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At least 145 records · Page 8

Fatigue crack propagation behaviour of unidirectionally solidified gamma/gamma-prime-delta eutectic alloys

Fatigue crack propagation studies were carried out on unidirectionally solidified gamma/gamma-prime-delta (Ni-Nb-Al) alloys over an aluminum content range of 1.5-2.5% by weight. The variation of Al content of as-grown alloys did not significantly affect the crack growth behavior of these eutectic composites. The results indicate that the addition of Al to the eutectic dramatically improved the FCP behavior. The gamma/gamma-prime-delta alloy exhibited crack growth rates for a given stress intensity range that are an order of magnitude lower than those for the gamma-delta alloy. It is suggested that this difference in FCP behavior can be explained on the basis of stacking fault energy considerations. Extensive delaminations at the crack tip were also revealed, which contributed to the superior fatigue response. Delamination was predominantly intergranular in nature.

Bretz, P. E.↗

New Effective Material Couple--Oxide Ceramic and Carbon Nanotube-- Developed for Aerospace Microsystem and Micromachine Technologies

The prime driving force for using microsystem and micromachine technologies in transport vehicles, such as spacecraft, aircraft, and automobiles, is to reduce the weight, power consumption, and volume of components and systems to lower costs and increase affordability and reliability. However, a number of specific issues need to be addressed with respect to using microsystems and micromachines in aerospace applications--such as the lack of understanding of material characteristics; methods for producing and testing the materials in small batches; the limited proven durability and lifetime of current microcomponents, packaging, and interconnections; a cultural change with respect to system designs; and the use of embedded software, which will require new product assurance guidelines. In regards to material characteristics, there are significant adhesion, friction, and wear issues in using microdevices. Because these issues are directly related to surface phenomena, they cannot be scaled down linearly and they become increasingly important as the devices become smaller. When microsystems have contacting surfaces in relative motion, the adhesion and friction affect performance, energy consumption, wear damage, maintenance, lifetime and catastrophic failure, and reliability. Ceramics, for the most part, do not have inherently good friction and wear properties. For example, coefficients of friction in excess of 0.7 have been reported for ceramics and ceramic composite materials. Under Alternate Fuels Foundation Technologies funding, two-phase oxide ceramics developed for superior high-temperature wear resistance in NASA's High Operating Temperature Propulsion Components (HOTPC) project and new two-layered carbon nanotube (CNT) coatings (CNT topcoat/iron bondcoat/quartz substrate) developed in NASA's Revolutionary Aeropropulsion Concepts (RAC) project have been chosen as a materials couple for aerospace applications, including micromachines, in the nanotechnology lubrication task because of their potential for superior friction and wearf properties in air and in an ultrahigh vacuum, spacelike environment. At the NASA Glenn Research Center, two-phase oxide ceramic eutectics, Al2O3/ZrO2(Y2O3), were directionally solidified using the laser-float-zone process, and carbon nanotubes were synthesized within a high-temperature tube furnace at 800 C. Physical vapor deposition was used to coat all quartz substrates with 5-nm-thick iron as catalyst and bondcoat, which formed iron islands resembling droplets and serving as catalyst particles on the quartz. A series of scanning electron micrographs showing multiwalled carbon nanotubes directionally grown as aligned "nanograss" on quartz is presented. Unidirectional sliding friction eperiments were conducted at Glenn with the two-layered CNT coatings in contact with the two-phase Al2O3/ZrO2(Y2O3) eutectics in air and in ultrachigh vacuum. The main criteria for judging the performance of the materials couple for solid lubrication and antistick applications in a space environment were the coefficient of friction and the wear resistance (reciprocal of wear rate), which had to be less than 0.2 and greater than 10(exp 5) N(raised dot)/cubic millimetes, respectively, in ultrahigh vacuum. In air, the coefficient of friction for the CNT coatings in contact with Al2O3/ZrO2 (Y2O3) eutectics was 0.04, one-fourth of that for quartz. In an ultrahigh vacuum, the coefficient of friction for CNT coatings in contact with Al2O3/ZrO2 (Y2O3) was one-third of that for quartz. The two-phase Al2O3/ZrO2 (Y2O3) eutectic coupled with the two-layered CNT coating met the coefficient of friction and wear resistance criteria both in air and in an ultrahigh vacuum, spacelike environment. This material's couple can dramatically improve the stiction (or adhesion), friction, and wear resistance of the contacting surfaces, which are major issues for microdevices and micromachines.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

On the numerical sensitivity of cellular automata grain structure predictions to large thermal gradients and cooling rates

Cellular automata (CA) models of as-solidified grain structure, originally developed and applied to casting, have become a common means of predicting grain structure resulting from Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes. The majority of these models are based on the decentered octahedron approach, which attempts to correct for the effect of grid anisotropy on the prediction of competitive solidification of dendritic grains. However, AM solidification occurs under cooling rates ($\dot{T}$) and thermal gradients (G) that are orders of magnitude larger than those encountered in casting, and no systematic investigation on the effect of the CA model cell size (Δx) and time step (Δt) on AM microstructure predictions has been performed. Here, in this study, such an investigation is first performed via simulation of individual grains of various crystallographic orientations with a fixed, unidirectional G, showing that CA prediction of the steady-state undercooling matched the expected values based on the interfacial response function at small G and deviated from the expected values at large G. Simulation of competitive growth of multiple grains showed a weakening of the predicted texture as G and Δx became large. Simulation of solidification under AM conditions, where G and $\dot{T}$ vary spatially across the melt pools, showed that not only does grain selection weaken and deviate from expectations at large Δx, but grains with crystallographic $\langle$100$\rangle$ aligned with the grid directions are more adversely affected by the temperature field discontinuities than grains with other crystallographic orientations. Despite the fact that the exact grain competition results depended on Δt, the overall texture development was notably less sensitive to Δt than Δx, provided that a reasonable value of Δt is selected based on the ratio of Δx to the maximum local solidification velocity in the simulation domain. Finally, from the directional solidification and AM simulation results, an analysis of computational cost compared to simulation resolution is performed based on an equation derived to quantify the relatively inaccuracy in grain selection based on the model and temperature field inputs. From this analysis, it is concluded that there is a need for algorithmic improvements to improve CA grain competition accuracy for large G processing conditions as sufficiently small Δx to resolve the necessary competition is intractable for many AM processing conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Diffusion analysis for two-phase metal-matrix composite

Diffusion controlled filament matrix interaction in a metal matrix composite, where the filaments and matrix comprise a two phase binary alloy system, was mathematically modeled. The problem of a diffusion controlled, two phase moving interface by means of a one dimensional, variable grid, finite difference technique was analyzed. Concentration dependent diffusion coefficients and equilibrium solubility limits were used, and the change in filament diameter and compositional changes in the matrix were calculated as a function of exposure time at elevated temperatures. With the tungsten nickel (W-Ni) system as a model composite system, unidirectional composites containing from 0.06 to 0.44 initial filament volume fraction were modeled. Compositional changes in the matrix were calculated by superposition of the contributions from neighboring filaments. Alternate methods for determining compositional changes between first and second nearest neighbor filaments were also considered. The results show the relative importance of filament volume fraction, filament diameter, exposure temperature, and exposure time as they affect the rate and extent of filament matrix interaction.

Tenney, D. R.↗

Delamination onset in polymeric composite laminates under thermal and mechanical loads

A fracture mechanics damage methodology to predict edge delamination is described. The methodology accounts for residual thermal stresses, cyclic thermal stresses, and cyclic mechanical stresses. The modeling is based on the classical lamination theory and a sublaminate theory. The prediction methodology determines the strain energy release rate, G, at the edge of a laminate and compares it with the fatigue and fracture toughness of the composite. To verify the methodology, isothermal static tests at 23, 125, and 175 C and tension-tension fatigue tests at 23 and 175 C were conducted on laminates. The material system used was a carbon/bismaleimide, IM7/5260. Two quasi-isotropic layups were used. Also, 24 ply unidirectional double cantilever beam specimens were tested to determine the fatigue and fracture toughness of the composite at different temperatures. Raising the temperature had the effect of increasing the value of G at the edge for these layups and also to lower the fatigue and fracture toughness of the composite. The static stress to edge delamination was not affected by temperature but the number of cycles to edge delamination decreased.

Martin, Roderick H.↗

Wave propagation in fiber composite laminates, part 2

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the wave propagation characteristics, transient strains and residual properties in unidirectional and angle-ply boron/epoxy and graphite/epoxy laminates impacted with silicone rubber projectiles at velocities up to 250 MS-1. The predominant wave is flexural, propagating at different velocities in different directions. In general, measured wave velocities were higher than theoretically predicted values. The amplitude of the in-plane wave is less than ten percent of that of the flexural wave. Peak strains and strain rates in the transverse to the (outer) fiber direction are much higher than those in the direction of the fibers. The dynamics of impact were also studied with high speed photography.

Daniel, I. M.↗

Orientation and length of mammalian skeletal myocytes in response to a unidirectional stretch

Effects of mechanical forces exerted on mammalian skeletal muscle cells during development were studied using an in vitro model to unidirectionally stretch cultured C2C12 cells grown on silastic membrane. Previous models to date have not studied these responses of the mammalian system specifically. The silastic membrane upon which these cells were grown exhibited linear strain behavior over the range of 3.6-14.6% strain, with a Poisson's ratio of approximately 0.5. To mimic murine in utero long bone growth, cell substrates were stretched at an average strain rate of 2.36%/day for 4 days or 1.77%/day for 6 days with an overall membrane strain of 9.5% and 10.6%, respectively. Both control and stretched fibers stained positively for the contractile protein, alpha-actinin, demonstrating muscle fiber development. An effect of stretch on orientation and length of myofibers was observed. At both strain rates, stretched fibers aligned at a smaller angle relative to the direction of stretch and were significantly longer compared to randomly oriented control fibers. There was no effect of duration of stretch on orientation or length, suggesting the cellular responses are independent of strain rate for the range tested. These results demonstrate that, under conditions simulating mammalian long bone growth, cultured myocytes respond to mechanical forces by lengthening and orienting along the direction of stretch.

Non-NASA Center↗

Grain Structure Evolution in Fe-6Si During Directed Energy Deposition

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of additive manufacturing (AM) process variables on the grain structure of Fe-6Si, a soft-magnetic alloy used in electrical machine and grid applications. Samples were fabricated with laser engineered net shaping (LENS) with varying inter-pass timing and numbers of unidirectional passes. Here the results show that the grain structure was affected by both solidification and solid-state grain growth mechanisms. A model of the LENS process suggests that, although shorter inter-pass times encourage greater nucleation of new grains and therefore grain refinement during solidification, these conditions also help maintain high solid-state temperatures that allow for grain boundary motion to keep pace with the build rate. Grains formed under these conditions may span multiple layers, and the high-temperature gradient promotes directional growth. This new understanding of these microstructure evolution mechanisms will aid in using process conditions to control the competition between solidification and solid-state grain growth to create grain structures that may not be possible with conventional processing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evaluation of Selected Solid Lubricating Films

An investigation was conducted to examine the friction and wear properties of bonded molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), magnetron-sputtered MoS2, ion-plated silver, ion-plated lead, magnetron-sputtered diamondlike carbon (MS DLC), and plasma-assisted, chemical-vapor-deposited DLC (PACVD DLC) films in sliding contact with 6-mm-diameter AISI 440C stainless steel balls. Unidirectional ball-on-disk sliding friction experiments were conducted with a load of 5.9 N and a sliding velocity of 0.2 m/s at room temperature in three environments: ultrahigh vacuum (vacuum pressure, 7 x 10(exp -7) Pa), humid air (relative humidity, approx. 20 percent), and dry nitrogen (relative humidity, less than 1 percent). The main criteria for judging the performance of the solid lubricating films were coefficient of friction and wear rate, which had to be less than 0.3 and on the order of 10(exp -6) cubic mm/N(dot)m or less, respectively. The bonded MoS2 and magnetron-sputtered MoS2 films met the criteria in all three environments. The ion-plated lead and silver films met the criteria only in ultrahigh vacuum but failed in humid air and in dry nitrogen. The MS DLC and PACVD DLC films met the requirements in humid air and dry nitrogen but failed in ultrahigh vacuum.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

Permeability Measurements in Carbon-Epoxy Composites

To determine the permeability of the composite feedline, that is proposed to be used in the X-33 Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), three 8 x 8-in. coupons were constructed. Two of the coupons were layed-up with 4 plies of plain weave prepreg [0/90, plus or minus 45, plus or minus 45, 0/90] and the other one layed-up with 4 plies of unidirectional prepreg [0, 90, 90, 0]. The coupons were vacuumed bagged and cured to manufactures specifications. The coupons were then placed in an apparatus to test for permeability. Nitrogen gas was used to permeate through the coupons at a pressure of 5 psig. A manometer was placed on the opposite side of the coupons and was used to measure the height of the fluid with respect to time. From this data the mass flow rate of the gas could be calculated since the area of the manometer and the density of the gas is known. The results of the test are given. The permeability constant was calculated using Darcy's law, which related the pressure drop, flow rate of the permeating gas and resistance to flow through the coupon created. To put the results into prospective the permeability of sand stone and granite is 1E-15 and 1E-20 respectively.

Zdenek, Michael J.↗

Delamination failure in a unidirectional curved composite laminate

Delamination failure in a unidirectional curved composite laminate was investigated. The curved laminate failed unstably by delaminations developing around the curved region of the laminate at different depths through the thickness until virtually all bending stiffness was lost. Delamination was assumed to initiate at the location of the highest radial stress in the curved region. A closed form curved beam elasticity solution and a 2D finite element analysis (FEA) were conducted to determine this location. The variation in the strain energy release rate, G, with delamination growth was then determined using the FEA. A strength-based failure criteria adequately predicted the interlaminar tension failure which caused initial delamination onset. Using the G analysis the delamination was predicted to extend into the arm and leg of the laminate, predominantly in mode I. As the initial delamination grew around the curved region, the maximum radial stress in the newly formed inner sublaminate increased to a level sufficient to cause a new delamination to initiate in the sublaminate with no increase in applied load. This failure progression was observed experimentally.

Martin, Roderick H.↗

Delamination failure in a unidirectional curved composite laminate

Delamination failure in a unidirectional curved composite laminate was investigated. The curved laminate failed unstably by delaminations developing around the curved region of the laminate at different depths through the thickness until virtually all bending stiffness was lost. Delamination was assumed to initiate at the location of the highest radial stress in the curved region. A closed form curved beam elasticity solution and a 2-D finite element analysis (FEA) were conducted to determine this location. The variation in the strain energy release rate, G, with delamination growth was then determined using the FEA. A strength-based failure criteria adequately predicted the interlaminar tension failure which caused initial delamination onset. Using the G analysis the delamination was predicted to extend into the arm and leg of the laminate, predominantly in mode I. As the initial delamination grew arould the curved region, the maximum radial stress in the newly formed inner sublaminate increased to a level sufficient to cause a new delamination to initiate in the sublaminate with no increase in applied load. This failure progression was observed experimentally.

Martin, Roderick H.↗

High temperature, short term tensile strength of C6000/PMR-15 composites

Tensile tests were conducted on 0 unidirectionally reinforced Celion 6000 graphite fibers in PMR-15 polyimide matrix. Tensile strengths for coupons subjected to short and long term uniform temperatures were obtained. Thick coupons, heated on one side to produce significant transient through thickness temperature gradients, were tested and compared to the strength of specimens with uniform temperature distributions. All coupons were radiantly heated and reached maximum test temperatures within 15 sec. Tensile loads were applied to the coupons after 15 sec of elevated temperature exposure. Loading rates were selected so that specimen failures occurred within a maximum of 45 sec after reaching the test temperature. Results indicate that significant tensile strength remains beyond the material post cure temperature.

Digiovanni, P. R.↗

Delamination and debonding of materials

The general topics consist of stress analysis, mechanical behavior, and fractography/NDI of composite laminates. Papers are presented on a dynamic hybrid finite-element analysis for interfacial cracks in composites, energy release rate during delamination crack growth in composite laminates, matrix deformation and fracture in graphite-reinforced epoxies, and the role of delamination and damage development on the strength of thick notched laminates. In addition, consideration is given to a new ply model for interlaminar stress analysis, a fracture mechanics approach for designing adhesively bonded joints, the analysis of local delaminations and their influence on composite laminate behavior, and moisture and temperature effects on the mixed-mode delamination fracture of unidirectional graphite/epoxy.

Johnson, W. S.↗

Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PPMI): Description and Initial Analysis of Experiments Conducted aboard the International Space Station

Flow visualization experiments during the controlled directional melt back and re-solidification of succinonitrile (SCN) and SCN-water mixtures were conducted using the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI) apparatus in the glovebox facility (GBX) aboard the International Space Station. The study samples were initially 'cast' on earth under 450 millibar of nitrogen into 1 cm ID glass sample tubes approximately 30 cm in length, containing 6 in situ thermocouples. During the Space experiments, the processing parameters and flow visualization settings are remotely monitored and manipulated from the ground Telescience Center (TSC). The ground solidified sample is first subjected to a unidirectional melt back, generally at 10 microns per second, with a constant temperature gradient ahead of the melting interface. Bubbles of different sizes are seen to initiate at the melt interface and, upon release from the melting solid, translate at different speeds in the temperature field ahead of them before coming to rest. Over a period of time these bubbles dissolve into the melt. The gas-laden liquid is then directionally solidified in a controlled manner, generally starting at a rate of 1 micron /sec. Observation and preliminary analysis of bubble formation and mobility in pure SCN samples during melt back and the subsequent structure resulting during gas generation upon re-solidification are presented and discussed.

Grugel, R. N.↗

Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI): Description and Initial Analysis of Experiments Conducted aboard the International Space Station

Flow visualization experiments during the controlled directional melt back and re-solidification of succinonitrile (SCN) and SCN-water mixtures were conducted using the Pore Formation and Mobility Investigation (PFMI) apparatus in the glovebox facility (GBX) aboard the International Space Station. The study samples were initially "cast" on earth under 450 millibar of nitrogen into 1 cm ID glass sample tubes approximately 30 cm in length, containing 6 in situ thermocouples. During the Space experiments, the processing parameters and flow visualization settings are remotely monitored and manipulated from the ground Telescience Center (TSC). The ground solidified sample is first subjected to a unidirectional melt back, generally at 10 microns per second, with a constant temperature gradient ahead of the melting interface. Bubbles of different sizes are seen to initiate at the melt interface and, upon release from the melting solid, translate at different speeds in the temperature field ahead of them before coming to rest. Over a period of time these bubbles dissolve into the melt. The gas-laden liquid is then directionally solidified in a controlled manner, generally starting at a rate of 1 micron /sec. Observation and preliminary analysis of bubble formation and mobility in pure SCN samples during melt back and the subsequent structure resulting during gas generation upon re-solidification are presented and discussed.

Grugel, R. N.↗

Modeling of crack bridging in a unidirectional metal matrix composite

The effective fatigue crack driving force and crack opening profiles were determined analytically for fatigue tested unidirectional composite specimens exhibiting fiber bridging. The crack closure pressure due to bridging was modeled using two approaches: the fiber pressure model and the shear lag model. For both closure models, the Bueckner weight function method and the finite element method were used to calculate crack opening displacements and the crack driving force. The predicted near crack tip opening profile agreed well with the experimentally measured profiles for single edge notch SCS-6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composite specimens. The numerically determined effective crack driving force, Delta K(eff), was calculated using both models to correlate the measure crack growth rate in the composite. The calculated Delta K(eff) from both models accounted for the crack bridging by showing a good agreement between the measured fatigue crack growth rates of the bridged composite and that of unreinforced, unbridged titanium matrix alloy specimens.

Ghosn, Louis J.↗

Modeling of crack bridging in a unidirectional metal matrix composite

The effective fatigue crack driving force and crack opening profiles were determined analytically for fatigue tested unidirectional composite specimens exhibiting fiber bridging. The crack closure pressure due to bridging was modeled using two approaches; the fiber pressure model and the shear lag model. For both closure models, the Bueckner weight function method and the finite element method were used to calculate crack opening displacements and the crack driving force. The predicted near crack tip opening profile agreed well with the experimentally measured profiles for single edge notch SCS-6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composite specimens. The numerically determined effective crack driving force, Delta K(sup eff), was calculated using both models to correlate the measure crack growth rate in the composite. The calculated Delta K(sup eff) from both models accounted for the crack bridging by showing a good agreement between the measured fatigue crack growth rates of the bridged composite and that of unreinforced, unbridged titanium matrix alloy specimens.

Ghosn, Louis J.↗