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At least 1,711 records · Page 95

Composition Measurements of the HLW APPS Glasses

This report provides the results from the chemical analyses of the glass compositions of the High Activity Waste Aspen Process Performance Simulation (HLW APPS) study glasses, a series of simulated nuclear waste glasses designed and fabricated at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. These data will be used in the development, validation, and implementation of enhanced property/composition models for waste glass vitrification at Hanford. Chemical analyses were performed on a representative sample of each of the quenched glasses to allow for comparisons with targeted compositions. The relative differences between the targeted and measured concentrations of F- for three glasses and B 2 O 3 for five glasses were greater than 10%. These results can be used in further characterization of this series of glasses, including the normalization of Product Consistency Test results.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Inclusion Characterization and Formation Mechanisms in Spring Steel Deoxidized by Silicon

To elucidate the mechanism of formation of inclusions in microalloyed spring steel deoxidized by Si, their number, morphology, and chemical compositions were analyzed by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Wavelength-dispersive spectrometry and Monte Carlo simulation were used to confirm the existence of inherent FeO in the inclusions. Additions of Nb and V did not have an observable influence on the formation of inclusions. Based on the major chemical compositions, the inclusions in spring steel were classified into four types: CaO-SiO{sub 2}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}-CaO, and MnS. Most CaO-SiO{sub 2} inclusions were around 10 μm in diameter, with their composition close to that of the refining slag and liquidus temperatures all below 1400 °C. The Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} inclusions were mainly attributed to deoxidization products. They were usually multiphased with liquidus temperatures higher than 1500 °C and smaller than 10 μm in diameter. Most Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}-CaO inclusions with high Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and SiO{sub 2} contents originated from the coalescence of CaO-SiO{sub 2} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} inclusions; those with high CaO and SiO{sub 2} contents were considered to form via reduction of CaO-SiO{sub 2} inclusions by Al dissolved in the steel.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Investigation of precipitate refinement in Mg alloys by an analytical composite failure model

An analytical model is developed to simulate precipitate refinement in second phase strengthened magnesium alloys. The model is developed based on determination of the stress fields inside elliptical precipitates embedded in a rate dependent inelastic matrix. The stress fields are utilized to determine the failure mode that governs the refinement behavior. Using an AZ31 Mg alloy as an example, the effects the applied load, aspect ratio and orientation of the particle is studied on the macroscopic failure of a single α-Mg17Al12 precipitate. Additionally, a temperature dependent version of the corresponding constitutive law is used to incorporate the effects of temperature. In plane strain compression, an extensional failure mode always fragments the precipitates. The critical strain rate at which the precipitates start to fail strongly depends on the orientation of the precipitate with respect to loading direction. The results show that the higher the aspect ratio is, the easier the precipitate fractures. Precipitate shape is another factor influencing the failure response. In contrast to elliptical precipitates with high aspect ratio, spherical precipitates are strongly resistant to sectioning. In pure shear loading, in addition to the extensional mode of precipitate failure, a shearing mode may get activated depending on orientation and aspect ratio of the precipitate. The effect of temperature in relation to strain rate was also verified for plane strain compression and pure shear loading cases.

Tabei, Ali↗

Investigation and simulation of metallic spherules from lunar soils

The microstructure and chemical composition of metallic spherules from the lunar soil were studied by optical, electron-probe, and scanning-electron-microscope techniques. Metallic spherules produced experimentally were compared to the lunar spherules with respect to structure, chemistry, and cooling rates. The structure of the lunar spherules indicates an origin by solidification of molten globules of metal. The spherules are probably produced from both lunar and meteoric sources, the major source being the metal phase present in lunar rocks and soil.

Blau, P. J.↗

Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Effect of MgO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} Ratio on Structure and Properties of Blast Furnace Slag Under Different Basicity Conditions

The SiO{sub 2}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CaO-MgO is the basic structural system of blast furnace slag and the composition directly affects the performance of the slag. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to analyze the local structure, structural unit, bond angle, transport properties, and enthalpy of the slag with the increase of MgO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} mass ratio under different basicity conditions. It was found that the change of MgO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} ratio does not affect the short-range order structure, but it will reduce the overall stability of the network structure. Through the analysis of the structural unit of the slag, it was found that the polymerization degree of the system decreases with the increase of MgO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} ratio, indicating that the complex network structure of the system is partially depolymerized. Besides, the self-diffusion coefficients of each ion were concluded and the magnitudes were observed to be in the following order: Mg{sup 2+}>Ca{sup 2+}>Al{sup 3+}>O{sup 2-}>Si{sup 4+}. The diffusivity of the slag increases with the increase of MgO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} ratio and the corresponding viscosity decreases. And the enthalpy of the slag is increased with the increase of MgO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} ratio or basicity, therefore the fuel consumption should also be properly adjusted during the operation of blast furnace to ensure the target temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Constitutive Modeling for Predicting High-Temperature Flow Behavior in Aluminum 5083+10 Wt Pct SiC{sub p} Composite

A constitutive model capable of predicting material flow behavior with high precision is essential for optimizing secondary processing parameters through simulation techniques. In this study, the hot deformation behavior of aluminum 5083+10 wt pct SiC particulate composite was predicted using constitutive equations based on the modified Johnson–Cook (JC), modified Zerilli–Armstrong (ZA), and strain-compensated Arrhenius models. The models were established on the basis of the true stress–strain values obtained from an isothermal hot compression test conducted on the INSTRON 8801 universal tensile testing machine under a temperature range of 473 K to 773 K and strain rate of 0.01 to 10 s{sup −1}. The prediction ability of the modified models was compared by calculating the correlation coefficient (R), average absolute relative error, and relative error. All the models could precisely predict the hot flow behavior of the composite. The modified ZA model had the highest accuracy. The JC model required the least number of material constants and had the lowest calculation time, followed by the modified ZA and strain-compensated Arrhenius models.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-throughput ion irradiation of additively manufactured compositionally complex alloys

Several advanced nuclear reactor designs promise efficiency and safety improvements over the current reactor fleet but are limited by the current set of ASME code-qualified materials. Novel alloys including high-entropy alloys (HEAs), and more broadly compositionally complex alloys (CCAs), have shown promising irradiation-tolerance. However, the vast range of alloy compositions adds to an already time-consuming alloy development process. In this study, to accelerate the development of novel alloys for nuclear applications, a high-throughput (HTP) methodology has been employed. Additive manufacturing has been used to produce a compositional array of unary, binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys, including several CCAs, which span the Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni composition space. Additionally, the compositional array was homogenized at 1000°C for 24 hours and each sample was irradiated using 4-MeV Ni2+ ions at room temperature to a peak damage of 50 dpa, as estimated using SRIM, at the University of Wisconsin Ion Beam Laboratory. A custom XY stage was built to accommodate the large compositional array and half of each sample was masked during irradiation enabling both the irradiated and unirradiated properties of each alloy to be characterized side-by-side. Each alloy was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and nanoindentation. CALPHAD simulations spanning the entire Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni composition space at 1000°C were performed to compare predicted equilibrium phases with phases identified experimentally from the unirradiated regions of each alloy. Nanoindentation measurements indicate radiation-induced hardening ranging from ~1-1.5 GPa in each of Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni CCAs, which is relatively insensitive to modest changes in alloy composition and comparable to hardening observed in neutron irradiated Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni CCAs in the literature. Overall, a substantial time savings was realized by employing HTP synthesis, irradiation, and characterization in this study compared to conventional techniques, the implications of which are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Measurements of Silicosis Factors in Lunar and Martian Simulants

Simulants are geologically complex materials that are developed to represent the physical and/or compositional characteristics of a planetary surface (e.g., a naturally occurring soil or regolith). There are dozens of commercially available simulants that have been developed over the years; each simulant exhibits unique physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics. Simulants are derived from either natural or synthetic sources (i.e., “feedstocks”) of glass, minerals, and rocks. These feedstock components are processed by crushing, pulverizing, melting, etc., and then combined in the appropriate proportions to represent a particular site, surface, or region (e.g., Lunar Highlands Regolith). The process of creating simulants therefore requires the mechanical breakdown and reincorporation of feedstock components which may contain crystalline silica minerals such as quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite. Certain crystalline silica particles of the respirable fraction (<10 μm in diameter) are of great concern; chronic and acute exposure to these respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can lead to permanent damage and scarring of lung tissue, incurable lung diseases (i.e., silicosis), lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and kidney disease. Planetary simulants are used extensively as test materials in the in scientific and engineering communities (e.g., testing of dust mitigation technologies, in-situ resource utilization, rover mobility, hardware, soft goods etc.). As such, this assessment was developed to serve as a guide for simulant users, local Safety and Occupational Health professionals, and Industrial Hygienists to evaluate the risk of silicosis across a wide variety of Lunar and Martian simulants. The goal of these works is to ensure that those working with simulant can do so safely and with an informed understanding of potential health risks.

Lunar↗

Measurements of Silicosis Factors in Lunar and Martian Simulants

Simulants are geologically complex materials that are developed to represent the physical and/or compositional characteristics of a planetary surface (e.g., a naturally occurring soil or regolith). There are dozens of commercially available simulants that have been developed over the years; each simulant exhibits unique physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics. Simulants are derived from either natural or synthetic sources (i.e., “feedstocks”) of glass, minerals, and rocks. These feedstock components are processed by crushing, pulverizing, melting, etc., and then combined in the appropriate proportions to represent a particular site, surface, or region (e.g., Lunar Highlands Regolith). The process of creating simulants therefore requires the mechanical breakdown and reincorporation of feedstock components which may contain crystalline silica minerals such as quartz, cristobalite, and tridymite. Certain crystalline silica particles of the respirable fraction (<10 μm in diameter) are of great concern; chronic and acute exposure to these respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can lead to permanent damage and scarring of lung tissue, incurable lung diseases (i.e., silicosis), lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and kidney disease. Planetary simulants are used extensively as test materials in the in scientific and engineering communities (e.g., testing of dust mitigation technologies, in-situ resource utilization, rover mobility, hardware, soft goods etc.). As such, this assessment was developed to serve as a guide for simulant users, local Safety and Occupational Health professionals, and Industrial Hygienists to evaluate the risk of silicosis across a wide variety of Lunar and Martian simulants. The goal of these works is to ensure that those working with simulant can do so safely and with an informed understanding of potential health risks.

Lunar↗

An ICME Modeling Framework for Titanium/Tungsten-Carbide Metal Matrix Composites

This report describes a collaborative project to develop a validated, predictive model for the high temperature mechanical properties of a titanium-matrix, tungsten-carbide/cobalt-reinforced metal matrix composite. The modeling approach was to first develop a detailed, microstructural model linking the material structure and the interfacial debonding properties to the effective properties of the material. The project then completed a throughput simulation campaign to generate a large number of simulations for discrete microstructures and different debonding parameters. Finally, the project trained a fast, Gaussian process surrogate model against this simulation database to provide a quick model linking the material compositions, structure, and processing parameters to the resulting material properties. This model was validated against high temperature tensile test data on a few particular composite compositions. The tests validate the model predictions for ultimate tensile strength and uniform elongation/ductility, meaning the final surrogate model can now be used to tune the material composition and processing parameters to identify optimal composite compositions for particular applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Application of the MAT 213 Composite Impact Model to NASA Problems of Interest

As composite materials are gaining increased use in aircraft components where impact resistance under high-energy impact conditions is important (such as the turbine engine fan case), the need for accurate material models to simulate the deformation, damage, and failure response of polymer matrix composites under impact conditions is becoming more critical.

Polymer Matrix Composites↗

Verification and Validation Process for Progressive Damage and Failure Analysis Methods in the NASA Advanced Composites Consortium

The Advanced Composites Consortium is a US Government/Industry partnership supporting technologies to enable timeline and cost reduction in the development of certified composite aerospace structures. A key component of the consortium's approach is the development and validation of improved progressive damage and failure analysis methods for composite structures. These methods will enable increased use of simulations in design trade studies and detailed design development, and thereby enable more targeted physical test programs to validate designs. To accomplish this goal with confidence, a rigorous verification and validation process was developed. The process was used to evaluate analysis methods and associated implementation requirements to ensure calculation accuracy and to gage predictability for composite failure modes of interest. This paper introduces the verification and validation process developed by the consortium during the Phase I effort of the Advanced Composites Project. Specific structural failure modes of interest are first identified, and a subset of standard composite test articles are proposed to interrogate a progressive damage analysis method's ability to predict each failure mode of interest. Test articles are designed to capture the underlying composite material constitutive response as well as the interaction of failure modes representing typical failure patterns observed in aerospace structures.

Wanthal, Steven↗

Overview of Large-scale Tropospheric Transport in the Chemistry Climate Model Initiative (CCMI) Simulations

The transport of chemicals is a major uncertainty in the modeling of tropospheric composition. Here we compare the large-scale tropospheric transport properties among different models in the Chemistry Climate Modeling Initiative (CCMI) with a focus on transport defined with respect to the Northern Hemisphere (NH) midlatitude surface. Among simulations of the recent past (1980-2010) we show that there are substantial differences in their global-scale tropospheric transport properties. For example, the mean transit time since southern hemisphere air last contacted the NH midlatitude surface differs by ~30-40% among simulations. We show that these differences are most likely associated with differences in parameterized convection over the oceans, such that the spread in transport among simulations constrained with analysis fields is as large as the spread among free-running simulations.

large-scale tropospheric transport↗

Projected Impact of Climate Change on the Energy Budget of the Arctic Ocean by a Global Climate Model

The annual energy budget of the Arctic Ocean is characterized by a net heat loss at the air-sea interface that is balanced by oceanic heat transport into the Arctic. The energy loss at the air-sea interface is due to the combined effects of radiative, sensible, and latent heat fluxes. The inflow of heat by the ocean can be divided into two components: the transport of water masses of different temperatures between the Arctic and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the export of sea ice, primarily through Fram Strait. Two 150-year simulations (1950-2099) of a global climate model are used to examine how this balance might change if atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) increase. One is a control simulation for the present climate with constant 1950 atmospheric composition, and the other is a transient experiment with observed GHGs from 1950 to 1990 and 0.5% annual compounded increases of CO2 after 1990. For the present climate the model agrees well with observations of radiative fluxes at the top of the atmosphere, atmospheric advective energy transport into the Arctic, and surface air temperature. It also simulates the seasonal cycle and summer increase of cloud cover and the seasonal cycle of sea-ice cover. In addition, the changes in high-latitude surface air temperature and sea-ice cover in the GHG experiment are consistent with observed changes during the last 40 and 20 years, respectively. Relative to the control, the last 50-year period of the GHG experiment indicates that even though the net annual incident solar radiation at the surface decreases by 4.6 W(per square meters) (because of greater cloud cover and increased cloud optical depth), the absorbed solar radiation increases by 2.8 W(per square meters) (because of less sea ice). Increased cloud cover and warmer air also cause increased downward thermal radiation at the surface so that the net radiation into the ocean increases by 5.0 Wm-2. The annual increase in radiation into the ocean, however, is compensated by larger increases in sensible and latent heat fluxes out of the ocean. Although the net energy loss from the ocean surface increases by 0.8 W (per square meters), this is less than the interannual variability, and the increase may not indicate a long-term trend. The seasonal cycle of heat fluxes is significantly enhanced. The downward surface heat flux increases in summer (maximum 2 of 19 W per square meters or 23% in June) while the upward heat flux increases in winter (maximum of 16 W per square meters or 28% in November). The increased downward flux in summer is due to a combination of increases in absorbed solar and thermal radiation and smaller losses of sensible and latent heat. The increased heat loss in winter is due to increased sensible and latent heat fluxes, which in turn are due to reduced sea-ice cover. On the other hand, the seasonal cycle of surface air temperature is damped, as there is a large increase in winter temperature but little change in summer.

Miller, James R.↗

Experimental and Analytical Characterization of the Macromechanical Response for Triaxial Braided Composite Materials

Increasingly, carbon composite structures are being used in aerospace applications. Their highstrength, high-stiffness, and low-weight properties make them good candidates for replacing many aerospace structures currently made of aluminum or steel. Recently, many of the aircraft engine manufacturers have developed new commercial jet engines that will use composite fan cases. Instead of using traditional composite layup techniques, these new fan cases will use a triaxially braided pattern, which improves case performance. The impact characteristics of composite materials for jet engine fan case applications have been an important research topic because Federal regulations require that an engine case be able to contain a blade and blade fragments during an engine blade-out event. Once the impact characteristics of these triaxial braided materials become known, computer models can be developed to simulate a jet engine blade-out event, thus reducing cost and time in the development of these composite jet engine cases. The two main problems that have arisen in this area of research are that the properties for these materials have not been fully determined and computationally efficient computer models, which incorporate much of the microscale deformation and failure mechanisms, are not available. The research reported herein addresses some of the deficiencies present in previous research regarding these triaxial braided composite materials. The current research develops new techniques to accurately quantify the material properties of the triaxial braided composite materials. New test methods are developed for the polymer resin composite constituent and representative composite coupons. These methods expand previous research by using novel specimen designs along with using a noncontact measuring system that is also capable of identifying and quantifying many of the microscale failure mechanisms present in the materials. Finally, using the data gathered, a new hybrid micromacromechanical computer model is created to simulate the behavior of these composite material systems under static and ballistic impact loading using the test data acquired. The model also quantifies the way in which the fiber/matrix interface affects material response under static and impact loading. The results show that the test methods are capable of accurately quantifying the polymer resin under a variety of strain rates and temperature for three loading conditions. The resin strength and stiffness data show a clear rate and temperature dependence. The data also show the hydrostatic stress effects and hysteresis, all of which can be used by researchers developing composite constitutive models for the resins. The results for the composite data reveal noticeable differences in strength, failure strain, and stiffness in the different material systems presented. The investigations into the microscale failure mechanisms provide information about the nature of the different material system behaviors. Finally, the developed computer model predicts composite static strength and stiffness to within 10 percent of the gathered test data and also agrees with composite impact data, where available.

Littell, Justin D.↗

Selectivity trend of gas separation through nanoporous graphene

By means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we demonstrate that porous graphene can efficiently separate gases according to their molecular sizes. The flux sequence from the classical MD simulation is H{sub 2}>CO{sub 2}≫N{sub 2}>Ar>CH{sub 4}, which generally follows the trend in the kinetic diameters. This trend is also confirmed from the fluxes based on the computed free energy barriers for gas permeation using the umbrella sampling method and kinetic theory of gases. Both brute-force MD simulations and free-energy calcualtions lead to the flux trend consistent with experiments. Case studies of two compositions of CO{sub 2}/N{sub 2} mixtures further demonstrate the separation capability of nanoporous graphene. - Graphical abstract: Classical molecular dynamics simulations show the flux trend of H{sub 2}>CO{sub 2}≫N{sub 2}>Ar>CH{sub 4} for their permeation through a porous graphene, in excellent agreement with a recent experiment. - Highlights: • Classical MD simulations show the flux trend of H{sub 2}>CO{sub 2}≫N{sub 2}>Ar>CH{sub 4} for their permeation through a porous graphene. • Free energy calculations yield permeation barriers for those gases. • Selectivities for several gas pairs are estimated from the free-energy barriers and the kinetic theory of gases. • The selectivity trend is in excellent agreement with a recent experiment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Advanced Environmental Barrier Coating Development for SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites: NASA's Perspectives

This presentation reviews NASA environmental barrier coating (EBC) system development programs and the coating materials evolutions for protecting the SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites in order to meet the next generation engine performance requirements. The presentation focuses on several generations of NASA EBC systems, EBC-CMC component system technologies for SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite combustors and turbine airfoils, highlighting the temperature capability and durability improvements in simulated engine high heat flux, high pressure, high velocity, and with mechanical creep and fatigue loading conditions. The current EBC development emphasis is placed on advanced NASA 2700F candidate environmental barrier coating systems for SiC/SiC CMCs, their performance benefits and design limitations in long-term operation and combustion environments. Major technical barriers in developing environmental barrier coating systems, the coating integrations with next generation CMCs having the improved environmental stability, erosion-impact resistance, and long-term fatigue-environment system durability performance are described. The research and development opportunities for advanced turbine airfoil environmental barrier coating systems by utilizing improved compositions, state-of-the-art processing methods, and simulated environment testing and durability modeling are discussed.

Ceramic Matrix Composites↗

Effect of Cyclic Thermal Loads on Fatigue Reliability in Polymer Matrix Composites

Technological solutions that will ensure the economic viability and environmental compatibility of a future High Speed Civil Transport plane are currently being sought. Lighter structural materials for both airframe primary structures and engine structure components are being investigated. We believe that such objectives can be achieved through the use of high-temperature composites as well as other conventional, lighter weight alloys. One of the prime issues for these structural components is assured long-term behavior with a specified reliability. An investigation was conducted to describe a computational simulation methodology for predicting fatigue life, reliability, and probabilistic long-term behavior of polymer matrix composites. A unified time-, stress-, and load-dependent Multi- Factor Interaction Equation (MFIE) model developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center was used to simulate the long-term behavior of polymer matrix composites.

Chamis, Christos C.↗