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At least 19 records

A microdynamic version of the tensile test machine

Very large space structures require structural reactions to control forces associated with nanometer-level displacements; JPL has accordingly built a tensile test machine capable of mN-level force measurements and nm-level displacement measurements, with a view to the study of structural linear joining technology at the lower limit of its resolution. The tester is composed of a moving table that is supported by six flexured legs and a test specimen cantilevered off the table to ground. Three vertical legs contain piezoactuators allowing changes in length up to 200 microns while generating axial load and bending moments. Displacements between ground and table are measured by means of three laser-interferometric channels.

Glaser, R. J.↗

Testing Machine for Biaxial Loading

Standard tensile-testing machine applies bending and tension simultaneously. Biaxial-loading test machine created by adding two test fixtures to commercial tensile-testing machine. Bending moment applied by substrate-deformation fixture comprising yoke and anvil block. Pneumatic tension-load fixture pulls up on bracket attached to top surface of specimen. Tension and deflection measured with transducers. Modified test apparatus originally developed to load-test Space Shuttle surface-insulation tiles and particuarly important for composite structures.

Demonet, R. J.↗

Portable, Controlled-Load-Rate Tension Tester

Tensile-testing machine for ceramic and foam materials has selfcontained air supply with built-in airflow controller. New machine easily moved to point of use, and loads applied automatically at constant rate of increase, without fluctuations caused by manual control of supply pressure. Eliminates impact after failure of specimen so it does not damage itself. Potential applications of machine include tensile tests of large composite parts that contain localized defects and adhesion tests of virtually any bonded structure.

Jamieson, R. S.↗

Nondestructive Strain Measurement System Used to Determine Surface Strain on Fibers

Small-diameter structural fibers are being considered as reinforcements for high temperature ceramic matrix composite materials, and thus they require characterization. At the NASA Lewis Research Center, a nondestructive optical technique was used to determine surface strain on a structural fiber, in real time, as it was pulled in a tensile test machine. With this technique, interference or speckle patterns from the laser illuminated fiber test specimen are recorded. As the fiber is pulled, its speckle pattern shifts in proportion to the strain, translation, and rotation components of the sample deformation. Shifting speckle patterns are detected in real time by two linear charge-coupled discharge (CCD) camera arrays, and the images are processed by a hardware correlator. Surface strain is selectively detected on fibers with diameters on the order of 100 mm and can be resolved to 19 microstrain. This system was designed to be robust and compact and generally does not require surface preparation of the structural fibers. For strain detection, two laser beams are positioned incident on the structural fiber being tested, as shown in the photograph, where the test specimen is mounted in a tensile test machine via two coupons. As the fiber is pulled, the speckle pattern produced from each laser beam is detected by one of two CCD arrays located inside the tube on the right side of the photograph.

Tuma, Margaret L.↗

Modifications of system for elevated temperature tensile testing and stress-strain measurement of metal matrix composites

Composites consisting of tungsten alloy wires in superalloy matrices are being studied because they offer the potential for increased strength compared to current materials used at temperatures up to at least 1093 C (2000F). Previous research at the NASA Lewis Research Center and at other laboratories in the U.S., Europe, and Japan has demonstrated laboratory feasibility for fiber reinforced superalloys (FRS). The data for the mechanical and physical properties used to evaluate candidate materials is limited and a need exists for a more detailed and complete data base. The focus of this work is to develop a test procedure to provide a more complete FRS data base to quantitatively evaluate the composite's potential for component applications. This paper will describe and discuss the equipment and procedures under development to obtain elevated temperature tensile stress-strain, strength and modulus data for the first generation of tungsten fiber reinforced superalloy composite (TFRS) materials. Tensile stress-strain tests are conducted using a constant crosshead speed tensile testing machine and a modified load-strain measuring apparatus. Elevated temperature tensile tests are performed using a resistance wound commercial furnace capable of heating test specimens up to 1093 C (2000 F). Tensile stress-strain data are obtained for hollow tubular stainless steel specimens serving as a prototype for future composite specimens.

Diaz, J. O.↗

Effect of Martensite Content on Failure Behavior of Laser Welded Dual-Phase Steel Joints During Deformation

Laser welding was applied to three types of dual-phase (DP) steel sheets (DP590, DP780, and DP980) with different martensite contents. The microstructure of laser welded joints was observed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope, and the hardness of welded joints was measured by a microhardness tester. The tensile testing machine and the Erichsen test machine were employed to measure the tensile properties and forming properties of welded joints, respectively. The microstructure model showed that the welded joints of three different materials all contained a hardened zone (HZ) that was composed of a fusion zone, a coarse-grained heat-affected zone, and fine-grained heat-affected zone. The microstructure of the HZ contained mainly martensite such that the average martensite content of welded joints was increased by 1.9-9.8%, and the microhardness of the HZ was 1.2-1.9 times that of the base metal (BM). Moreover, the elongation of welded joints decreased with decreasing martensite content in the BM, and the effect was severe for the DP590 welded joint (21.8%) compared to the other two welded joints. During the Erichsen test, deformation failure varied among the welded joints with different martensite contents, and it was determined by the HZ and softened zone. The fracture occurred in the softened zone and ran parallel along the zone for DP980 welded joints, whereas the fracture occurred in the HZ and ran perpendicular to this zone for the other two welded joints. The Erichsen values of the DP590, DP780, and DP980 welded joints were 81.1, 91.7, and 85.0% of the BM, respectively.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Properties of CoCrMo Alloy Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting

To obtain medical implants with better mechanical properties, it is necessary to conduct studies on the heat treatment process of the selective laser melting (SLM) manufacturing parts. The differential scanning calorimetry method was used to study the heat treatment process of the phase transition of SLM CoCrMo alloy parts. The tensile properties were tested with a tensile test machine, the quantity of carbide precipitated after heat treatment was measured by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and the tensile fracture morphology of the parts was investigated using SEM. The obtained results were: Mechanical properties in terms of elongation and tensile strength of CoCrMo alloy manufactured by SLM that had been heat-treated at 1200 °C for 2 h followed by cooling with water were not only higher than the national standard but also higher than the experimental results of the same batch of castings. The mechanism of fracture of parts manufactured by SLM without heat treatment was brittle fracture, whereas parts which had been heat-treated at 1200 °C for 2 h combined with water cooling and at 1200 °C for 1 h with furnace cooling suffered ductile fracture. This study provides the basis for defining the applications for which CoCrMo alloys manufactured by SLM are suitable within the field of medical implants.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Additive Manufacturing, Design, Testing, and Fabrication: A Full Engineering Experience at JSC

I worked on several projects this term. While most projects involved additive manufacturing, I was also involved with two design projects, two testing projects, and a fabrication project. The primary mentor for these was Richard Hagen. Secondary mentors were Hai Nguyen, Khadijah Shariff, and fabrication training from James Brown. Overall, my experience at JSC has been successful and what I have learned will continue to help me in my engineering education and profession long after I leave. My 3D printing projects ranged from less than a 1 cubic centimeter to about 1 cubic foot and involved several printers using different printing technologies. It was exciting to become familiar with printing technologies such as industrial grade FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), the relatively new SLA (Stereolithography), and PolyJet. My primary duty with the FDM printers was to model parts that came in from various sources to print effectively and efficiently. Using methods my mentor taught me and the Stratasys Insight software, I was able to minimize imperfections, hasten build time, improve strength for specific forces (tensile, shear, etc...), and reduce likelihood of a print-failure. Also using FDM, I learned how to repair a part after it was printed. This is done by using a special kind of glue that chemically melts the two faces of plastic parts together to form a fused interface. My first goal with SLA technology was to bring the printer back to operational readiness. In becoming familiar with the Pegasus SLA printer, I researched the leveling, laser settings, and different vats to hold liquid material. With this research, I was successfully able to bring the Pegasus back online and have successfully printed multiple sample parts as well as functional parts. My experience with PolyJet technology has been focused on an understanding of the abilities/limits, costs, and the maintenance for daily use. Still upcoming will be experience with using a composite printer that uses FDM technology to print plastic while laying an internal filament of Kevlar or carbon-fiber inside the printed material. It has been incredible being exposed to this range of technologies and I feel very fortunate to be ready for virtually any kind of printing technology I come across in the future. Design work played a part in my internship this term as well. Working with Hai Nguyen, I was able to design a set of testing tips and a test frame for use with an Arcjet. The testing tips will be made of several different materials that will possibly be used in the heat shield of the Orion space craft. These designs included technical drawings that were presented to the fabrication shop. The frame design was created from 80/20 (a popular brand of frame construction equipment) and included an order form with pricing for fabrication. An independent design was also done for the virtual reality lab. This design was to create a hand-controller based on a previous design. This final design was sent directly to a 3D printer without technical drawings. Overall, my design work has given me experience with using 80/20, helped improve my CAD (Computer Aided Design) proficiency, and increased my knowledge of how to set up technical drawings for fabrication. The final role I have played in this internship has been to assist with testing of the inflatable technology materials working Khadijah Shariff. I began the internship assisting with permeability testing with the initial plan to continue the testing independently after training. Unfortunately, the testing apparatus suffered a technical failure and had funding pulled which cancelled that portion of the project. Further testing with inflatable technology continued with tensile testing of various stitching methods. This testing took place over a two-days and concluded successfully. Final testing was to be more tensile testing but of straps used to connect various inflatable sections. Unfortunately, the needed grips for the tensile tests could not be located and put the testing on hold. It is possible this round of testing will still take place by the end of the internship if the grips can be found. Overall, this portion of the internship has helped me become familiar with one kind of permeability test as well as a popular tensile/compression testing machine. Finally, I also had the chance to be trained using a metal lathe for making very small tips for a soldering iron. These tips will be used to melt threaded brass inserts into 3D printed plastic. Working with James Brown, I was able to successfully machine a brass rod down to as little as 0.064 inches plus or minus 0.001 inches. It was very rewarding to learn how to best use the machine and become familiar with a skill that will undoubtedly be used again in the future. I have been told by several professional engineers that learning to use a lathe and mill will be invaluable skills in the field. This knocks 50 percent of that goal off and I look forward to learning the mill at some point in the future. As is apparent with this list of projects, my internship was not focused on a single over-arching goal. Instead, I was able to gain experience in a myriad of very different areas. I feel like my time here was spent bouncing from one project to the next. Though sometimes difficult to switch gears, it was very rewarding to be a part of so much in so little time. My career and education will be positively impacted by what I have learned at JSC. My experience with 3D printing has improved my ability to handle many issues that may come up in the future with multiple different technologies. The design work I took part in, especially creating technical drawings, will help me better present designs to any engineer or shop I will encounter. My testing experience has helped me become familiar with a popular kind of tensile test machine that will likely be similar to the kinds I will encounter in the future. Finally, my experience with fabrication has given me a rare opportunity, as an engineer, to take part in the fabrication of a part. This experience will help me better tailor my future designs for the manufacturing process and has given me an appreciation for detailed/delicate machining work. My experience at JSC has been successful and will continue to assist me for a long time within the engineering field.

Zusack, Steven↗

Improved Tensile Adhesion Specimens for High Strength Epoxy Systems in Aerospace Applications

An improved tensile adhesion button has been designed and tested that results in higher measured tensile adhesion strength while providing increased capability for testing high strength epoxy adhesive systems. The best attributes of two well-established tensile button designs were combined and refined into an optimized tensile button. The most significant design change to the tensile button was to improve alignment of the bonded tensile button specimens during tensile testing by changing the interface between the tensile button and the tensile test machine. The established or old button design uses a test fixture that pulls from a grooved annulus or anvil head while the new button design pulls from a threaded hole in the centerline of the button. Finite element (FE) analysis showed that asymmetric loading of the established anvil head tensile button significantly increases the stress concentration in the adhesive, causing failure at lower tensile test loads. The new tensile button was designed to eliminate asymmetric loading and eliminate misalignment sensitivity. Enhanced alignment resulted in improved tensile adhesion strength measurement up to 13.8 MPa (2000psi) over the established button design. Another design change increased the capability of the button by increasing the threaded hole diameter allowing it to test high strength epoxy systems up to 85 MPa(less than 12,000 psi). The improved tensile button can be used in button- to-button or button-to-panel configurations.

Haddock, M. Reed↗

Effect of Zn on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys with a medium number of Fe-rich phase particles

Highlights: • Zn has a negligible influence on the final recrystallization microstructure and texture of Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys. • By adding Fe-rich phase particles to refine the recrystallization grain sizes could control the texture. • The deep drawability of Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys could be affected by solute Zn atom besides the microstructure and texture. - Abstract: The effect of Zn on the microstructure, texture evolution and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys with a medium number of Fe-rich phase particles was investigated using tensile testing machine, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) in the present study. The results show that Zn addition has a significant influence on the final mechanical properties, but a slight effect on microstructure and final recrystallization texture. Zn addition is favorable to increase yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation, however it is detrimental to improve r value and reduce Δr value. During the thermomechanical processing, the microstructure almost has nothing to do with Zn addition. However, Zn could prevent the secondary phase particles from precipitating during intermediate annealing. In contrast to the alloy sheet without Zn, the alloy sheet with 1.0 wt% Zn always has weaker textures before final cold rolling, but a stronger texture after experiencing final cold rolling. After solution treatment, they almost possess the same recrystallization texture. Finally, the effect of Zn addition on the recrystallization texture was discussed. Their similar recrystallization texture can be attributed to the similar microstructure, which was caused by the medium number of Fe-rich phase particles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel/Brass Joints Brazed by Sn-Electroplated Ag Brazing Filler Metals

To develop a high-Sn-content AgCuZnSn brazing filler metal, the BAg50CuZn was used as the base filler metal and a Sn layer was electroplated upon it. Then, the 304 stainless steel and the H62 brass were induction-brazed with the Sn-plated brazing filler metals. The microstructures of the joints were examined with an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope and an x-ray diffractometer. The corresponding mechanical properties were obtained with a universal tensile testing machine. The results indicated that the induction brazed joints consisted of the Ag phase, the Cu phase and the CuZn phase. When the content of Sn in the Sn-plated Ag brazing filler metal was 6.0 or 7.2 wt.%, the Cu{sub 5}Zn{sub 8}, the Cu{sub 41}Sn{sub 11} and the Ag{sub 3}Sn phases appeared in the brazed joint. The tensile strength of the joints brazed with the Sn-plated filler metal was higher compared to the joints with the base filler metal. When the content of Sn was 6.0 wt.%, the highest tensile strength of the joint reached to 395 MPa. The joint fractures presented a brittle mode, mixed with a low amount of ductile fracture, when the content of Sn exceeded 6.0 wt.%.

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↗

Constitutive Modeling for Hot Deformation Behavior of Al-5083 + SiC Composite

In the present research, isothermal hot deformation behavior of aluminum 5083 alloy + 15 (wt.%) SiC composite was obtained through compression test on INSTRON 8801 universal tensile testing machine (UTM) under a wide temperature range of 473-773 K and strain rate range of 0.01-10 s{sup −1}. The experimental true stress–strain data were employed to establish constitutive equations based on modified Johnson–Cook (JC) model and modified Zerilli–Armstrong (ZA) model to predict the hot flow behavior of the composite. The flow stress values obtained from these two models were plotted against the experimental flow curves to check the accuracy of these models. Suitability of the models was evaluated by comparing correlation coefficient (R), average absolute relative error and relative errors of prediction. The results show that the hot flow stresses of the present material depend on temperature and strain rate significantly. Both the models give good description of the hot deformation behavior of the composite. The prediction accuracy is found to be higher for modified ZA model compared to modified JC model, though the number of materials constants involved and time needed to evaluate them to establish the model are lower for modified JC model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermo-Oxidation Analysis of Structural Adhesives: An Experimental Study

Abstract Cross-linked polymers play an important role in structural applications as adhesives. In this article, we performed an experimental study to understand the effects of high temperature i.e. thermo-oxidative aging on the mechanical behavior of polymers. Subsequently, the constitutive behavior, i.e. stress-strain relation of these adhesives before and after the accelerated aging tests were studied on samples aged at different temperature and different time durations at zero humidity. The aging conditions and periods selected for the tests have been specifically designed to simulate the effects of aging under the working conditions that the materials will be subjected to in their standard applications. The focus of this study is on the investigation of the effects of aging on the polymeric adhesives used in automotive applications. Consequently, four different polymeric adhesives (one silicone-based, two polyurethane-based, and one acrylic type), which are being used extensively in these applications, have been chosen. The quasi-static tensile loading was used on these four adhesives and the changes in the constitutive behavior were measured. The failure tensile tests as well as the cyclic tensile tests were performed in our lab using a Test-Resources tensile testing machine. The temperatures that were used in this work are 60, 80 and 95°C for varying aging periods of 24hrs, 240hrs, and 720hrs. Then, all the data was collected and consequently analyzed, and the resulting behavior was compared to that of the unaged material, showing varying results depending on the material, temperature, and aging period. Different behaviors have been observed after aging. The polymers’ behavior was expanding from no effect to significant damage caused by aging conditions. This work provides the core understanding required for modeling the material behavior during aging and lays down the groundwork for further data-infused model-free approaches.

Alazhary, Sharif↗

High-temperature secondary hydriding experiments with E110 and E110G claddings - 2016-0031

Secondary hydriding can take place during a loss-of-coolant accident event after the ballooning and burst of the zirconium alloy cladding. The oxidation and hydrogen uptake in the ballooned section can produce the weakest segment of the rod. This phenomenon was investigated in the past mainly for Zircaloy-4 cladding. We investigated the effect of secondary hydriding in VVER reactors with E110 and E110G alloys. A high-temperature facility was built to carry out high-temperature treatment of fuel cladding samples. The burst of tubes was reached with inner pressurization at 750 and 800 C. After burst the samples were oxidized in the same furnace for different periods and at different temperatures. The oxidized samples were tested in a tensile test machine with four-point bending tests. The microstructure of the samples was analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The hydrogen content of the cladding was measured by heat extraction, prompt gamma activation analyses, and neutron radiography methods. The experiments indicated that the ballooned section after oxidation became the weakest segment of the VVER fuel. According to the mechanical testing, the cladding samples were brittle even after a short oxidation time (200 s at 1,000 C) without any sign of ductile behavior. The comparison of E110 and E110G samples showed that the E110 tubes lost their load-bearing capability or even integrity much earlier than the E110G samples treated under similar conditions. (authors)

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Peel resistance of adhesive bonds accurately measured

Strength of adhesive bond between layers of laminated material is tested by peel force to the facing with a tensile testing machine. Testing jig has stainless steel rollers which constrain material to move horizontally while maintaining free end of facing at constant 90 deg angle.

Source record↗

Testing device subjects elastic materials to biaxial deformations

Testing device stretches elastic materials biaxially over large deformation ranges and varies strain ratios in two perpendicular directions. The device is used in conjunction with a tensile testing machine, which holds the specimen and permits control over the direction and magnitude of the stresses applied.

Becker, G. W.↗