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Results for “Processing-Microstructure-Properties”

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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High-throughput, Ultra-fast Laser Sintering of Ceramics and AI Based Prediction on Processing-Microstructure-Property Relationships

We report high-throughput, ultra-fast laser sintering of alumina sample array and characterization of sample units’ microstructure and hardness, as a fast exploration of laser processing parameters, microstructure, and property. These experimental data were used to train machine-learning (ML) models. Accurate ML predictions were demonstrated for the processing-microstructure-property relationship, specifically in (1) prediction of the microstructure of alumina under arbitrary laser power and (2) prediction of the expected microstructure from the desired hardness. An independent neural network was developed and showed that ML-predicted microstructure had less than 10% error from real ones, in terms of projected hardness. To monitor the microstructure during laser sintering, we demonstrated an ML model that can instantaneously predict ceramic’s microstructure at the laser spot, based on the laser spot brightness. The ML model can generate more than 10 predictions per second, and the error in average grain size was less than 5% from the experimental observations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Stochastic reconstruction and microstructure modeling of SMC chopped fiber composites

Here, to establish an integrated Processing-Microstructure-Property workflow for the prediction of material behaviors, this paper presents a new stochastic pseudo-3D microstructure reconstruction method for Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) chopped fiber composites. The proposed method captures the bi-level microstructural features of SMC composites. At the higher level, a Voronoi diagram-based algorithm is developed to reconstruct the unique substructure features of SMC fiber tows. The geometry of Voronoi cells is adjusted by a Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm to match the geometrical statistics of the real fiber tows. At the lower level, the algorithm assigns fiber orientation to each Voronoi cell (which represents a fiber tow). The fiber orientation angles are recovered from a statistical fiber orientation tensor. The proposed method is employed to establish a multi-layer pseudo-3D SMC Representative Volume Element (RVE) model for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of SMC microstructure. This model enables the prediction of mechanical properties based on the material processing information (e.g. fiber orientation tensor obtained from compression molding simulation), and the microstructure information obtained from microscopic imaging for an SMC composite. Lastly, the predicted properties are successfully validated by experimental tensile tests.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Location-Dependent Mechanical Property Evaluation on Additively Manufacture Materials

This report summarizes research activities conducted at Argonne National Laboratory in support of the development, qualification and certification of additively manufactured (AM) metallic components to allow for innovative reactor design and licensing for the Transformational Challenge Reactor (TCR). Focus is on the evaluation of high temperature mechanical properties including creep and fatigue of 316L stainless steel manufactured by the laser powder bed fusion process. Creep behavior of AM 316L stainless steel was evaluated for rods printed by either or a combination of both lasers of the dual-laser system of a Concept Laser-M2 printer to examine the consistency across the build plate. Creep tests were conducted at temperatures of 550, 575, 600, and 650°C and stresses between 175 and 300 MPa using ASTM standard-sized specimens. The effect of heat treatments at different temperatures on creep properties of AM 316L SS was examined to understand the processing-microstructure-property relationship. Fatigue properties of AM 316L SS were investigated for two print geometries (rod and plate) and in two build orientations of printed plates. Locations of specimens in the build were carefully tracked such that the testing data can be directly related to location-specific in situ data to establish links between printing process, post-printing treatment, microstructure and mechanical properties. The work is to support the development of a digital platform informed approach to AM component qualification and certification for nuclear applications.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

From Solidification Processing to Microstructure to Mechanical Properties: A Multi-scale X-ray Study of an Al-Cu Alloy Sample

We follow an Al-12 at. pct Cu alloy sample from the liquid state to mechanical failure, using in situ X-ray radiography during directional solidification and tensile testing, as well as three-dimensional computed tomography of the microstructure before and after mechanical testing. The solidification processing stage is simulated with a multi-scale dendritic needle network model, and the micromechanical behavior of the solidified microstructure is simulated using voxelized tomography data and an elasto-viscoplastic fast Fourier transform model. This study demonstrates the feasibility of direct in situ monitoring of a metal alloy microstructure from the liquid processing stage up to its mechanical failure, supported by quantitative simulations of microstructure formation and its mechanical behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗