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At least 1,351 records · Page 75

Energy and emissions saving potential of additive manufacturing: the case of lightweight aircraft components

Additive manufacturing (AM) holds great potential for improving materials efficiency, reducing life-cycle impacts, and enabling greater engineering functionality compared to conventional manufacturing (CM), and AM has been increasingly adopted by aircraft component manufacturers for lightweight, cost-effective designs. This study estimates the net changes in life-cycle primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with AM technologies for lightweight metallic aircraft components through the year 2050, to shed light on the environmental benefits of a shift from CM to AM processes in the U.S. aircraft industry. A systems modeling framework is presented, with integrates engineering criteria, life-cycle environmental data, aircraft fleet stock and fuel use models under different AM adoption scenarios. Estimated fleet-wide life-cycle primary energy savings at most reach 70-173 million GJ/year in 2050, with cumulative savings of 1.2–2.8 billion GJ. Associated cumulative GHG emission reductions were estimated at 92.1–215.0 million metric tons. In addition, thousands of tons of aluminum, titanium and nickel alloys could be potentially saved per year in 2050. The results indicate a significant role of AM technologies in helping society meet its long-term energy use and GHG emissions reduction goals, and highlight barriers and opportunities for AM adoption for the aircraft industry.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Unconditionally energy stable time stepping scheme for Cahn–Morral equation: Application to multi-component spinodal decomposition and optimal space tiling

An unconditionally energy stable time stepping scheme is introduced to solve Cahn–Morral-like equations in the present study. It is constructed based on the combination of David Eyre's time stepping scheme and Schur complement approach. Although the presented method is general and independent of the choice of homogeneous free energy density function term, logarithmic and polynomial energy functions are specifically considered in this paper. The method is applied to study the spinodal decomposition in multi-component systems and optimal space tiling problems. A penalization strategy is developed, in the case of later problem, to avoid trivial solutions. Extensive numerical experiments demonstrate the success and performance of the presented method. According to the numerical results, the method is convergent and energy stable, independent of the choice of time stepsize. Its MATLAB implementation is included in the appendix for the numerical evaluation of algorithm and reproduction of the presented results. -- Highlights: •Extension of Eyre's convex–concave splitting scheme to multiphase systems. •Efficient solution of spinodal decomposition in multi-component systems. •Efficient solution of least perimeter periodic space partitioning problem. •Developing a penalization strategy to avoid trivial solutions. •Presentation of MATLAB implementation of the introduced algorithm.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

A potential emerging issue concerning repair welding of out-of-core PWR components involving tritium exposure and 3 He retention

This paper identifies a potential but previously unrecognized risk of helium-induced embrittlement and cracking during repair welding of out-of-core pressurized water reactor (PWR) components exposed to tritium-contaminated coolant. While previous weldability concerns centered on 4 He accumulation in neutron-irradiated alloys located within the in-core or near-core regions, new measurements show that 3 He generated by tritium decay can accumulate in out-of-core components. Because hydrogen isotopes readily diffuse to grain boundaries and become trapped there, significant 3 He generation at grain boundaries may lead to cracking during weld repairs. Initial data from far-below-core PWR flux thimble tubes confirm the presence of 3 He levels above known cracking thresholds for repair welds. In conclusion, these findings indicate that out-of-core regions should be considered when defining safe weld repair windows in reactors operating for 60–100 years.

Extended PWR lifetimes↗

Connecting the irreversible capacity loss in Li-ion batteries with the electronic insulating properties of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) components.

The formation and continuous growth of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer are responsible for the irreversible capacity loss of batteries in the initial and subsequent cycles, respectively. In this article, the electron tunneling barriers from Li metal through three insulating SEI components, namely Li 2 CO 3 , LiF and Li 3 PO 4 , are computed by density function theory (DFT) approaches. Based on electron tunneling theory, it is estimated that sufficient to block electron tunneling. It is also found that the band gap decreases under tension while the work function remains the same, and thus the tunneling barrier decreases under tension and increases under compression. A new parameter, η, characterizing the average distances between anions, is proposed to unify the variation of band gap with strain under different loading conditions into a single linear function of η. An analytical model based on the tunneling results is developed to connect the irreversible capacity loss, due to the Li ions consumed in forming these SEI component layers on the surface of negative electrodes. As a result, the agreement between the model predictions and experimental results suggests that only the initial irreversible capacity loss is due to the self-limiting electron tunneling property of the SEI.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Evaluating the roles of electrolyte components on the passivation of silicon anodes

A protocol was recently developed to compare calendar life using a constant potential while monitoring the electrical current required to maintain the potential. Here, this calendar life protocol is used with electrolyte formulations containing various mole fractions of ethylene carbonate (EC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and LiPF 6 to elucidate the role each component plays in passivation for high silicon anodes. Together, EC and LiPF 6 lead to higher currents, and thus poorer passivation, whereas EMC acts as a spectator. The variation of the components' mole fraction also changes the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition, as measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Importantly, higher LiPF 6 content leads to increased LiF as well as increased current, indicating that higher LiF content does not enhance the passivation of the silicon surface. Finding that EC did not yield a passivating SEI, instead ethylene sulfite, sulfolane, and propylene carbonate (PC) were used in place of EC. Using ethylene sulfite and sulfolane resulted in poorer passivation compared to EC, whereas PC resulted in superior passivation. As a result, the superior passivation may be related to more stable lithium-solvent complexes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

The evolution with strain of the stored energy in different texture components of cold-rolled IF steel revealed by high resolution X-ray diffraction

During the deformation of low carbon steel by cold-rolling, dislocations are created and stored in grains depending on local crystallographic orientation, deformation, and deformation gradient. Orientation dependent dislocation densities have been estimated from the broadening of X-ray diffraction lines measured on a synchrotron beamline. Different cold-rolling levels (from 30% to 95% thickness reduction) have been considered. It is shown that the present measurements are consistent with the hypothesis of the sole consideration of screw dislocations for the analysis of the data. The presented evolutions show that the dislocation density first increases within the α fiber (=(hkl)<110>) and then within the γ fiber (=(111) ). A comparison with EBSD measurements is done and confirms that the storage of dislocations during the deformation process is orientation dependent and that this dependence is correlated to the cold-rolling level. If we assume that this dislocation density acts as a driving force during recrystallization, these observations can explain the fact that the recrystallization mechanisms are generally different after moderate or large strains. - Highlights: • Dislocation densities are assessed by XRD in main texture components of a steel sheet. • Dislocation densities vary with both strain and texture components. • The analysis relies on the sole presence of screw dislocations. • The measured dislocation densities include the contribution of both SSD and GND.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Coupled experimental and computational study of residual stresses in additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V components

The production of metallic parts via laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing is rapidly growing. To use components produced via L-PBF in safety-critical applications, a high degree of confidence is required in their quality. This qualification can be supported by means of a validated thermomechanical model capable of predicting the final residual stress state and subsequent performance. In this study, we use high-energy X-ray diffraction to determine a three-dimensional residual strain and stress state in a Ti-6Al-4V L-PBF component. The experimental results are used to provide validation of simulations, showing strong quantitative agreement.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On the evolution of microstructure and defect control in 316L SS components fabricated via directed energy deposition

To identify the critical issues that affect the evolution of microstructure during additive manufacturing, we investigated the influence of process parameters on the evolution of the dimensional and surface quality, microstructure, internal defects, and mechanical properties in 316L stainless steel (SS) components fabricated using laser engineered net shaping (LENS®), a directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing (AM) technique. The results show that the accumulation of un-melted powder particles on the side walls of deposited sections can be avoided by selecting a laser under-focused condition. Moreover, we report that the variation of melt pool width is more sensitive to laser power than to the depth of the melt pool. The formation of a so-called “hierarchical” microstructure with cellular morphology is attributable to a combination of layer deposition and rapid solidification, which are characteristics of AM. Finally, we discuss microstructure evolution and defect formation, particularly the formation of multiple interfaces and the presence of un-melted powder particles and pores, in light of the dynamic convective fluid flow and rapid solidification that occur in the melt pool. X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) was used to precisely map the spatial distribution of pores in the DED components. The evolution of microstructure during DED is discussed in the context of related thermal phenomena in an effort to provide fundamental insight into the mechanisms that govern defect formation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Integrated modeling of boron powder injection for real-time plasma-facing component conditioning

An integrated modeling framework for investigating the application of solid boron (B) powder injection for real-time surface conditioning of plasma-facing components (PFCs) in tokamak environments is presented. Utilizing the DIII-D impurity powder dropper (IPD) setup, this study simulates B powder injection scenarios ranging from milligrams to tens of milligrams per second, corresponding to boron flux rates of 10 20 –10 21 B/s in standard L-mode conditions. The comprehensive modeling approach combines EMC3-EIRENE for simulating the deuterium plasma background and the Dust Injection Simulator (DIS) for the ablation and transport of the boron powder particles. EMC3 trace impurity fluid modeling results show substantial boron transport to the inboard lower divertor, predominantly influenced by the main ion plasma flow. The dependency on powder particle size (5-250 µm) was found to be insignificant for the scenario considered. The effects of erosion and redeposition were considered to reconcile the discrepancies with experimental observations, which saw substantial deposition on the outer divertor plasma-facing components. For this purpose, the WallDYN3D code was updated to include boron sources within the plasma domain and integrated into the modeling framework. The mixed-material migration modeling shows evolving boron deposition patterns, suggesting the formation of mixed B-C layers or predominantly B coverage depending on the powder mass flow rate. While the modeling outcomes at lower B injection rates tend to align with DIII-D experimental observations, the prediction of near-pure boron layers at higher rates has yet to be experimentally verified in the carbon environment of the DIII-D tokamak. The extensive reach of boron layers found in the modeling suggests the need for modeling that encompasses the entire wall geometry for more accurate experimental correlations. This integrated approach sets a precedent for analyzing and applying real-time in-situ boron coating techniques in advanced tokamak scenarios, potentially extendable to ITER.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Integrating fiber optic sensors into metallic components for sensing in harsh environments

The integration of fiber optic sensors into high-temperature materials is critical for real-time monitoring and autonomous operation of engineering systems. This study demonstrated a spark plasma sintering (SPS)-assisted embedding process for integrating sapphire fiber optic sensors into stainless steel components during part fabrication. Optical fibers were encapsulated in stainless steel 316L powders which were sintered at different fabrication conditions using SPS to investigate the effects of sintering parameters on the embedment. Measurements of optical transmittance, combined with microstructural analysis (X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy) and mechanical testing (tensile and microhardness), were conducted to examine the fiber functionality, fiber–matrix bonding quality, and properties of the sintered materials. Here, the results show that under suitable fabrication conditions, intact optical fibers can be encapsulated in highly-densified (>98 % relative density) stainless steel components. These conditions also led to a good bond at the fiber–matrix interface with micron-sized material interdiffusion across the interface. The sintering parameters were observed to affect fiber optical attenuation, where high temperature, pressure, and hold time during SPS enhanced fiber–matrix bonding and adversely affected optical transmission. Tensile testing confirmed the superior tensile strength and ductility of the matrix fabricated by SPS. Furthermore, the materials exhibited limited strength reduction (~70 MPa) upon the integration of fibers. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of SPS for fiber-material integration for high-temperature applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ignition Delay Measurements of Four Component Model Gasolines Exploring the Impacts of Biofuels and Aromatics

This study explores the impacts of combinations of biofuel (ethanol, isobutanol and 2-methyl furan) and aromatic (toluene) compounds in a four component fuel blend, at fixed research octane number (RON) on ignition delay measured in an advanced fuel ignition delay analyzer (AFIDA 2805). Ignition delay measurements were performed over a range of temperatures from 400 to 725 °C (673 to 998 K) and two chamber pressures of 10 and 20 bar. The four component mixtures are compared to primary reference fuels at RON values of 90 and 100. The ignition delay measurements show that as the aromatic and biofuel concentrations increased, two stage ignition behavior was suppressed, at both initial chamber pressures. But both RON 100 (isooctane) and RON 90 reference fuels showed two stage ignition behavior, as did fuel mixtures with low biofuel and aromatic content. RON 90 fuels showed stronger two stage ignition behavior than RON 100 fuels, as expected. Depending on the type of biofuel in the mixture, the ignition delay at low chamber temperatures could be far greater than for the reference fuels. In particular, for the RON 100 mixtures at either 10 or 20 bar initial chamber pressure, the ignition delay at 400 °C (673 K) for the high level blend of 2-methyl furan and toluene (30 vol% of each) exhibited an ignition delay that was 10 times longer than for neat isooctane. The results show the strong non-linear octane blending response of these three biofuel compounds, especially in concert with the kinetic antagonism that toluene is known to display in mixtures with isooctane. These results have implications for the formulation of biofuel mixtures for spark ignition and advanced compression ignition engines, where this non-linear octane blending response could be exploited to improve knock resistance, or modulate the autoignition process.

2-methyl furan↗

Characterization of brominated flame retardants from e-waste components in China

Highlights: • BFRs in housing plastics and PCBs from e-waste recycling enterprises in China were systematically examined. • Both PBDEs and TBBPA were detectable in most samples. • There is an apparent decreasing trend of BFRs from housing plastics and PCBs in China. • BFRs could be transferred into the recycled products those for other purpose use. - Abstract: Many studies show that high levels of many toxic metals and persistent and bio-accumulative chemicals have been found in electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling sites and their surrounding environmental media. Both flame-retardant plastic housing materials and printed circuit boards (PCBs) could be the major contributors. However, relatively little work has focused on the use or content of toxic substances and their changing in scrap housing materials and PCBs from home appliances. This study evaluated the existence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA)) in housing plastics and PCBs from home appliances collected from various e-waste recyclers in China. These were then analyzed for the potential migration of BFRs from the e-waste components into their recycled products. The results show that both PBDEs and TBBPA were found with high level in most of e-waste samples, indicating that the widespread use of BFRs in home appliances are entering into the end-of-life stage. For the plastics samples, CRT TVs and LCD monitors should be given priority for the control of BFRs. Regarding PBDEs, the dominant congeners of BDE-209 in the plastics samples contributed 90.72–93.54% to the total concentrations of PBDEs, yet there are large variations for PCBs samples: BDE-28, -47, -99, and -153 were also important congeners compositions, except for BDE-209. Compared with previous studies, the BFRs concentrations in current Chinese e-waste are trending to decline. This study also found that BFRs in housing plastics and PCBs will be transferred into the recycled products with other purpose use, and the new products could have highly enriched capacities for BFRs. The obtained results could be helpful to manage e-waste and their components properly in order to minimize associated environmental and health risks of BFRs, particularly for their further reuse.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Direct numerical simulations of three-component Rayleigh–Taylor mixing and an improved model for multicomponent reacting mixtures

We present direct numerical simulations of a three-layer Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) problem with a configuration based on the experiments of Suchandra & Ranjan ( J. Fluid Mech. , vol. 974, 2023, A35) and Jacobs & Dalziel ( J. Fluid Mech. , vol. 542, 2005, pp. 251–279). The problem consists of a layer of light fluid between two layers of heavy fluid with an Atwood number of 0.3. These simulations are first validated through comparison with available experimental data. The validated simulations are then utilized to analyse statistics in this three-component flow. First, length scales are examined utilizing spectra and two-point spatial correlations of velocity and species concentration fluctuations. Next, joint probability density functions (p.d.f.s) of species concentration are compared against several model p.d.f.s representing generalizations of the bivariate beta distribution. Notably, the joint p.d.f.s do not appear to be accurately described by a Dirichlet distribution, indicating the marginal distributions do not conform to a beta distribution. Finally, similarity of the present configuration to three-component mixing found in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) applications is exploited to develop and validate an improved model for the impact of multicomponent mixing on thermonuclear (TN) reaction rates. A single time instant from the present simulations is chosen for a TN burn calculation under the hypothetical assumption of ICF materials and temperatures. Total TN output from this second calculation is then compared against the prediction of the improved model. The new model is found to accurately predict TN reaction rates in both premixed and non-premixed configurations.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Excited-State Dynamics and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Hyperpolarizable Chromophores Based on Conjugated Bis(terpyridyl)Ru(II) and Palladium and Platinum Porphyrinic Components: Impact of Heavy Metals upon Supermolecular Electro-Optic Properties

A new series of strongly coupled oscillators based upon (porphinato)Pd, (porphinato)Pt, and bis(terpyridyl)-ruthenium(II) building blocks is described. These RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu chromophores feature bis- (terpyridyl)Ru(II) moieties connected to the (porphinato)metal unit via an ethyne linker that bridges the 4!-terpyridyl and porphyrin macrocycle meso-carbon positions. Pump–probe transient optical data demonstrate sub-picosecond excited singlet-to-triplet-state relaxation. The relaxed lowest-energy triplet (T 1 ) excited states of these chromophores feature absorption manifolds that span the 800–1200 nm spectral region, microsecond triplet-state lifetimes, and large absorptive extinction coefficients [ε(T 1 → T n ) > 4 × 10 4 M –1 cm –1 ]. Dynamic hyperpolarizability (β λ ) values were determined from hyper-Rayleigh light scattering (HRS) measurements carried out at several incident irradiation wavelengths over the 800–1500 nm spectral region. Relative to benchmark RuPZn and RuPZnRu chromophores which showed large βHRS values over the 1200–1600 nm range, RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu displayed large βHRS values over the 850–1200 nm region. Generalized Thomas–Kuhn sum (TKS) rules and experimental hyperpolarizability values were utilized to determine excited state-to-excited state transition dipole terms from experimental electronic absorption data and thus assessed frequency-dependent β λ values, including two- and three-level contributions for both β zzz and β xzx tensor components to the RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu hyperpolarizability spectra. Furthermore, these analyses qualitatively rationalize how the βzzz and βxzx tensor elements influence the observed irradiation wavelength-dependent hyperpolarizability magnitudes. The TKS analysis suggests that supermolecules related to RuPPd, RuPPt, RuPPdRu, and RuPPtRu will likely feature intricate dependences of experimentally determined βHRS values as a function of irradiation wavelength that derive from substantial singlet–triplet mixing, and complex interactions among multiple different β tensor components that modulate the long wavelength regime of the nonlinear optical response.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Two-Component Multireference Restricted Active Space Configuration Interaction for the Computation of L-Edge X-ray Absorption Spectra

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a powerful probe of local electronic and nuclear structure, providing insights into chemical processes. The theoretical prediction and interpretation of metal L-edge X-ray absorption spectra is complicated by both relativistic effects, including spin-orbit coupling, and by the multiconfigurational nature of the states involved. This work details an exact two-component multireference restricted active space configuration interaction (X2C-MRRASCI) scheme that uses an exact two-component state average complete active space self-consistent-field method (X2C-SA-CASSCF), which includes the spin-orbit coupling in a variational manner, for the accurate description of the electronic structure before using a restricted active space configuration interaction method to describe the core excited states of the X-ray spectrum. Benchmark calculations are presented for a series of iron containing complexes, with results showing key features of the spectrum being reproduced, including ligand to metal charge transfer and shake-up excitations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Cholesky Decomposition-Based Implementation of Relativistic Two-Component Coupled-Cluster Methods for Medium-Sized Molecules

A Cholesky decomposition (CD)-based implementation of relativistic two-component coupled-cluster (CC) and equation-of-motion CC (EOM-CC) methods using an exact two-component Hamiltonian augmented with atomic-mean-field integrals (the X2CAMF scheme) is reported. Furthermore, the present CD-based implementation of X2CAMF-CC and EOM-CC methods employs atomic-orbital-based algorithms to avoid the construction of two-electron integrals and intermediates involving three and four virtual indices. The CD-based implementation extends the applicability of X2CAMF-CC and EOMCC methods to medium-sized molecules with the correlation of around 1000 spinors. Benchmark calculations for uranium-containing small molecules have been performed to assess the dependence of CC results with respect to the Cholesky threshold. A Cholesky threshold of 10 –4 is shown to maintain chemical accuracy. Example calculations to illustrate the capability of the CD-based relativistic CC methods are reported for the bond dissociation energy of the uranium hexafluoride molecule, UF 6 , with up to quadruple-zeta basis sets and the lowest excitation energy in solvated uranyl ion [UO 2 2+ (H 2 O) 12 ].

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

SAP-X2C: Optimally-Simple Two-Component Relativistic Hamiltonian with Size-Intensive Picture Change

We present a simple relativistic exact 2-component (X2C) Hamiltonian that models two-electron picture-change effects using Lehtola’s superposition of atomic potentials (SAP) [S. Lehtola, J. Chem. Theory Comput. 15, 1593−1604 (2019)]. The SAP-X2C approach retains the low cost and technical simplicity of the popular 1-electron X2C (1eX2C) predecessor but is significantly more accurate and has a well-defined thermodynamic limit, making it applicable to extended systems (such as large molecules and periodic crystals). The assessment of the SAP-X2C-based Hartree−Fock total and spinor energies, spin−orbit splittings, equilibrium bond distances, and harmonic vibrational frequencies suggests that SAP-X2C is similar to the more complex atomic meanfield (AMF) X2C counterparts in its ability to approximate the 4-component Dirac−Hartree−Fock reference.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Spin–Orbit Coupling via Four-Component Multireference Methods: Benchmarking on p-Block Elements and Tentative Recommendations

Within current electronic structure theory methods, fully relativistic four-component (4c) approaches based on the Dirac Hamiltonian treat spin–orbit coupling with the most rigor. The spin treatment arises naturally from the formulation and does not need to be included ad hoc. Spin–orbit splittings can provide insightful benchmark criteria for the assessment of 4c methods; however, there have not been extensive studies in this respect. Spin–orbit splittings of the p-block elements B–I were computed using the 4c-CASSCF, 4c-CASPT2, and 4c-MR-CISD+Q methods, as recently implemented in BAGEL, with uncontracted Dunning basis sets. Comparison with experiment reveals that the four-component methods yield good results, with most of the computed splittings falling within 15% of the experimental values. A large basis set is needed to obtain accurate splittings of the light elements B–F, while splittings of heavier elements show little basis dependence. The 4c-MR-CISD+Q method gave the best splittings for light elements, while 4c-CASSCF showed the best splittings for elements beyond fluorine. In conclusion, the 4c-CASPT2 method gave the best splittings for group 13 atoms.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗