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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 163 records · Page 9

Deformation mechanism in nanolaminate FeCrAl alloys by ,em>in situ micromechanical strain rate jump tests at elevated temperatures

FeCrAl alloys have attracted extensive attention as one of the potential cladding materials for the commercial light water reactors. Although the creep behaviors of coarse-grain FeCrAl alloys have been investigated at elevated temperatures, little is known on the deformation mechanism of fine-grain FeCrAl alloys. We performed surface mechanical grinding treatment to fabricate nanolaminated ferritic FeCrAl alloys. In situ micropillar compression tests were applied to determine the underlying deformation mechanism of nanolaminated FeCrAl alloys at elevated temperatures. The strain rate sensitivity and activation energy for the dominant deformation mechanism were estimated considering the presence of a threshold stress.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

An additively manufactured near-eutectic Al-Ce-Ni-Mn-Zr alloy with high creep resistance

A new additively manufactured (AM) Al-7.5Ce-4.5Ni-0.4Mn-0.7Zr (wt.%) near-eutectic alloy is reported, which shows unprecedented creep resistance up to 400 °C (a homologous temperature of 0.72). The eutectic solidification microstructure comprises ~ 27 vol% of coarsening-resistant second phase network with an ultrafine (<100 nm) inter-phase spacing. Both Mn and Zr contribute to creep resistance of the alloy. Small amount of Mn addition promotes selection of coarsening resistant phases without compromising the alloy processability. Zr not only improves hot-tearing resistance, but further enhances the second phase coarsening resistance resulting in improved creep resistance. Neutron diffraction performed during creep deformation reveals that the underlying mechanism for creep resistance in this alloy is impedance to dislocation motion stemming from the ultrafine eutectic solidification microstructure, whereas load transfer strengthening becomes less effective as the creep temperature increases. The second phase forms a continuous network in the as-fabricated condition, which is maintained during long-term creep at 300 °C. However, this network is fragmented into fine dispersoids at higher temperatures. It is proposed that the rate-limiting deformation mechanism at 300–400 °C is (i) dislocation climb for the alloy with fragmented second phase dispersoids and (ii) Orowan looping for the alloy with a continuous second phase network. In conclusion, the present design of an AM-processable multicomponent eutectic alloy with high creep resistance can be applied to other metallic systems exhibiting eutectic reactions, with expected extreme creep resistance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On creep of trapped flux near T c in MgB 2 and CaKFe 4 As 4

Here, we present flux creep data taken at different temperatures on single crystals of known, ambient pressure, superconductors, CaKFe 4 As 4 and MgB 2 , taken using the protocol that is common for trapped flux measurements. Using our results, we show that the time dependence of the magnetic moment in H 3 S is remarkably similar to the magnetization relaxation rates observed in established superconductors at ambient pressure, where in the latter cases this can be unambiguously assigned to flux creep.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

The effect of aspect ratio on the mechanical behavior of Li metal in solid-state cells

The Li metal anode is necessary for solid-state batteries to dramatically exceed the energy density of state-of-the-art conventional Li-ion batteries. To enable the Li metal anode, the mechanical properties of Li metal under compression in a commercially relevant cell configuration must be determined. This work examines the compression creep behavior of Li metal coupled with a relevant model solid-state electrolyte (Li 6.5 La 3 Ta 0.5 Zr 1.5 O 12 ) and current collector (Ni) as a function of applied stress (1–10 MPa) and Li foil thickness (100–700 μm). At 1 MPa applied stress, the strain rate of all Li foil thicknesses under compression was almost four orders of magnitude lower than what is predicted from tensile creep tests. Steady-state creep behavior was observed for Li foil ≥350 μm at 5 MPa and ≥250 μm at 10 MPa. Conversely, sustained creep deformation was not observed for 100 and 150 μm Li foils at any applied stress. It is suggested that friction at the Li/LLZO and Li/Ni interfaces leads to the formation of hydrostatic stress that controls Li deformation at low aspect ratios. Finally, these results have implications for battery pack stack pressure requirements, particularly relating to void formation during stripping and Li metal filament penetration during plating.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Additive manufacturing of ferritic/martensitic steel with improved high temperature strength

Techniques for using additive manufacturing (AM) to fabricate creep resistant ferritic/martensitic steel with improved high temperature strength are described. AM processing may be performed on Grade 91 steel powder. Beam powers from about 221 W to about 270 W may be used. Traverse rates from about 675 mm/s to about 825 mm/s may be used. Heat inputs ranging from about 55.7 J/mm3 to about 83.2 J/mm 3 may be produced. Creep resistant ferritic/martensitic steel, produced according to the present disclosure, has improved strain yield strength and ductility as compared to wrought steel.

Lienert, Thomas J.↗

Long-term sinking of nuclear waste canisters in salt formations by low-stress creep at high temperature

Abstract Rock salt has a self-sealing capacity, low permeability, and high thermal conductivity, making it a potential host for heat-generating nuclear waste. The feasibility of nuclear waste disposal within salt formations has been investigated mostly for small-sized canisters. Geologic disposal of larger-sized canisters originally designed for spent fuel storage and transportation has lately been examined as a cost-effective alternative. This raises questions about their long-term vertical movement due to their weight and high decay heat. Low-stress creep governs this movement; however, most salt constitutive models do not incorporate it. In this paper, the Norton and the WIPP creep models are compared with the Lux/Wolters/Lerche (LWL) model and a simpler model that combines linear and Norton creep laws (named combined creep model). The LWL and combined creep models consider pressure solution creep, though all incorporate dislocation creep. The models are first applied to creep tests under various stress levels. The LWL and the combined creep models results fit the experimental data well in both high and low stress ranges, whereas the Norton and WIPP models results only fit in higher-stress ranges. The different models are further applied for analyzing long-term canister movement. A sinking rate of $$-4.4\times 10^{-7}$$ - 4.4 × 10 - 7 mm/year was predicted using the Norton and WIPP models versus $$-2.1\times 10^{-2}$$ - 2.1 × 10 - 2 mm/year and $$-3.1\times 10^{-2}$$ - 3.1 × 10 - 2 mm/year using the LWL and the combined creep models, respectively. This comparative study confirms that creep models calibrated exclusively against high-deviatoric stress data might result in an inaccurate estimation of waste packages sinking rate in salt formations.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Review: Inelastic Constitutive Modeling: Polycrystalline Materials

This article provides a literature review that details the development of inelastic constitutive modeling as it relates to polycrystalline materials. This review distinguishes between inelastic constitutive models that account for nonlinear behavior at the microstructural level, time-independent classic plasticity models, and time-dependent unified models. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the underlying theoretical framework for unified viscoplasticity models where creep and classical plasticity behavior are considered the result of applied boundary conditions instead of separable rates representing distinct physical mechanisms. This article establishes a clear understanding of the advantages of the unified approach to improve material modeling. This review also discusses recent topics in constitutive modeling that offer new techniques that bridge the gap between the microstructure and the continuum.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Progression of creep deformation from grain boundaries to grain interior in Al-Cu-Mn-Zr alloys

Creep mechanisms are studied in θ'-Al 2 Cu-strengthened Al-Cu-Mn-Zr alloys at 300 and 350°C for (i) ACMZ, a base alloy without further alloying elements and (ii) RR350, a commercial alloy with additions of Ni and Co forming distinct grain-boundary precipitates. At high stresses, creep is dominated by dislocations bypassing θ' precipitates within grains via the Orowan mechanism, as evidenced by (i) very high stress exponent (n~20-25) and (ii) α-Al and θ' lattice strains (measured via in-situ neutron diffraction) evolving during creep in a manner consistent with load transfer from the plastically-deforming α-Al matrix to elastically-deforming θ' precipitates. At intermediate stresses, both alloys exhibit a n~3 regime, where α-Al and θ' lattice strains scale near-linearly with applied stress while remaining largely unaffected by strain accumulation, indicating that Orowan looping or dislocation pile-up around θ' is now inactive within the grains. Rather, dislocation motion occurs solely in θ'-precipitate-free zones (θ'-PFZ) where high dislocation densities are observed via TEM after creep deformation. Plastic flow at θ'-PFZ and/or localized pipe diffusion are expected to enable grain-boundary sliding (GBS), which is proposed as the rate-limiting mechanism in the n~3 regime. Ni/Co-rich precipitates at RR350 grain-boundaries, with negligible θ'-PFZ around them, share load (as determined via neutron diffraction) with the α-Al matrix more effectively than θ-Al 2 Cu precipitates at ACMZ grain-boundaries, with wide surrounding θ'-PFZ. So, high creep resistance in the n~3 GBS regime of RR350 is enabled by coarsening-resistant grain-boundary precipitates, forming without concomitant development of weak θ'-PFZ, which effectively share load with the grains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Monte Carlo Simulations of 347H Stainless Steel Aging for the Synthetic Generation of Microstructures Under Creep Conditions

Here, a Monte Carlo simulation method capable of replicating the kinetics of M 23 C 6 precipitation in 347H stainless steels was developed for the purpose of producing synthetic microstructures that approximate its microstructural evolution under aging periods of up to 10,000 hours at temperatures between 600 °C and 750 °C. To accomplish this, experimental data from the literature was used to parameterize simulations and replicate the nucleation and growth kinetics of M 23 C 6 particles within 347H and similar austenitic stainless steel alloys. These simulations were found to have considerable fidelity to previous efforts to study the precipitation of M 23 C 6 in other 300 series stainless steel alloys. Synthetic 347H microstructures were then generated that accounted the effects of aging temperature, duration, dislocation density, and the presence of boron within the microstructure. These simulations predict several key trends, those being that (1) the size of M 23 C 6 precipitates decreased with aging temperature and (2) the growth rate of M 23 C 6 particles decreased with aging temperature. Further, while (3) the addition of dislocation density due to creep conditions resulted in increasing intragranular nucleation of M 23 C 6 precipitates with increasing dislocation density and (4) B additions within the microstructure led to modest increases in precipitate size above 700 °C, which indicates that more complex physics are necessary to account for the presence of B.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterization of Build Parameters and Microstructure in Low Heat Input WAAM of Ni-Based Superalloy Haynes 282

Ni-based superalloy Haynes® 282® is being targeted for various applications in advanced power generation systems for its superior fabricability, weldability, and excellent high temperature creep and corrosion performance. This process optimization study aims to use a low heat-input, high deposition rate, controlled Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process, Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) by Fronius, attempting to achieve fully dense fabrication and possibly avoid the need for HIP. Twenty-one multilayer blocks (~25x100x40 mm3) were deposited to explore a large set of build parameters variations that focused on varying the travel speed from 14 to 42 inches per minute (ipm) and wire feed speed from 150 to 450 ipm. A strong correlation has been observed between arc energy – controlled primarily by travel and wire feed speed. Initial visual inspection, internal microstructural examination, and computed tomography (CT) have been used to determine the effects of built parameters on evolution of internal porosity and defects. Scanning electron microscopy techniques enabled structural and compositional imaging of heterogeneity and changes in microstructural properties.

additive manufacturing↗

Characterization of Build Parameters and Microstructure in Low Heat Input WAAM of Ni-Based Superalloy Haynes 282

Ni-based superalloy Haynes® 282® is being targeted for various applications in advanced power generation systems for its superior fabricability, weldability, and excellent high temperature creep and corrosion performance. This process optimization study aims to use a low heat-input, high deposition rate, controlled Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process, Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) by Fronius, attempting to achieve fully dense fabrication and possibly avoid the need for HIP. Twenty-one multilayer blocks (~25x100x40 mm3) were deposited to explore a large set of build parameters variations that focused on varying the travel speed from 14 to 42 inches per minute (ipm) and wire feed speed from 150 to 450 ipm. A strong correlation has been observed between arc energy – controlled primarily by travel and wire feed speed. Initial visual inspection, internal microstructural examination, and computed tomography (CT) have been used to determine the effects of built parameters on evolution of internal porosity and defects. Scanning electron microscopy techniques enabled structural and compositional imaging of heterogeneity and changes in microstructural properties.

additive manufacturing↗

Assessment of a Grade 91 Steel Forging and Seamless Pipe Section After 141,000-Hours of Operation in a Superheat Outlet Header

In this work, two unique heats of 9Cr creep strength enhanced ferritic (CSEF) steels extracted from a retired superheat outlet header after 141,000 hours of service were evaluated. These two CSEF steels were a forging manufactured to SA-182 F91 (F91) reducer and a seamless pipe produced to SA-335 P91 (P91) pipe. Their creep deformation and fracture behavior were assessed using a lever arm creep frame integrated with in-situ high-temperature digital image correlation (DIC) system. Critical metallurgical and microstructure factors, including composition, service damage, grain matrix degradation, precipitates, and inclusions were quantitatively characterized to link the performance of the two service aged F91 and P91 CSEF steels. The creep test results show the F91 and P91 steels exhibit a large variation in creep strength and creep ductility. The F91 steel fractured at 572 hours while P91 steel fractured at 1,901 hours when subjected to a test condition of 650 °C and 100 MPa. The nominal creep strains at fracture were 12.5% (F91) and 14.5% (P91), respectively. The high-resolution DIC strain measurements reveal the local creep strain in F91 was about 50% while the local creep strain in P91 was >80%. The characterization results show that the F91 steel possessed pre-existing creep damage from its time in service, a higher fraction of inclusions, and a faster matrix grain coarsening rate. These features contribute to the observed reduction in performance for the F91 steel. The context for these findings, and the importance of metallurgical risk in an integrated life management approach will be emphasized.

Wang, Yiyu↗

The Qualification of Sealability and Creep Relaxation of Additively Manufactured Zytel Gaskets for PEM Fuel Cells

The purpose of this thesis is to study the feasibility of low-cost additive manufacturing of gaskets for proton exchange membrane fuel cells exposed to extreme temperature conditions ranging from -55°C to 100°C. With the growing popularity and decreasing costs of additive manufacturing technologies, specifically Material Extrusion (ME), research is being conducted to determine the feasibility of ME components. Thermally cycled PEMFCs may exhibit accelerated gasket deterioration, therefore, the mechanical stability of material extruded gaskets following a harsh thermal cycle must be assessed. The feasibility of the material extruded gaskets will be proven by manufacturing optimization and mechanical testing. The target material for this study is Zytel by DuPont Chemical. The mechanical stability will be assessed via sealability and creep relaxation testing according to ASTM F37B and ASTM F38B respectively. Because the capabilities to conduct sealability testing at temperature were not available, each specimen was thermally soaked and allowed to return to room temperature prior to testing. As a result of sealability experiments, the 100°C-soaked specimens resulted in lower leak rates with a higher precision when compared to specimens soaked at -55°C and 22°C at across all compressive loads. It was observed from results from creep relaxation testing that there is thermal contraction and expansion occurring at 55°C and 100°C respectively, which can be observed by the resultant graphs. The recoverability of thermally cycled specimens are better than those that just experienced a high temperature hold. After the seven-day thermal cycle, the samples stabilized and maintained their structure.

Lazarin, Robert↗

Dose and dose rate effects on the microstructural and mechanical stability of long-range ordered precipitates in Inconel 718

Nickel-based alloys offer exceptional mechanical properties and corrosion resistance for various applications in extreme environments such as high neutron flux, temperature, and stress. Precipitates, resulting from thermal treatments, increase the strength and creep resistance of these alloys. Here, heavy ion irradiation is shown to destabilize the γ' and γ" precipitates in Inconel 718 nickel-based alloy by disordering and dissolution processes. Transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography reveal that the disordering and dissolution rates of the precipitates are proportional to both irradiation dose and dose rate. Irradiation induced disordering occurs at a higher rate than the dissolution. From analyzing the hardening contributions, microscale mechanical results suggest radiation-induced disordering is responsible for the majority of the softening response at low dose. In addition, low dose radiation-induced disordering results in strain localization and is believed to be the primary cause for the drastic degradation of uniform elongation and toughness in irradiated Inconel 718.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

As-Run Physics Analysis for the AGC-4 Experiment Irradiated in the ATR

This Engineering Calculations Analysis Report (ECAR) documents the results of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) detailed physics analyses performed to calculate the displacements per atom (DPA) and the fast neutron fluence (E > 0.1 MeV) of the Advanced Graphite Creep (AGC) experiment, AGC-4, irradiated in the ATR East Flux Trap (EFT) (see Figure 1) during ATR Cycle 157D, 158A, 162A, 162B, 164A, 164B, 166A, and Cycle 166B. This ECAR also reports the neutron and photon heat rates for the materials of the AGC-4 experiment for ATR Cycle 158A (timestep 19), which provides to the maximum heating. The results for these evaluations and analysis are reported herein. The AGC-4 as-run specimen neutron fast fluence (E > 0.1 MeV), DPA, and material heat rate calculations were performed using a general-purpose Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code. All calculated results are tabulated herein.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Accounting for the effect of dislocation climb-mediated flow on the anisotropy and texture evolution of Mg alloy, AZ31B

The current study explores the role that dislocation climb has in mediating plasticity a Mg alloy at moderately elevated temperatures. Interrupted tensile tests were performed on samples of Mg alloy, AZ31B, sheet in the O temper condition over a range of strain rates (10 -5 to 10 -1 s -1 ) and temperatures (20–350°C) along the rolling and transverse directions. Experimental measurements of the resulting strain anisotropy and texture evolution were used as constraints during a parametric study employing a new crystal plasticity model (VPSC-CLIMB), which explicitly accounts for the kinematics of dislocation climb. The results reveal that the climb of basal (a) dislocations is not only important for dislocation recovery, but also demonstrate that climb accommodates a significant fraction of the strain in conditions where a power-law creep-type constitutive response prevails. This work does not discredit the notion that non-basal slip of (a) and (c+a) dislocations is important over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates. However, it demonstrates that the activation of dislocation climb as the mechanistic change within the power law regime provides an explanation for a wide range of observations, including the simultaneous reduction in strain anisotropy, slowed texture evolution, and rapid increase in strain rate sensitivity. Finally, it is hypothesized that these conclusions may even apply to cases in which grain boundary sliding and/or dynamic recrystallization are observed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Design, Fabrication and Testing of Surveillance Test Articles for MSR Materials Degradation Management

This report details the design, fabrication, and testing of surveillance test articles aimed at assessing material damage in reactor-relevant environments for effective degradation management. Two types of surveillance test articles with reduced sizes were developed based on design algorithms and finite element modeling: welded design and interlocking design. A furnace heating setup was adopted to apply multiple thermal cyclic loading profiles on the test articles with a temperature range of 500°C - 700°C, while the strain response was monitored using a digital image correlation technique. The testing results demonstrated the successful capturing of expected strain range for welded design while machining tolerance should be improved to engage strain coupling in the interlocking design. Mid-term (500 hours) and long-term (1500 hours) cyclic tests were conducted on welded test articles. A constant strain range of ~0.6% was observed at the specimen with testing under 500 hours, while a gradual decrease of strain at specimen was observed after 500 hours. Non-destructive evaluation through X-ray computed tomography confirmed the microcracks in the welds at specimen-driver joints after cyclic test that caused the strain change. Creep testing of the specimen after long-term cyclic test revealed a short creep life than expected. A multi-profile cyclic test was also conducted on a test article and demonstrated consistent strain response under different temperature ramp rates. The report also briefly discussed the challenges and future research efforts to advance test article development for material surveillance.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Patterns and rates of soil movement and shallow failures across several small watersheds on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Abstract. Thawing permafrost can alter topography, ecosystems, and sediment and carbon fluxes, but predicting landscape evolution of permafrost-influenced watersheds in response to warming and/or hydrological changes remains an unsolved challenge. Sediment flux and slope instability in sloping saturated soils have been commonly predicted from topographic metrics (e.g., slope, drainage area). In addition to topographic factors, cohesion imparted by soil and vegetation and melting ground ice may also control spatial trends in slope stability, but the distribution of ground ice is poorly constrained and hard to predict. To address whether slope stability and surface displacements follow topographic-based predictions, we document recent drivers of permafrost sediment flux present on a landscape in western Alaska that include creep, solifluction, gullying, and catastrophic hillslope failures ranging in size from a few meters to tens of meters, and we find evidence of rapid and substantial landscape change on an annual timescale. We quantify the timing and rate of surface movements using a multi-pronged, multi-scalar dataset including aerial surveys, interannual GPS surveys, synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR), and climate data. Despite clear visual evidence of downslope soil transport of solifluction lobes, we find that the interannual downslope surface displacement of these features does not outpace downslope displacement of soil in locations where lobes are absent (downslope movement means: 7 cm yr−1 for lobes over 2 years vs. 10 cm yr−1 in landscape positions without lobes over 1 year). Annual displacements do not appear related to slope, drainage area, or modeled total solar radiation but are likely related to soil thickness, and volumetric sediment fluxes are high compared to temperate landscapes of comparable bedrock lithology. Time series of InSAR displacements show accelerated movement in late summer, associated with intense rainfall and/or deep thaw. While mapped slope failures do cluster at slope–area thresholds, a simple slope stability model driven with hydraulic conductivities representative of throughflow in mineral and organic soil drastically overpredicts the occurrence of slope failures. This mismatch implies permafrost hillslopes have unaccounted-for cohesion and/or throughflow pathways, perhaps modulated by vegetation, which stabilize slopes against high rainfall. Our results highlight the breadth and complexity of soil transport processes in Arctic landscapes and demonstrate the utility of using a range of synergistic data collection methods to observe multiple scales of landscape change, which can aid in predicting periglacial landscape evolution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗