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At least 163 records · Page 9

Structure/property (constitutive and spallation response) of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel

For additive manufacturing (AM) of metallic materials, the certification and qualification paradigm needs to evolve as there is currently no broadly accepted “ASTM- or DIN-type” additive manufacturing certification process or AM-produced material specifications. Accordingly, design, manufacture, and subsequent implementation and insertion of AM materials to meet engineering applications requires detailed quantification of the constitutive (strength and damage) properties of these evolving materials, across the spectrum of metallic AM methods, in comparison/contrast to conventionally-manufactured metals and alloys. For this paper, cylindrical samples of 316L SS were produced using a LENS MR-7 laser additive manufacturing system from Optomec (Albuquerque, NM) equipped with a 1 kW Yb-fiber laser. The microstructure of the AM-316L SS was characterized in both the “as-built” AM state and following a heat-treatment designed to obtain full recrystallization to facilitate comparison with annealed wrought 316L SS. The constitutive behavior as a function of strain rate and temperature was characterized and is compared to that of annealed wrought 316L SS plate material. The dynamic shock-loading-induced damage evolution and failure response of all three 316L SS materials was quantified using flyer-plate impact driven spallation experiments at peak stresses of 4.7 and 6.5 GPa. The spall strength of AM-produced 316L SS and the recrystallized-AM-316L SS were found to decrease with increasing peak shock stress while the annealed wrought 316L SS spall strength remained essentially constant. Finally, the damage evolution, characterized using optical metallography and electron-backscatter diffraction (EBSD), was found to vary significantly across the three 316L SS microstructures while the three samples loaded to a peak shock stress of 6.5 GPa displayed only ~12% differences in spall strength.

316L SS↗

Dynamic properties of 316l stainless steel repaired using electron beam additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has the potential to be used for repair of high-value parts, but the strength and integrity of such repaired parts, especially under dynamic loading, in still unknown. This work presents the results of high strain-rate dynamic testing of additively repaired stainless steel samples. The 316L samples were intentionally damaged and subsequently repaired with 308L stainless steel wire using electron beam additive manufacturing. The repaired samples were subjected to gas-gun impact testing to induce incipient damage and determine the role played by the repaired region in dictating damage and failure. The results show the following: 1) the equation of state of the repaired region is comparable to the original material as shown by the unchanged spall plane location, 2) the deformation behavior is similar to the original material as shown by the similar Hugoniot Elastic limit, 3) the spall strength of the repaired region is slightly higher than the original material due to varying grain size, and 4) the damage morphology in the repaired region is different and involves a high rate of void coalescence. In conclusion, despite these minor differences in the spall strength and the damage morphology, the overall dynamic response of the original material and repaired samples is similar suggesting that AM is a promising approach for repairing high-value components.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of moderate temperatures on compressive strength of ultra-high-performance concrete: A microstructural analysis

Highlights: • All coarse aggregates and steel fibres were surrounded by the binder. • X-ray diffraction is useful for explaining the increase in compressive strength with increasing temperature. • Rosenhahnite and/or quartz Dauphiné-twinned phases improved the compressive strength. • Polypropylene fibres prevented spalling and preserved the compressive strength. • Concrete with steel and polypropylene fibres did not exhibit spalling at 300 °C. Concrete with two types of steel fibres and a polypropylene fibre prevented spalling and preserved the compressive strength at 300 °C, which makes these concretes suitable for long-term applications up to 300 °C, such as for steam collectors or thermal energy storage systems. The compressive strength behaviour of three types of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete manufactured with the same matrix was investigated. For this purpose, a complete characterisation of all the raw materials and the three types of fibres used was performed. The morphology of all concrete mixtures at room temperature was analysed using scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. From the results, it was ascertained that the steel fibres and coarse siliceous aggregates were not in contact (being separated by ≥3.41 μm) and were surrounded by the binder (of ≥1 μm in thickness) for all the mixtures studied. Rosenhahnite and/or quartz Dauphiné-twinned phases improved the compressive strength (as determined by X-ray diffraction).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The simulation of 3D hypervelocity spallation using a hydrocode PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM

n this work, a hydrocode PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM is presented and exercised to investigate the fracture in ductile material. The merit of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM to solve the advection problem is first illustrated by a solid piston periodically moving in a sealed tube with air. Furthermore, the ability of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM to capture the fracture in material is shown by a simple stretching fracture in ductile material. In both of two benchmark problems, the PAGOSA results and analytical solutions are also presented for comparison. Then PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM is used to model complex spall in ductile material, which is a challenging problem in engineering applications. The convergences of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM—based on both the mesh size and the marker density—are investigated by monitoring free surface velocity. To further show the ability of PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM to predict fracture in ductile material, the numerical results are compared with the experimental results and other published numerical results. Moreover, the effect of the spall parameter in PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM on the numerical simulation is also analyzed by investigating the free surface velocity. Finally, the effects of the peak compressive stress, the tensile strain rate, and the loading rate on the spallation are further investigated. The numerical results show that PAGOSA with FLIP+MPM can improve PAGOSA's performance when applied to predicting fracture in ductile materials, and is robust enough to accurately predict spall fracture in ductile materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Hydrothermal Corrosion of First-Generation Dual-Purpose Coatings on Silicon Carbide for Accident-Tolerant Fuel Cladding

In this study, four different commercial coatings, TiN, Cr, CrN, and Cr/CrN (multilayer) were deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD) on high resistivity chemical vapor deposited (CVD) SiC for the dual purpose of corrosion mitigation and fission gas hermeticity. The coatings were exposed for up to 2600 hours in flowing high temperature (288-350°C), high purity, liquid water with dissolved hydrogen (0.15-3ppm) or dissolved oxygen (1-2ppm). The Cr/CrN coatings did not adhere well and spalled quickly during exposure. In oxygenated conditions, none of the coatings were protective . CrN coatings spalled preferentially at defect sites, but reacted slowly enough in the absence of defects to potentially be chemically protective. TiN coatings fully oxidized within a few hundred hours and spalled. In hydrogen, all the coatings were chemically stable. Coating failures were identified and attributed to localized spallation, potentially related to coating defects. Coating improvements are recommended to reduce spallation and improve coating protection for future generations of dual-purpose coatings.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Atomistic study of silicon alloying in the spallation behavior of nanocrystalline aluminum systems

Here, the effect of concentration of the alloying element silicon (Si) on the shock and spall response of aluminum (Al) is studied using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Silicon is distributed as individual grains and as grain boundaries and the dynamic response under shock is studied for an impact velocity of 1000 m/s. A general trend observed here is that the spallation is almost exclusively intergranular and limited to Al-Si interfaces. The spall strengths are observed to a) decrease with an increase in alloying of Si as grains and b) show little increase for up to 50% grain boundary segregation. An increase in grain size of the whole system showed negligible differences in spall strength, highlighting the significance of concentration of the alloying species rather than its grain size. These results provide an atomistic understanding of light-weight metallic systems under shock compression and pave the way for designing multiphase metal matrix alloys and composites for defense/armor applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Damage initiation and evolution in Al-Si layered microstructures under shock loading conditions at atomic scales

Designing materials with microstructural features like multiphase interfaces have shown significant promise for usage in the next generation defense and nuclear applications. The dynamic response of these interfaces in extreme environments is observed to vary with the deformability of individual phases, which could subsequently alter the favored damage nucleation sites related to spall failure. Here, we investigate the role of spacing of interfaces in a nanocrystalline layered Aluminum-Silicon system on the shock wave propagation behavior, and microstructural and defect evolution using classical molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations are carried out with different hypothetical Al/Si microstructures including variations in the distribution of Si grains as layers in a nanocrystalline Al matrix. The molecular dynamics simulations suggest that spall failure is preferentially initiated at Al/Si interfaces. In addition, for the same system volume and same concentration of Si, a higher number of layers is marked by an increase in shock wave velocity and reduced resistance to spall failure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of macroscopic surface defects on dynamic damage: An experimental and numerical study

This study examines the impact of macroscopic surface defects on the dynamic ductile damage behavior of polycrystalline metals using plate-impact experiments. Defects of various shapes (flat, round, and point) were manufactured on the free or impact surfaces of annealed copper specimens. The experiments were diagnosed with photon Doppler velocimetry measurements and soft recovery techniques. The experimental results revealed that defect shape and location significantly affect velocity–time profiles and void distribution. In order to understand the dynamics of shock propagation and corresponding ductile damage evolution within the target specimens, the impact experiments were modeled with a calibrated Tepla model, a dynamic ductile damage model for polycrystalline metals [Nguyen et al., Int. J. Solids Struct. 329, 113833 (2026)]. Overall, our resulting simulated velocity showed good agreement with measured velocity, and our simulated porosity distributions qualitatively matched experimental data. Based on our simulation results, defects on the free surface were found to distort rarefaction waves and therefore the corresponding spall planes. On the other hand, defects on the impact surface generated a delayed shock when the flyer plate and the defected target area were in contact, leading to distortion of the spall plane. The distortion of the spall plane resulted in a non-uniform distribution of voids within the defected specimens. Lastly, we examined the role of local work hardening due to the defect manufacturing process on the velocity and porosity distribution, using Tepla simulations with a simplified representation of local hardening. This investigation highlights the importance of defect geometry, location, and local hardening associated with defect generation in dynamic ductile damage processes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Relative Importance of Assumed Infrasound Source Terms and Effects of Atmospheric Models on the Linear Inversion of Infrasound Time Series at the Source Physics Experiment

We invert far-field infrasound data for the equivalent seismoacoustic time-domain moment tensor to assess the effects of variable atmospheric models and source phenomena. The infrasound data were produced by a series of underground chemical explosions that were conducted during the Source Physics Experiment (SPE), which was originally designed to study seismoacoustic signal phenomena. The first goal is to investigate the sensitivity of the inversion to the variability of the estimated atmospheric model. The second goal is to determine the relative contribution of two presumed source mechanisms to the observed infrasonic wavefield. Rather than using actual atmospheric observations to estimate the necessary atmospheric Green’s functions, we build a series of atmospheric models that rely on publicly available, regional-scale atmospheric observations. The atmospheric observations are summarized and interpolated onto a 3D grid to produce a model of sound speed at the time of the experiment. For each of four SPE acoustic datasets that we invert, we produced a suite of three atmospheric models for each chemical explosion event, based on 10 yrs of meteorological data: an average model, which averages the atmospheric conditions for 10 yrs prior to each SPE event, as well as two extrema models. To parameterize the inversion, we assume that the source of infrasonic energy results from the linear combination of explosion-induced surface spall and linear seismic-to-elastic mode conversion at the Earth’s free surface. We find that the inversion yields relatively repeatable results for the estimated spall source. Conversely, the estimated isotropic explosion source is highly variable. This suggests that 1) the majority of the observed acoustic energy is produced by the spall and/or 2) our modeling of the elastic energy, and the subsequent conversion to acoustic energy, is too simplistic.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

The use of atmospheric prediction models to invert infrasound for linear-equivalent time domain moment tensors: Source Physics Experiment, Phase 1

We invert far field infrasound data for the equivalent seismo-acoustic time domain moment tensor to assess the effects of variable atmospheric models as well as to quantify the relative contributions of two presumed source phenomena. The infrasound data was produced by a series of underground chemical explosions that were conducted during the Source Physics Experiment, (SPE) which was originally designed to study explosion-generated seismo-acoustic signal phenomena. The goal of the work presented herein is two-fold: the first goal is to investigate the sensitivity of the estimated time domain moment tensors to variability of the estimated atmospheric model. The second goal is to determine the relative contribution of two possible source mechanisms to the observed infrasonic wave field. Rather than using actual atmospheric observations to estimate the necessary atmospheric Green's functions, we build a series of atmospheric models that rely on publicly available, regional atmospheric observations and the assumption that the acoustic energy results from a linear combination of an underground isotropic explosion and surface spall. The atmospheric observations are summarized and interpolated onto a 3D grid to produce a model of sound speed at the time of the experiment. For each of four SPE acoustic datasets that we invert, we produced a suite of three atmospheric models, based on ten years of regional meteorological observations: an average model, which averages the atmospheric conditions for ten years prior to each SPE event, as well as two extrema models. We find that the inversion yields relatively repeatable results for the estimated spall source. Conversely, the estimated isotropic explosion source is highly variable. This suggests that the majority of the observed acoustic energy is produced by the spall source and/or our modeling of the elastic energy propagation, and it's subsequent conversion to acoustic energy via linear elastic-to-acoustic coupling at the free surface, is too simplistic.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

The Relative Importance of Assumed Infrasound Mechanisms on the Linear Inversion of Infrasound Time Series at the Source Physics Experiment

We invert far field infrasound data for the equivalent seismo-acoustic time domain moment tensor to assess the relative importance of two assumed seismoacoustic source mechanisms. The infrasound data were produced by a four of the underground chemical explosions that were conducted during the Source Physics Experiment (SPE). For each SPE event that we invert, we produce three set of atmospheric Green's functions: an average model based on ten years of atmospheric data, as well as two extrema models designed to maximize the variability of atmospheric conditions for the given time-of-day and day-of-year for each SPE event. To parameterize the inversion, we assume that the source of infrasonic energy results from the linear combination of explosion-induced surface spall and linear seismic-to-elastic mode conversion at the Earth's free surface. We find that the inversion yields relatively repeatable results for the estimated spall source whereas the estimated isotropic explosion source is highly variable. This suggests that the majority of the observed acoustic energy is produced by the spall source and/or our modeling of the elastic energy propagation, and data are subsequent conversion to acoustic energy via linear elastic-to-acoustic coupling at the surface, is too simplistic.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Main Bearing Replacement and Damage - A Field Data Study on 15 Gigawatts of Wind Energy Capacity

This study seeks to establish a comprehensive baseline of knowledge for the replacement and damage of main bearings in wind turbines. The purpose of this report is to provide a high-level summary of the data set, methodology, and results of this work. Full technical details and an extended analysis will be made available in a future publication. We collected data on main bearing replacements and reported damage from industrial partners based in Europe and the United States. In total, we obtained data for 167 wind power plants, with a combined capacity of 15.3 gigawatts (GW). Most of the data set was comprised of land-based, three-point mount, spherical roller bearings. Within this data set were 689 instances of main bearing replacement. Analysis was undertaken in two parts: first, a statistical analysis of the main bearing time-to-replacement data using survival analysis techniques; second, quantitative and qualitative analyses of the obtained damage information. Our results showed that 10% of a fixed main bearing population would be expected to have been replaced by 10.5 years. This is close to half of the 20-year design value. Fitted parametric distributions then indicated that by year 20, between 22% and 25% of main bearings are expected to have been replaced. Analysis of the damage reports revealed spalling to be the main type of damage listed. The additional presence of surface damage in the collected data indicates that at least part of the spalling cases are likely due to surface-initiated rolling contact fatigue. At this stage is not clear what proportion of spalling cases result from "wear induced", surface-initiated and subsurface-initiated rolling contact fatigue. While this work provides important insights into the current state of main bearing replacements and damage, many questions remain. An ongoing and expanding data collection and analysis effort focused on wind turbine main bearings is therefore recommended.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Cyclic oxidation evaluation: Approaching application conditions

A survey is presented of the cyclic furnace and burner rig oxidation facilities at NASA-Lewis Research Center together with a review of selected test results and an initial interpretation of the data obtained. Cyclic furnace tests are used to conveniently screen alloy oxidation resistance and spall tendency; high velocity tests further indicate dynamic environmental resistance. Alloys which form scales predominantly of Cr2O3/chromite spinel spall much more than those forming alpha Al2O3/aluminate spinel scales. Weight changes due to scale spalling were used to estimate alloy depletion/thickness losses.

Barrett, C. A.↗

Lunar microcraters and interplanetary dust.

The ratio of spall to pit diameter of lunar microcraters decreases with decreasing crater size. The trend from micron-sized to cm-sized craters involves a transition of crater types from pit-only to pit-plus-spall craters. Some spall-only craters may have possessed a pit originally. Most microcraters are formed by the impact of primary interplanetary dust particles because melting occurred during their formation. According to experimental and theoretical data such melting phenomena require impact velocities which are consistent only with the velocity distribution of extralunar particles.

Hartung, J. B.↗

The role of thermal shock in cyclic oxidation

The effect of thermal shock on the spalling of oxides from the surfaces of several commercial alloys was determined. The average cooling rate was varied from approximately 240 C per second to less than 1.0 C per second during cyclic oxidation tests in air. The tests consisted of one hundred cycles of one hour at the maximum temperature (1100 or 1200 C). The alloys were HOS-875, TD-Ni, TD-NiCrAl, IN-601, IN-702, and B-1900 plus Hf. All of these alloys exhibited partial spalling within the oxide rather than total oxide loss down to bare metal. Thermal shock resulted in deformation of the metal which in turn resulted, in most cases, in changing the oxide failure mode from compressive to tensile. Tensile failures were characterized by cracking of the oxide and little loss, while compressive failures were characterized by explosive loss of platelets of oxide. This behavior was confirmed by examination of mechanically stressed oxide scales. The thermally shocked oxides spalled less than the slow cooled samples with the exception of TD-NiCrAl. This material failed in a brittle manner rather than by plastic deformation.

Lowell, C. E.↗

High temperature cyclic oxidation furnace testing at NASA Lewis Research Center

A standardized method of testing the cyclic oxidation resistance of various alloys in static air to 1200 C was developed and is routinely used at NASA Lewis Research Center. Test samples are automatically raised and lowered into a resistance wound furnace for a series of fixed interval heating and cooling cycles. Spall catchers collect the accumulated spall from each sample. The samples are weighed intermittently to generate specific weight change/time data. At various test times the samples and the accumulated spall are analyzed by X-ray diffraction. A computer program uses this gravimetric and X-ray data as input to print out the oxidation curves and specific weight change/time and X-ray results in a published format, organizes, and indexes the data. So far, several hundred Fe, Ni, and Co base alloys were tested using this same basic procedure and results form the basis of a series of cyclic oxidation handbooks to be published by NASA. Such specific weight change/time data were used to estimate the oxidative metal consumption by several computer modeling techniques to rank alloys and for use in life testing estimates.

Barrett, C. A.↗

High temperature cyclic oxidation furnace testing at NASA Lewis Research Center

A standardized method of testing the cyclic oxidation resistance of various alloys in static air up to 1200 C has been developed and routinely used at the NASA Lewis Research Center. Test samples are automatically raised and lowered into a resistance wound furnace for a series of fixed-interval heating and cooling cycles. Spall catchers collect the accumulated spall from each sample. The samples are weighed intermittently to generate specific weight change with time data. At various test times the samples and the accumulated spall are analyzed by X-ray diffraction. A computer program is used to print out the specific weight change versus time data and the X-ray data in tabular form and to plot the specific weight change versus time data in a publishable format. The data are also organized and indexed. So far several hundred Fe-, Ni-, and Co-base alloys have been tested using this basic procedure and will form the basis of a series of cyclic oxidation handbooks to be published by NASA. Such specific weight change/time data have been used to estimate the oxidative metal consumption by several computer modeling techniques both to rank alloys and to estimate life.

Barrett, C. A.↗

Cyclic oxidation of superalloys

The development of mathematical/computer models of cyclic oxidation in high-temperature alloys is described. The acceleration of oxidation attack caused by the spalling of protective oxide scales is discussed. The COREST paralinear model based on empirical data, designed by Barrett and Pressler, is found to be of limited value. Basic research on the spalling process in different alloy systems is reviewed, and the phenomenon is characterized: occurring mainly within the oxide, it is caused by the different thermal expansion coefficients of oxide and metal and is a linear function of the total retained oxide. This information has been used in the development of the discrete oxide-spall model COSP and in its modification by addition of a diffusion-zone-profile model to predict the failure of components (Heckel and Nesbitt, unpublished). The COSP model is shown to produce good predictions of cyclic oxidation under a variety of conditions, using data from simple isothermic tests.

Lowell, C. E.↗