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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 1,639 records · Page 91

Effect of Rolling Temperature on Fracture Properties of INRAFMS at Different Temperatures

Two heats of Indian reduced activation ferritic / martensitic steel have been produced with similar chemical composition and identical process parameters except the start and final rolling temperature referred as P950 and P1050, respectively. Fracture behaviours of both the heats have been evaluated, and it was found that quasistatic fracture properties are better for P1050 than P950. An attempt is made to establish the reasons for the observed behaviour through optical, scanning electron microscopic, electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopic studies. These variations are attributed to the difference in rolling temperature of both heats. P1050 meets the acceptance criteria as per Indian specifications, and it compares favourably with the international grades of equivalent RAFM steels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Intergranular fracture in irradiated Inconel X-750 containing very high concentrations of helium and hydrogen

In recent years, it has been determined that Inconel X-750 CANDU spacers have lost strength and material ductility following irradiation in reactor. The irradiated fracture behaviour of ex-service material was also found to be entirely intergranular. The heavily thermalized flux spectrum in a CANDU reactor results in transmutation of 58 Ni to 59 Ni. The 59 Ni itself has unusually high thermal neutron reaction cross-sections of the type: (n, γ), (n, p), and (n,α). The latter two reactions, in particular, contribute to a significant enhancement of the atomic displacements in addition to creating high concentrations of hydrogen and helium within the material. Metallographic examinations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have confirmed the presence of helium bubbles in the matrix and aligned along grain boundaries and matrix-precipitate interfaces. He bubble size and density are found to be highly dependent on the irradiation temperature and material microstructure; the bubbles are larger within grain boundary precipitates. TEM specimens extracted from fracture surfaces and crack tips give direct evidence linking crack propagation with grain boundary He bubbles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Approaches for the Simulation of Coupled Processes in Evolving Fractured Porous Media Enabled by Exascale Computing

Models have historically represented fractured porous media with continuum descriptions that characterize the media using bulk parameters. The impact of small-scale features is not captured in these models, although they may be controlling the performance of subsurface applications. Pore-scale models can simulate processes in small-scale features by representing the pore space geometry explicitly but are computationally expensive for large domains. The alternative multiscale approach entails the combination of pore-scale and continuum-scale descriptions in a single framework. We use Chombo-Crunch, a computational capability that discretizes complex geometries with an adaptive, embedded boundary method to contrast these two approaches. Chombo-Crunch takes advantage of recent computational performance and memory bandwidth improvements resulting from the emergence of exascale computing resources. These combined improvements enable the efficient simulation of reactive transport in fractured media with a high degree of fidelity and the ability to capture the control small-scale processes exert on the overall medium evolution.

42 ENGINEERING↗

EGS Collab Experiment 1: TOUGH2-CSM Simulation of Embedded Natural Fractures and Chemical Tracer Transport and Sorption

The EGS Collab SIGMA-V project is a multi-lab and university collaborative research project that is being undertaken at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. The project consists of studying stimulation, fluid-flow, and heat transfer processes at a scale of 10-20 m, which is readily amenable to detailed characterization and monitoring. One objective of the project is to establish circulation from injector to producer by hydraulically fracturing the injector. Data generated during these experiments is to be compared with predictions from coupled thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical simulators. One such a simulator, TOUGH2-CSM, has been enhanced in order to simulate EGS Collab SIGMA-V project experiments. These modifications include adding tracers, the capability to model tracer sorption, and an embedded fracture formulation. A set of example problems validate our conservative tracer transport and sorption formulations. We then simulated tracer transport and thermal breakthrough for the first EGS Collab SIGMA-V experiment. This dataset includes the TOUGH2-CSM input and output files associated with the thermal and tracer simulations. A conference paper is included for additional context.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

EGS Collab - Hydraulic Fracturing Test Measurements on the 4100L of SURF

This package includes data from two days of testing at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) on the 4100 level. The tests were performed in borehole TV4100 in the battery charging alcove south of the Yates shaft. TV4100 is a vertical borehole ~50 meters deep. A series of hydraulic fracture (mini-frac) and reopening tests were conducted at various depths to investigate the magnitude and direction of the minimum principal stress in that area of the mine. Apparent features of the pressure time/pressure injected volume curves are the onset of fracture, peak pressure, and the initial shut in pressure (ISIP). The raw data files include a Readme with the day, time, and location of each file. The files are organized into 9 columns: time (sec), flow meter (V), Pressure of Return (V), Pressure of Packer (V), Pressure of Injection (V), flow (gpm), Pressure of Return (psi), Pressure of Packer (psi), Pressure of Injection (psi). The shift reports are a short log of how the tests were run in the two-day period. An American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2019 presentation by Ingraham et al. is shown to provide visualization/interpretation of the data. The columns which report voltage (V) show the unscaled voltage value from the transducer, which was recorded in case pressure values needed to be rescaled due to incorrect calibration factors. This was not necessary. Results reported in the AGU poster were filtered with a moving average to remove pump noise before presentation. Note that the logging and impression packer results are included in separate datasets managed by Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Literature Data on Foam Fracturing Fluid

At the beginning of this project, the Temple team spent significant effort to collect data relevant to foam fracturing. More than 40 articles/reports were found in the open literature that reported the properties of aqueous foams under various testing conditions. The foam properties included viscosity and stability in terms of half-life, while were influenced by the foam quality, shear rate, temperature, pressure, as well as surfactants and additives used in making the foam base solutions. As a result, more than 1100 data points were collected, which are included in a master worksheet named "Literature data on Foam Fracturing Fluid". These data points are organized based on following parameters: 1. Literature source, including authors and publication year 2. Gaseous phase (e.g. CO2, N2) 3. Liquid phase (e.g. tap water, DI water, salt water) 4. Surfactants and their concentrations 6. Additives 7. Foam quality 8. Pressure 9. Temperature 10. Viscosity 11. Foam stability, which was characterized by its half-life: Half-life Foam study data base with data analysis was completed and a webpage is designed hosted on public server at https://surfactant-dashboard.herokuapp.com

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Utah FORGE 5-2428: Coupled Investigation of Fracture Permeability Impact on Reservoir Stress and Seismic Slip - 2024 Annual Workshop Presentation

This is a presentation on the Coupled Investigation of Fracture Permeability Impact on Reservoir Stress and Seismic Slip Behavior by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, presented by Kayla Kroll. This presentation addresses testing and modelling related to the dependency of EGS production on sustained permeability and sufficient fluid flow through pre-existing or induced fractures in hot rock. This presentation was featured in the Utah FORGE R&D Annual Workshop on August 13, 2024.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Utah FORGE 3-2418: Wellbore Fracture Imaging Using Inflow Detection - 2024 Annual Workshop Presentation

This is a presentation on the Wellbore Fracture Imaging Using Inflow Detection by Stanford University and Sandia National Laboratory, presented by Roland Horde. This is a video presentation on wells, both before and after stimulation, using chloride or other ions to map fractures and estimate their flow magnitudes. This research is being done by Stanford University. This presentation was featured in the Utah FORGE R&D Annual Workshop on August 13, 2024.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Utah FORGE: Well 16A(78)-32 Hydraulic Fracturing Stage 8 Crosswell Strain FDI and Microseismic Presentations - April 2024

This is a pair of PowerPoint presentations from Neubrex Energy Services (US), LLC. The presentations review work done in April 2024 on crosswell strain fracture driven interactions (FDI) and microseismic event monitoring during hydraulic fracturing in stage 8 of Utah FORGE well 16A(78)-32. Well 16B(78)-32 was the monitoring well and was where the data for these presentations were collected.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Utah FORGE: Temperature-Dependent Fracture Seismicity from Fluid Injection Experiments

This dataset contains experimental data from fluid injection experiments conducted to investigate the influence of temperature on fracture seismicity. The experiments were performed on granite samples from Utah FORGE. The samples were prepared with a 30-degree inclined fracture and subjected to controlled stress and temperature conditions. Data were collected under three distinct temperature settings: 24 C, 78 C, and 137 C. During the experiments, a constant confining pressure of 10 MPa and a constant shear stress at 80% of the shear strength of the sample were maintained. Pore pressure was incrementally increased at a rate of 300 kPa every three minutes to simulate fluid injection. Temperature was raised rapidly and then stabilized for the duration of each test. The dataset includes shear stress and displacement measurements under each temperature condition, along with supplementary figures illustrating the experimental setup and time-series plots of pressures and temperature.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Dataset documenting reaction-induced changes to five fractured foamed wellbore cement cores during CO2 fluid flow

This dataset consists of reconstructed CT scans for four fractured foamed cement cores, generated in the lab using Portland Class H cement, and associated processed data. The cements were exposed to reactive brines, and CT scans were take at different time points through the experiment. The CT imaging allows for the tracking of dissolution-induced changes to fracture morphology, as well as alteration and dissolution in the cement matrix.

Computed Tomography↗

Results of Laboratory Scale Fracture Tests on Rock/Cement Interfaces

A number of pure cement and cement-basalt interface samples were subjected to a range of compressive loads to form internal fractures. X-ray microtomography was used to visualize the formation and growth of internal fractures in three dimensions as a function of compressive loads. This laboratory data will be incorporated into a geomechanics model to predict the risk of CO 2 leakage through wellbores during geologic carbon storage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Benchmarking of Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Models in Grizzly

In 2020, as part of contract/task order 31310019N0006/31310020F0060, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission tasked Idaho National Laboratory (INL) with benchmarking the MOOSE/GRIZZLY code against the NRC’s Fracture Analysis of Vessels - Oak Ridge (FAVOR), version 16.1 code. Both codes can predict large light-water reactor vessel integrity deterministically and probabilistically. In fact, such predictions are the primary purpose of the FAVOR code, and are a main focus of the GRIZZLY code, although GRIZZLY is capable of modeling a wider range of geometries and problems. The vessel integrity modeling capabilities of the GRIZZLY code are still under development and being gradually expanded, and the capability to model vessel fracture by crack growth has not yet been integrated into GRIZZLY (although it does exist in pre-release versions). Thus, the present benchmark study focused on comparing predictions for the conditional probability of crack growth initiation (CPI) between GRIZZLY and FAVOR v16.1. The present benchmarking study expands on a previous study completed in 2020, which focused on single plate regions, various flaw types, and full vessel studies. The previous study was limited in scope and revealed some relatively large discrepancies, particularly in the case of weld regions. In the present study, detailed investigations into the sources of discrepancies between GRIZZLY and FAVOR were performed, with a focus on weld regions.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Calculating Mode Mixity in Interlaminar Fracture of Composite Laminates

To accurately predict delamination under mixed-mode loading, cohesive elements must partition the energies dissipated in Mode I and Mode II correctly. The ability of cohesive models to predict mode mixity was evaluated by performing analyses of the single leg bending (SLB) test, which exhibits a variable mode mixity with crack length. Accordingly, two numerical integration methods were developed to compute the energy partitioning: (i) a local calculation of the accumulated work of tractions at each point along the crack path, and (ii) a global J-integral “snapshot” calculation along a contour around the process zone. In the case of a composite laminate with properties characterized by short fracture process zone (FPZ), the results of these two methods correlate well with each other and with a linear elastic fracture mechanics solution. However, FPZscan be long due to fiber bridging or due to the intrinsic toughness of the material. Then, the results of mode-mixity calculations obtained with various methods vary widely from each other. It is argued that the global J-integral calculation is the most accurate interpretation of the energy release rate and mode mixity for either short or long process zones. This solution will provide a more accurate characterization of resistance curves and mode mixity in experimental results, and it will also guide the development of more accurate mixed-mode cohesive laws for tougher materials characterized by strong R-curve responses, such as thermo-plastic composites.

cohesive zone analysis↗

Influence of specimen size/type on the fracture toughness of five irradiated RPV materials

The Heavy-Section Steel Irradiation (HSSI) Program had previously irradiated five reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels/welds at fast neutron fluxes of about 4 to 8 x 10 11 n/cm 2 /s (>1 MeV) to fluences from 0.5 to 3.4 10 19 n/cm 2 and at 288 °C. The unirradiated fracture toughness tests were performed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory with 12.7-mm and 25.4-mm thick (0.5T and 1T) compact specimens, while the HSSI Program provided tensile and 5 x 10-mm three-point bend specimens to SCK-CEN for irradiation in the in-pile section of the Belgian Reactor BR2 at fluxes > 10 13 n/cm 2 /s and subsequent testing by SCK-CEN. The BR2 irradiations were conducted at about 2 and 4 x 10 13 n/cm 2 /s with irradiation temperature between 295 °C and 300 °C (water temperature), and to fluences between 6 and 10 x 10 19 n/cm 2 . The irradiation-induced shifts of the Master Curve reference temperatures, ΔT 0 , for most of the materials deviated from the embrittlement correlations much more than expected, motivating the testing of 5 x 10-mm three-point bend specimens of all five materials in the unirradiated condition to eliminate specimen size and geometry as a variable. Tests of the unirradiated small bend specimens resulted in Master Curve reference temperatures, T 0 , 25 °C to 53 °C lower than those from the larger compact specimens, meaning that the irradiation-induced reference temperature shifts, ΔT 0 , were larger than the initial measurements, resulting in much improved agreement between the measured and predicted fracture toughness shifts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Brittle Fracture of 2D MoSe 2

An in situ quantitative tensile testing platform is developed in this paper to enable the uniform in-plane loading of a freestanding membrane of 2D materials inside a scanning electron microscope. The in situ tensile testing reveals the brittle fracture of large-area MoSe 2 crystals and measures their fracture strength for the first time.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Comparative Prospective Study of Load Distribution Projection Among Patients with Vertebral Fractures Treated with Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and a Control Group of Healthy Volunteers

Purpose: Through a prospective comparison of patients with vertebral fractures and normal population, we illustrate effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) upon projection of load distribution changes. Methods: Vertebroplasty group (36 symptomatic patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures) was evaluated on an electronic baropodometer registering projection of weight bearing areas on feet. Load distribution between right and left foot (including rear-front of the same foot) during standing and walking was recorded and compared before (group V1) and the day after (group V2) PV. Control group (30 healthy asymptomatic volunteers-no surgery record) were evaluated on the same baropodometer. Results: Mean value of load distribution difference between rear-front of the same foot was 9.45 ± 6.79 % (54.72–45.28 %) upon standing and 14.76 ± 7.09 % (57.38–42.62 %) upon walking in the control group. Respective load distribution values before PV were 16.52 ± 11.23 and 30.91 ± 19.26 % and after PV were 10.08 ± 6.26 and 14.25 ± 7.68 % upon standing and walking respectively. Mean value of load distribution variation between the two feet was 6.36 and 14.6 % before and 4.62 and 10.4 % after PV upon standing and walking respectively. Comparison of load distribution variation (group V1–V2, group V1-control group) is statistically significant. Comparison of load distribution variation (group V2-control group) is not statistically significant. Comparison of load distribution variation among the two feet is statistically significant during walking but not statistically significant during standing. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant difference when comparing load distribution variation prior vertebroplasty and that of normal population. After vertebroplasty, this difference normalizes in a statistically significant way. PV is efficient on equilibrium-load distribution improvement as well.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗