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Results for “fractured domains”

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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

pH-SWITCHABLE DYNAMIC BINARY COMPLEXES AS VISCOSITY MODIFYING AGENTS

The study of supramolecular structures has been gaining a lot of momentum in recent years due to their potential application in several interesting areas such as medicine, catalysis, energy, oil and gas, etc. Hydraulic fracturing is one area where the ongoing demand for novel viscosity modifiers has prompted researchers to explore various facets of chemistry. In this study, a dynamic binary complex (DBC) solution is presented, with the potential to be useful in the hydraulic fracturing domain. It has a supramolecular structure that is formed by the self-assembly of oleic acid and diethylenetriamine into an elongated network under alkaline conditions. With less than 2 wt% of constituents in aqueous solution, a viscous gel that exhibits high viscosities even under shear was formed. It was sensitive to pH and salinity, and its zero-shear viscosity could be tuned by a factor of ~280 by changing the pH. Furthermore, its viscous properties were pronounced in the presence of salt. Sand settling tests revealed its potential to hold up sand particles for extended periods of time, longer than 24 hours. In conclusion, this DBC solution system has potential to be utilized as a smart pH-switchable hydraulic fracturing fluid that can be prepared using seawater.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2025

Finite domain solution of a hydraulic fracture in a permeable rock

In this work, we present a domain-based algorithm to simulate the propagation of a plane-strain hydraulic fracture in a zero-toughness permeable elastic medium. The algorithm utilizes a domain-based method to solve the elasticity equation and integrates a multi-scale tip asymptote, which is particular to hydraulic fractures, into this framework. This integration is key to accurately model the energy dissipation and the fluid leak-off in the fracture tip region. The algorithm combines a 2D finite volume method (FVM) for solving the elasticity equation with a 1D FVM for solving the nonlinear lubrication equation. Incorporating the far-field asymptotics and using a moving-mesh scheme reduces the computational burden while improving the accuracy of the scheme. The paper concludes with an analysis of the numerical results. This study demonstrates the potential of this domain-based approach for modeling hydraulic fractures in poroelastic media.

Domain-based method↗
NASA NTRS1991

An equivalent domain integral method for three-dimensional mixed-mode fracture problems

A general formulation of the equivalent domain integral (EDI) method for mixed mode fracture problems in cracked solids is presented. The method is discussed in the context of a 3-D finite element analysis. The J integral consists of two parts: the volume integral of the crack front potential over a torus enclosing the crack front and the crack surface integral due to the crack front potential plus the crack face loading. In mixed mode crack problems the total J integral is split into J sub I, J sub II, and J sub III representing the severity of the crack front in three modes of deformations. The direct and decomposition methods are used to separate the modes. These two methods were applied to several mixed mode fracture problems, were analyzed, and results were found to agree well with those available in the literature. The method lends itself to be used as a post-processing subroutine in a general purpose finite element program.

Shivakumar, K. N.↗
NASA NTRS1992

An equivalent domain integral method for three-dimensional mixed-mode fracture problems

A general formulation of the equivalent domain integral (EDI) method for mixed mode fracture problems in cracked solids is presented. The method is discussed in the context of a 3-D finite element analysis. The J integral consists of two parts: the volume integral of the crack front potential over a torus enclosing the crack front and the crack surface integral due to the crack front potential plus the crack face loading. In mixed mode crack problems the total J integral is split into J sub I, J sub II, and J sub III representing the severity of the crack front in three modes of deformations. The direct and decomposition methods are used to separate the modes. These two methods were applied to several mixed mode fracture problems, were analyzed, and results were found to agree well with those available in the literature. The method lends itself to be used as a post-processing subroutine in a general purpose finite element program.

Shivakumar, K. N.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Learning the factors controlling mineral dissolution in three-dimensional fracture networks: applications in geologic carbon sequestration

We perform a set of high-fidelity simulations of geochemical reactions within three-dimensional discrete fracture networks (DFN) and use various machine learning techniques to determine the primary factors controlling mineral dissolution. The DFN are partially filled with quartz that gradually dissolves until quasi-steady state conditions are reached. At this point, we measure the quartz remaining in each fracture within the domain as our primary quantity of interest. We observe that a primary sub-network of fractures exists, where the quartz has been fully dissolved out. This reduction in resistance to flow leads to increased flow channelization and reduced solute travel times. However, depending on the DFN topology and the rate of dissolution, we observe substantial variability in the volume of quartz remaining within fractures outside of the primary subnetwork. This variability indicates an interplay between the fracture network structure and geochemical reactions. We characterize the features controlling these processes by developing a machine learning framework to extract their relevant impact. Specifically, we use a combination of high-fidelity simulations with a graph-based approach to study geochemical reactive transport in a complex fracture network to determine the key features that control dissolution. We consider topological, geometric and hydrological features of the fracture network to predict the remaining quartz in quasi-steady state. We found that the dissolution reaction rate constant of quartz and the distance to the primary sub-network in the fracture network are the two most important features controlling the amount of quartz remaining. This study is a first step towards characterizing the parameters that control carbon mineralization using an approach with integrates computational physics and machine learning.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1987

Evidence for divergent plate-boundary characteristics and crustal spreading on Venus

Detailed examination of the topography and morphology of western Aphrodite Terra reveals numerous features that are similar to terrestrial divergent plate-boundary characteristics. Individual domains between fracture-zone-like discontinuities contain a variety of bilaterally symmetrical topographic elements that suggest that topographic features have been created at rise crests, rifted and separated, and moved laterally to their present symmetrical positions. The topographic and morphologic similarities, together with strikingly similar mirror-image map patterns on both sides of the rise axis, suggest that western Aphrodite Terra shares the characteristics of oceanic divergent plate boundaries, and is the site of crustal spreading on Venus. Topographic profiles are consistent with spreading rates of the order of several centimeters per year.

Head, James W., III↗
NASA NTRS1992

Phase transformations in 40-60-GPa shocked gneisses from the Haughton Crater (Canada): An Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy (ATEM) study

In order to better understand phase transformations, chemical migration, and isotopic disequilibrium in highly shocked rocks, we have performed a microprobe and an ATEM study on gneisses shocked up to 60 GPa from the Haughton Crater. This study reveals the following chemical and structural characteristics: (1) SiO2 dominant areas are formed by a mixture of pure SiO2 polycrystalline quartz identified by electron diffraction pattern and chemical analysis and a silica-rich amorphous phase containing minor amounts of aluminium, potassium, and iron; (2) Areas with biotitelike composition are formed by less than 200-nm grains of iron-rich spinels embedded in a silica-rich amorphous phase that is very similar to the one described above; (3) Layers with feldsparlike composition are constituted by 100-200-nm-sized alumina-rich grains (the indexation of the crystalline structure is under progress) and the silica-rich amorphous phase; (4) Zones characterized by the unusual Al/Si ratio close to 1 are formed by spinel grains (200-nm-sized) embedded in the same silica-rich amorphous phase; and (5) The fracturated sillimanites contain domains with a lamellar structure, defined by the intercalation of 100-nm-wide lamellae of mullite crystals and of a silica-rich amorphous phase. These mullite crystals preserved the crystallographical orientation of the preshock sillimanite. All compositional domains, identified at the microprobe scale, can thus be explained by a mixture in different proportion between the following phases: (1) a silica-rich amorphous phase, with minor Al and K; (2) quartz crystals; (3) spinel crystals and alumina-rich crystals; (4) sillimanite; and (5) mullite. Such mixtures of amorphous phases and crystals in different proportions explain disturbed isotope systems in these rocks and chemical heterogeneities observed on the microprobe.

Martinez, I.↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Thermo‐Flow‐Mechanics‐Fracture Model Coupling a Phase‐Field Interface Approach and Thermo‐Fluid‐Structure Interaction

This work proposes a novel approach for coupling non-isothermal fluid dynamics with fracture mechanics to capture thermal effects within fluid-filled fractures accurately. This method addresses critical aspects of calculating fracture width in enhanced geothermal systems, where the temperature effects of fractures are crucial. The proposed algorithm features an iterative coupling between an interface-capturing phase-field fracture method and interface-tracking thermo-fluid-structure interaction using arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian coordinates. We use a phase-field approach to represent fractures and reconstruct the geometry to frame a thermo-fluid-structure interaction problem, resulting in pressure and temperature fields that drive fracture propagation. We developed a novel phase-field interface model accounting for thermal effects, enabling the coupling of quantities specific to the fluid-filled fracture with the phase-field model through the interface between the fracture and the intact solid domain. We provide several numerical examples to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed algorithm. In particular, we analyze mesh convergence of our phase-field interface model, investigate the effects of temperature on crack width and volume in a static regime, and highlight the method's potential for modeling slowly propagating fractures.

fracture↗
DOE OSTI2025

Review of High‐Speed Digital Image Correlation: Advancements and Good Practices

This paper reviews the current state of the art in high‐speed (HS) and ultrahigh‐speed (UHS) digital image correlation (DIC) techniques, emphasizing their critical role in experimental research across various scientific domains. HS and UHS DIC have evolved significantly, driven by advancements in camera systems, image processing algorithms and experimental methodologies. These developments have opened new avenues for capturing and analysing dynamic events with unprecedented temporal and spatial detail, but not without introducing challenges such as optical distortions, motion blur and lighting issues that can affect measurement quality. This review advocates for standardized reporting practices in HS/UHS DIC methodologies to improve reproducibility and reliability across studies, drawing on guidelines from the International Digital Image Correlation Society (iDICs). Through a comprehensive analysis of over 150 articles, this review identifies key advancements in imaging technology and their application in six research domains: material characterization, test development, fracture mechanics, model validation, ballistic and explosive phenomena assessment and measurement uncertainties. Distinctions between two‐dimensional (2D) and stereo‐DIC applications are explored, offering insights into their practical implementation and trade‐offs. Good practices for HS/UHS DIC applications are proposed along with suggestions for future directions for this evolving field, highlighting the indispensable role of technological innovation in expanding the capabilities of optical metrology.

experimental mechanics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Towards machine-learning a fully-coupled constitutive model for thermal-hydraulic fracture in geothermal systems: phase I (Final Report)

This project, entitled “Towards machine-learning a fully-coupled constitutive model for thermal-hydraulic fracture in geothermal systems: phase I,” addresses challenges in understanding and controlling subsurface fracture networks, which are crucial for applications like deep geothermal heat mining and deep-crustal minerals/metals/hydrogen extraction. The research focuses on advancing the understanding of coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes in geologic materials, particularly under the high temperature and pressure conditions found in the deep crust. This seed grant focused specifically on thermal cracking and the development of new constitutive models. Significant progress was made in both experimental and theoretical domains. To study micro-scale fracture formation, the project demonstrated the ability to create thermal cracking under stress in granite samples using a Paterson Gas-medium Deformation Apparatus.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Phase instability-coupled fracture behavior in garnet LLZO solid electrolytes: a machine learning-enabled atomistic study

Fracture in the garnet-type solid electrolyte Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) poses a critical threat to both the performance and safety of solid-state batteries. To unravel the coupled chemomechanical processes that govern fracture in LLZO under external loading, we carry out large-scale molecular-dynamics simulations with a validated machine-learning force field. Our results demonstrate that triaxial stresses at crack flanks trigger a localized cubic-to-tetragonal phase transformation, which is accompanied by Li-ion rearrangement. The emergent tetragonal domains feature lattice contraction normal to the fracture plane, imposing coherent misfit strains that provide an additional driving force for further crack propagation. Crucially, introducing Li deficiencies stabilizes the cubic phase, postponing the phase transition and thereby delaying fracture initiation. These findings highlight the role of intrinsic phase instability in dictating LLZO's fracture resistance and its critical connection to local Li concentration. This chemomechanical coupling points toward targeted strategies to enhance the mechanical robustness of garnet electrolytes, including tuning Li content, ensuring dopant homogeneity, and refining processing protocols.

Materials science↗
NASA NTRS2000

Determination of the Fracture Parameters in a Stiffened Composite Panel

A modified J-integral, namely the equivalent domain integral, is derived for a three-dimensional anisotropic cracked solid to evaluate the stress intensity factor along the crack front using the finite element method. Based on the equivalent domain integral method with auxiliary fields, an interaction integral is also derived to extract the second fracture parameter, the T-stress, from the finite element results. The auxiliary fields are the two-dimensional plane strain solutions of monoclinic materials with the plane of symmetry at x(sub 3) = 0 under point loads applied at the crack tip. These solutions are expressed in a compact form based on the Stroh formalism. Both integrals can be implemented into a single numerical procedure to determine the distributions of stress intensity factor and T-stress components, T11, T13, and thus T33, along a three-dimensional crack front. The effects of plate thickness and crack length on the variation of the stress intensity factor and T-stresses through the thickness are investigated in detail for through-thickness center-cracked plates (isotropic and orthotropic) and orthotropic stiffened panels under pure mode-I loading conditions. For all the cases studied, T11 remains negative. For plates with the same dimensions, a larger size of crack yields larger magnitude of the normalized stress intensity factor and normalized T-stresses. The results in orthotropic stiffened panels exhibit an opposite trend in general. As expected, for the thicker panels, the fracture parameters evaluated through the thickness, except the region near the free surfaces, approach two-dimensional plane strain solutions. In summary, the numerical methods presented in this research demonstrate their high computational effectiveness and good numerical accuracy in extracting these fracture parameters from the finite element results in three-dimensional cracked solids.

Lin, Chung-Yi↗
DOE OSTI2025

Material Fracturing and Failure Simulation Datasets

Fracturing is a fundamental physics phenomena with broad relevance across multiple domains, ranging from infrastructure integrity, aerospace durability, reservoir production, and seismic events. We present a diverse dataset of simulated fracture evolution and material failure generated from two numerical solvers: the phase-field method and the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM). These solvers differ in formulation, physical fidelity, and computational efficiency. The dataset includes five materials: PBX, anisotropic shale, tungsten, aluminum, and steel. For each, phase-field simulations span 400,000 cases: 200,000 under uniaxial tension and 200,000 under biaxial tension. The computationally expensive FDEM simulations include 90,000 split evenly among PBX, shale, and tungsten under uniaxial loading. All simulations begin with randomized initial fracture patterns. Each entry includes temporal data capturing fracture propagation dynamics. This comprehensive dataset is designed to support the development of foundational or surrogate machine learning approaches for predicting material failure. While no such models are introduced here, the dataset lays a robust foundation for advancing future research and innovation in these areas.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1991

A three-dimensional equivalent domain integral method for cracked solids

Three-dimensional FEM analysis is presently undertaken via the general formulation of the equivalent-domain integral method for mixed-mode fracture problems in general anisotropic and nonlinear materials. In mixed-mode integrals, the total J-integral is split into three separate modes of fracture; direct and decomposition methods are effective in this separation of the modes, as presently demonstrated by their application to several pure and mixed-mode fracture problems. The results are found to agree well with those reported in the literature, and suggest the usefulness of the method as a FEM-program postprocessing subroutines.

Shivakumar, K. N.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Structural design methodologies for ceramic-based material systems

One of the primary pacing items for realizing the full potential of ceramic-based structural components is the development of new design methods and protocols. The focus here is on low temperature, fast-fracture analysis of monolithic, whisker-toughened, laminated, and woven ceramic composites. A number of design models and criteria are highlighted. Public domain computer algorithms, which aid engineers in predicting the fast-fracture reliability of structural components, are mentioned. Emphasis is not placed on evaluating the models, but instead is focused on the issues relevant to the current state of the art.

Duffy, Stephen F.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Structural design methodologies for ceramic-based material systems

One of the primary pacing items for realizing the full potential of ceramic-based structural components is the development of new design methods and protocols. The focus here is on low temperature, fast-fracture analysis of monolithic, whisker-toughened, laminated, and woven ceramic composites. A number of design models and criteria are highlighted. Public domain computer algorithms, which aid engineers in predicting the fast-fracture reliability of structural components, are mentioned. Emphasis is not placed on evaluating the models, but instead is focused on the issues relevant to the current state of the art.

Duffy, Stephen F.↗