evaluation of Class B intersection point in D-diagram relative to material-specific Class A intersection points, and evaluation of new Class B rules against Class A rules based on Elastic-Perfectly Plastic (EPP) methodology and full inelastic analysis method, using sample problems.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Containerless high temperature property measurements by atomic fluorescence

Containerless high temperature processing and material property measurements are discussed. Researchers developed methods for non-contact suspension, heating, and property measurement for materials at temperatures up to 3,680K, the melting point of tungsten. New, scientifically interesting results were obtained in Earth-based research. These results and the demonstration of new methods and techniques form a basis for further advances under the low gravity environment of space where containerless conditions are more easily achieved. Containerless high temperature material property investigations that have been completed in this and our earlier projects include measurements of fluorine LaB sub 6 reaction kinetics at 1,000 to 1,500K; optical property measurements on sapphire (Al2O3) at temperatures up to the melting point (2,327K); and vapor pressure measurements for LaB sub 6 at 2,000 to 2,500K, for molybdenum up to 2,890K and for tungsten up to 3,680K. Gas jet levitation which is applicable to any solid material, and electromagnetic levitation of electrical conductors were used to suspend the materials of interest. Non-contact heating and property measurements were achieved by optical techniques, i.e., laser heating, laser induced fluorescence measurements of vapor concentrations, and optical pyrometry for specimen temperatures.

Nordine, Paul C.↗

A computer-controlled apparatus for Seebeck inhomogeneity testing of sheathed thermocouples

Mineral-insulated metal-sheathed (MIMS) thermocouple assemblies are used throughout industry and research facilities as a method of temperature measurement where requirements for either harsh environmental conditions exist, or where rigidity of the measurement probe is required. Seebeck inhomogeneity is the abnormal variation of the Seebeck coefficient from point to point in a material. It is not disclosed in conventional calibration. A standardized method of measuring thermoelectric inhomogeneity along the thermocouple probe length is not available. Therefore, calibration for sheathed probes normally does not include testing of probe inhomogeneity. The measurement accuracy would be severely impacted if significant inhomogeneity and a temperature gradient were present in the same region of the probe. A computer-controlled system for determining inhomogeneities was designed, fabricated, and tested. This system provides an accurate method for the identification of the location of inhomogeneity along the length of a sheathed thermocouple and for the quantification of the inhomogeneity. This paper will discuss the apparatus and procedure used to perform these tests and will present data showing tests performed on sheathed thermocouple probes.

Burkett, Cecil G., Jr.↗

Prediction of the acoustic impedance of duct liners

Recent research which contributes to the prediction of the acoustic impedance of duct liners is reviewed. This review includes the linear and nonlinear properties of sheet and bulk type materials and methods for the measurement of these properties. It also includes the effect of grazing flow on the acoustic properties of materials. Methods for predicting the properties of single or multilayered, point reacting or extended reaction, and flat or curved liners are discussed. Based on this review, methods for predicting the properties of the duct liners which are typically used in aircraft engines are recommended. Some areas of needed research are discussed briefly.

Zorumski, W. E.↗

X-Ray Diffraction Wafer Mapping Method for Rhombohedral Super-Hetero-Epitaxy

A new X-ray diffraction (XRD) method is provided to acquire XY mapping of the distribution of single crystals, poly-crystals, and twin defects across an entire wafer of rhombohedral super-hetero-epitaxial semiconductor material. In one embodiment, the method is performed with a point or line X-ray source with an X-ray incidence angle approximating a normal angle close to 90 deg, and in which the beam mask is preferably replaced with a crossed slit. While the wafer moves in the X and Y direction, a narrowly defined X-ray source illuminates the sample and the diffracted X-ray beam is monitored by the detector at a predefined angle. Preferably, the untilted, asymmetric scans are of {440} peaks, for twin defect characterization.

Park, Yoonjoon↗

Saddle point search with dynamic active volume

Sampling potential energy surface (PES) is critical for many problems in materials science, chemistry, physics, and biology and requires highly efficient saddle point searches (SPS). In the study, we introduce the concept of dynamic active volume (DAV) in addition to the active volume in self-evolving atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo (SEAKMC). The DAV method has further reduced the dimensionality of the PES at the elevation stage of a SPS. At the subsequent converging stage, the dynamic boundary in DAV is lifted to allow the system to converge to the right location of a saddle point. Coupled with the dimer method, the DAV method not only significantly reduces the time cost for a given search attempt, but also dramatically increases the probability of finding relevant saddle points for PES sampling. Further, a Python software package within the framework SEAKMC (SEAKMC_py) with the DAV method has been developed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Saddle point sampling using scaled normal coordinates

The sampling of saddle points (SPs) on a potential energy surface (PES) is critical for describing the dynamics and transport properties of materials. In this paper we propose a saddle point search (SPS) method that enables efficient sampling of practically meaningful SPs around a local minimum by converting the PES to the scaled normal coordinates (SNCs), together with the dimer method. We find that the pathway leading to a SP using SNCs is highly efficient and is independent of the system size. This results in the significantly increased SPS efficiency and the enhanced possibility of a complete catalog of the SPs. In addition, we perform SPSs using the SNCs for the diffusion of a vacancy and a dumbbell in body-centered cubic Fe and demonstrate (1) the required number of system force evaluations for a SPS decreases by at least an order of magnitude, (2) the effects of the system size on the number of force evaluations are greatly decreased, and (3) the effects of the number of atoms involved in the SPS on the probability of finding practically meaningful SPs is mostly eliminated. We also discuss the computational cost of introducing the SNCs. It should be highlighted that the SNCs could also be applied to other minimum-mode following methods, demonstrating the general versatility of the proposed method.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evaluation of methods and improvement of predictions for specification properties of petroleum-based and alternative aviation fuels

To support our research and process modeling for liquid fuels, including blends, from petroleum and synthetic sources such as from biomass intermediates, we evaluated composition-based prediction methods and improved predictions for five key specification properties of petroleum-based and alternative aviation fuels, namely distillation temperatures (10 % distilled, t 10 , and final boiling point, t FBP ), density, flash point, net heat of combustion, and freezing point. The types of fuels included were petroleum-based jet fuels, jet-fuel surrogate mixtures, synthetic blending components obtained from different sources, and blends of Jet A with many synthetic blending components. Expanded datasets to update associated parameters allowed significant improvements for one of the prediction methods used in earlier work, namely the Modified Weighted Average method published initially by Shi et al. By considering the importance of lighter compounds for flash points and heavier compounds for freezing points, the revised Modified Weighted Average method was further improved. For liquid density, the revised Modified Weighted Average method gave the best overall results. The revised Modified Weighted Average method, the American Society for Testing and Materials D7215 method, and the D7215 method modified by another group gave comparable results for flash point, while the revised Modified Weighted Average and D3338 methods gave the best results for net heat of combustion. Freezing point was well predicted using the revised Modified Weighted Average method and showed the most significant improvements over current predictions. Distillation temperature t 10 was not well predicted, while t FBP was predicted with a mean absolute error comparable to experimental reproducibility.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗