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At least 19 records

Effects of Control Mode and R-Ratio on the Fatigue Behavior of a Metal Matrix Composite

Composite Because of their high specific stiffness and strength at elevated temperatures, continuously reinforced metal matrix composites (MMC's) are under consideration for a future generation of aeropropulsion systems. Since components in aeropropulsion systems experience substantial cyclic thermal and mechanical loads, the fatigue behavior of MMC's is of great interest. Almost without exception, previous investigations of the fatigue behavior of MMC's have been conducted in a tension-tension, load-controlled mode. This has been due to the fact that available material is typically less than 2.5-mm thick and, therefore, unable to withstand high compressive loads without buckling. Since one possible use of MMC's is in aircraft skins, this type of testing mode may be appropriate. However, unlike aircraft skins, most engine components are thick. In addition, the transient thermal gradients experienced in an aircraft engine will impose tension-compression loading on engine components, requiring designers to understand how the MMC will behave under fully reversed loading conditions. The increased thickness of the MMC may also affect the fatigue life. Traditionally, low-cycle fatigue (LCF) tests on MMC's have been performed in load control. For monolithic alloys, low-cycle fatigue tests are more typically performed in strain control. Two reasons justify this choice: (1) the critical volume from which cracks initiate and grow is generally small and elastically constrained by the larger surrounding volume of material, and (2) load-controlled, low-cycle fatigue tests of monolithics invariably lead to unconstrained ratcheting and localized necking--an undesired material response because the failure mechanism is far more severe than, and unrelated to, the fatigue mechanism being studied. It is unknown if this is the proper approach to composite testing. However, there is a lack of strain-controlled data on which to base any decisions. Consequently, this study addresses the isothermal, LCF behavior of a [0]_32 MMC tested under strain- and load-controlled conditions for both zero-tension and tension-compression loading conditions. These tests were run at 427 C on thick specimens of SiC-reinforced Ti-15-3. For the fully-reversed tests, no difference was observed in the lives between the load- and strain-controlled tests. However, for the zero-tension tests, the strain-controlled tests had longer lives by a factor of 3 in comparison to the load-controlled tests. This was due to the fact that under strain-control the specimens cyclically softened, reducing the cracking potential. In contrast, the load-controlled tests ratcheted toward larger tensile strains leading to an eventual overload of the fibers. Fatigue tests revealed that specimens tested under fully-reversed conditions had lives approximately an order of magnitude longer than for those specimens tested under zero tension. When examined on a strain-range basis, the fully reversed specimens had similar, but still shorter lives than those of the unreinforced matrix material. However, the composite had a strain limitation at short lives because of the limited strain capacity of the brittle ceramic fiber. The composite also suffered at very high lives because of the lack of an apparent fatigue limit in comparison to the unreinforced matrix. The value of adding fibers to the matrix is apparent when the fatigue lives are plotted as a function of stress range. Here, the composite is far superior to the unreinforced matrix because of the additional load-carrying capacity of the fibers.

Source record↗

Protocols and methodologies for acquiring and analyzing critical-current versus longitudinal-strain data in Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+x wires

Abstract In the literature on Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+ x (Bi-2212) superconducting wires, it is evident that measurement protocols for transport critical-current I c versus longitudinal strain ϵ and definitions of the so-called ‘strain limit’ are generally dissimilar. Yet, values obtained for the ‘strain limit’ are frequently assimilated to being those of the irreversible strain limit ϵ irr , regardless of the I c degradation-criterion used to define it. In effect, ϵ irr should correspond specifically to the I c ( ϵ ) irreversibility onset , where crack formation in Bi-2212 filaments presumably starts. Because I c ( ϵ ) degradation remains progressive over a fairly wide strain range beyond ϵ irr , the different I c degradation-criteria in use do not yield to the same result and, thus, are not equivalent from metrology perspective. Indeed, in studying densified samples of a modern Bi-2212 round wire, we found ϵ irr ≈ 0.4% and ϵ 5% ≈ 0.6% ( ϵ 5% being the strain where I c degrades by 5%). In this paper, we outline and suggest I c ( ϵ )-measurement protocols and data-analysis methodologies in the hope to converge the various approaches taken for studying Bi-2212 strain properties and, thus, remove related result discrepancies. A unified approach would enable more objective data comparisons among laboratories and among different Bi-2212 conductors. It would pave the way for more rigorous studies of effects potentially associated with wire design, powder, heat treatments, and other such parameters on the conductor’s strain properties.

protocols↗

Design Guidelines for In-Plane Mechanical Properties of SiC Fiber-Reinforced Melt-Infiltrated SiC Composites

In-plane tensile stress-strain, tensile creep, and after-creep retained tensile properties of melt-infiltrated SiC-SiC composites reinforced with different fiber types were evaluated with an emphasis on obtaining simple or first-order microstructural design guidelines for these in-plane mechanical properties. Using the mini-matrix approach to model stress-strain behavior and the results of this study, three basic general design criteria for stress and strain limits are formulated, namely a design stress limit, a design total strain limit, and an after-creep design retained strength limit. It is shown that these criteria can be useful for designing components for high temperature applications.

Morscher, Gregory N.↗

An experimental evaluation of apparent strain from foil strain gauges attached to carbon composite substrates

An experimental evaluation of apparent thermal strains is conducted using various combinations of substrate/gauge/attachment structure and redundant high temperature extensometry. It is found that the extensometry could either confirm independent measurements of the substrate's thermal expansion, or quantify nonzero mechanical strains resulting from uncertain material behavior and boundary conditions. Apparent strain and thermal expansion behavior data can then be used to modify the raw strain measurements in order to determine either stress producing or total strains. Limitation of the correction procedure for the three selected strain gauges is noted which is due to relatively large gauge/attachment variability.

Scott, B. R.↗

Using ABAQUS Scripting Interface for Materials Evaluation and Life Prediction

An ABAQUS script has been written to aid in the evaluation of the mechanical behavior of viscoplastic materials. The purposes of the script are to: handle complex load histories; control load/displacement with alternate stopping criteria; predict failure and life; and verify constitutive models. Material models from the ABAQUS library may be used or the UMAT routine may specify mechanical behavior. User subroutines implemented include: UMAT for the constitutive model; UEXTERNALDB for file manipulation; DISP for boundary conditions; and URDFIL for results processing. Examples presented include load, strain and displacement control tests on a single element model. The tests are creep with a life limiting strain criterion, strain control with a stress limiting cycle and a complex interrupted cyclic relaxation test. The techniques implemented in this paper enable complex load conditions to be solved efficiently with ABAQUS.

Powers, Lynn M.↗

Cyclic creep-rupture behavior of three high-temperature alloys.

Study of some important characteristics of the cyclic creep-rupture curves for the titanium alloy 6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo at 900 and 1100 F (755 and 865 K), the cobalt-base alloy L-605 at 1180 F (910 K), and for two hardness levels of 316 stainless steel at 1300 F (980 K). The cyclic creep-rupture curve relates tensile stress and tensile time-to-rupture for strain-limited cyclic loading and has been found to be independent of the total strain range and the level of compressive stress employed in the cyclic creep-rupture tests. The cyclic creep-rupture curve was always found to be above and to the right of the conventional (constant load) monotonic creep-rupture curve by factors ranging from 2 to 10 in time-to-rupture. This factor tends to be greatest when the creep ductility is large. Cyclic creep acceleration was observed in every cyclic creep-rupture test conducted. The phenomenon was most pronounced at the highest stress levels and when the tensile and compressive stresses were completely reversed. In general, creep rates were found to be lower in compression than in tension for equal true stresses. The differences, however, were strongly material-dependent.

Halford, G. R.↗

Thermomechanical and bithermal fatigue behavior of cast B1900 + Hf and wrought Haynes 188

High temperature thermomechanical and bithermal fatigue behavior was investigated for two superalloys: cast nickel-base B1900+Hf and wrought cobalt-base Haynes 188. Experimental results were generated to support development of an advanced thermal fatigue life prediction method. Strain controlled thermomechanical and load-controlled, strain-limited, bithermal fatigue tests were used to determine the fatigue crack initiation and cyclic stress-strain response characteristics of superalloys. Bithermal temperatures of 483 and 871 C were used for B1900+Hf, and 316 and 760 C for Haynes 188. Thermomechanical fatigue tests were conducted by using maximum and minimum temperatures corresponding to those for the bithermal experiments. Lives cover the range from about 10 to 3000 cycles to failure. Isothermal fatigue results obtained previously are also discussed.

Halford, Gary R.↗

The classical-to-quantum crossover in the strain-induced ferroelectric transition in SrTiO3 membranes

Mechanical strain presents an effective control over symmetry-breaking phase transitions. In quantum paralelectric SrTiO3, strain can induce ferroelectric order via modification of the local Ti potential energy landscape. However, brittle bulk materials can only withstand limited strain range (~0.1%). Taking advantage of nanoscopically-thin freestanding membranes, we demonstrate an in- situ strain-induced reversible ferroelectric transition in freestanding SrTiO3 membranes. We measure the ferroelectric order by detecting the local anisotropy of the Ti 3d orbital signature using x-ray linear dichroism at the Ti-K pre-edge, while the strain is determined by x-ray diffraction. With reduced thickness, the SrTiO3 membranes remain elastic with >1% tensile strain cycles. A robust displacive ferroelectricity appears beyond a temperature-dependent critical strain. Interestingly, we discover a crossover from a classical ferroelectric transition to a quantum regime at low temperatures, which enhances strain-induced ferroelectricity. Our results offer new opportunities to strain engineer functional properties in low dimensional quantum materials and provide new insights into the role of ferroelectric fluctuations in quantum paraelectric SrTiO3.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experimental Observations on a Low Strain Counter-Flow Diffusion Flame: Flow and Bouyancy Effects

Diffusion flames are of great interest in fire safety and many industrial processes. The counter-flow configuration provides a constant strain flow, and therefore is ideal to study the structure of diffusion flames. Most studies have concentrated on the high velocity, high strain limit, since buoyantly induced instabilities will disintegrate the planar flame as the velocity decreases. Only recently, experimental studies in microgravity conditions have begun to explore the low strain regimes. Numerical work has shown the coupling between gas phase reaction rates, soot reaction rates, and radiation. For these programs, size, geometry and experimental conditions have been chosen to keep the flame unaffected by the physical boundaries. When the physical boundaries can not be considered infinitely far from the reaction zone discrepancies arise. A computational study that includes boundary effects and accounts for the deviations occurring when the major potential flow assumptions are relaxed was presented by Borlik et al. This development properly incorporates all heat loss terms and shows the possibility of extinction in the low strain regime. A major constraint of studying the low strain regime is buoyancy. Buoyant instabilities have been shown to have a significant effect on the nature of reactants and heat transport, and can introduce instabilities on the flow that result in phenomena such as flickering or fingering. The counter-flow configuration has been shown to provide a flame with no symmetry disrupting instabilities for inlet velocities greater than 50 mm/s. As the velocity approaches this limit, the characteristic length of the experiment has to be reduced to a few millimetres so as to keep the Rayleigh number (Ra L = (β g 0 L 3 ∆T)/(𝑎v)) below 2000. In this work, a rectangular counter-flow burner was used to study a two-dimensional counter-flow diffusion flame. Flow visualisation and Particle Image Velocimetry served to describe the nature of the stagnation plane for strain rates smaller than 100 (1/s). These experiments were conducted with a non-reacting flow. Video images of a propane air diffusion flame were used to describe the behaviour of a diffusion flame in this regime. Flame geometry and pulsation frequency are described.

J. A. Sutula↗

Procedures for characterizing an alloy and predicting cyclic life with the total strain version of Strainrange Partitioning

Procedures are presented for characterizing an alloy and predicting cyclic life for isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue conditions by using the total strain version of strainrange partitioning (TS-SRP). Numerical examples are given. Two independent alloy characteristics are deemed important: failure behavior, as reflected by the inelastic strainrange versus cyclic life relations; and flow behavior, as indicated by the cyclic stress-strain-time response (i.e., the constitutive behavior). Failure behavior is characterized by conducting creep-fatigue tests in the strain regime, wherein the testing times are reasonably short and the inelastic strains are large enough to be determined accurately. At large strainranges, stress-hold, strain-limited tests are preferred because a high rate of creep damage per cycle is inherent in this type of test. At small strainranges, strain-hold cycles are more appropriate. Flow behavior is characterized by conducting tests wherein the specimen is usually cycled far short of failure and the wave shape is appropriate for the duty cycle of interest. In characterizing an alloy pure fatigue, or PP, failure tests are conducted first. Then depending on the needs of the analyst a series of creep-fatigue tests are conducted. As many of the three generic SRP cycles are featured as are required to characterize the influence of creep on fatigue life (i.e., CP, PC, and CC cycles, respectively, for tensile creep only, compressive creep only, and both tensile and compressive creep). Any mean stress effects on life also must be determined and accounted for when determining the SRP inelastic strainrange versus life relations for cycles featuring creep. This is particularly true for small strainranges. The life relations thus are established for a theoretical zero mean stress condition.

Saltsman, James F.↗

Rocket thrust chamber thermal barrier coatings

A research program was conducted to generate data and develop analytical techniques to predict the performance and reliability of ceramic thermal barrier coatings in high heat flux environments. A finite element model was used to analyze the thermomechanical behavior of coating systems in rocket thrust chambers. Candidate coating systems (using a copper substrate, NiCrAlY bond coat and ZrO2.8Y2O3 ceramic overcoat) were selected for detailed study based on photomicrographic evaluations of experimental test specimens. The effects of plasma spray application parameters on the material properties of these coatings were measured and the effects on coating performance evaluated using the finite element model. Coating design curves which define acceptable operating envelopes for seleted coating systems were constructed based on temperature and strain limitations. Spray gun power levels was found to have the most significant effect on coating structure. Three coating systems were selected for study using different power levels. Thermal conductivity, strain tolerance, density, and residual stress were measured for these coatings. Analyses indicated that extremely thin coatings ( 0.02 mm) are required to accommodate the high heat flux of a rocket thrust chamber and ensure structural integrity.

Batakis, A. P.↗

Diffusion Flame Extinction in a Low Strain Flow

Diffusion flames are of great interest in fire safety and many industrial processes. Many parameters significantly affect the flame structure, shape and stability, of particular importance are the constraints imposed by geometrical boundaries. Physical boundaries determine the characteristics of the flow, affect heat, fuel, and oxidizer transport from and towards the flame and can act as heat sinks or heat sources. As a result, the existence of a flame, its shape and nature are intimately related to the geometrical characteristics of the environment that surrounds it. The counter-flow configuration provides a constant strain flow, therefore, is ideal to study the structure of diffusion flames. Most studies have concentrated on the high velocity, high strain limit, since buoyantly induced instabilities will disintegrate the planar flame as the velocity decreases. Only recently, experimental studies in micro-gravity conditions have begun to explore the low strain regimes. The main objective of these on-going studies is to determine the effect of radiative heat losses and variable strain on the structure and radiation-induced extinction of diffusion flames. For these programs, size, geometry, and experimental conditions have been chosen to keep the flame unaffected by the physical boundaries. Whether is the burning of condensed or gaseous fuels, for most real situations the boundaries impose a significant effect on the nature of the flame. There is, therefore, a need to better understand the effect that geometrical constraints (i.e. flow nonperpendicular to a fuel surface, heat losses to the boundaries, etc.) might have on the final characteristics of a diffusion flame. Preliminary experiments have shown that, in the absence of gravity, and depending on the distance from the flame to the boundary, three characteristically different regimes can be observed. Close to the boundary, the flame is parabolic, very thin and blue, almost soot-less. Diffusion is the main mechanism controlling fuel transport to the reaction zone, conduction towards the inlets is the main source of heat losses. As the distance increases the flame becomes linear and thickens, remaining blue at the oxidizer side and turning yellow at the fuel side. Here, convection brings fuel and oxidizer together and the reaction occurs in the viscous layer formed between the fuel and oxidizer streams. This region corresponds to the characteristic counter-flow flame where conduction and convection become negligible forms of heat losses and radiation becomes dominant. The flame in the third (mixed) region, between the two others, results from the combination of the scenarios presented above.

Sutula, Jason↗

Design by analysis rules for ASME Section III, Division 5, Class B components

The current rules for elevated temperature ASME Section III, Division 5, Class B components, other than piping, were basically adapted from the Design-by-Rule approach for Section VIII, Division 1 vessels. A goal of the proposed new rules is to explicitly account for the design life and cyclic service while recognizing the less-rigorous requirements commensurate with lesser safety consideration. Further goals are to maximize the use of modern computational technology, for example finite element analysis in conjunction with reference stress concepts, and to avoid the need for stress classification. This paper summarizes the work done to address these issues. A summary of the design-by-analysis for primary loads, strain limit evaluation, and creep-fatigue damage assessment is presented. The proposed design-by-analysis creep-fatigue damage calculation approach uses a new elastic follow-up-based Isochronous Stress Strain Curve stress relaxation procedure. A set of sample problems are selected to validate the proposed design-by-analysis rules for creep-fatigue damage assessment. The proposed Class B rules are evaluated against the Class A elastic design rules and the experimental data obtained from a family of a simplified model test-based key-feature test results. The proposed Class B creep-fatigue damage assessment methodology yields conservative design cycles estimates compared to the experimental results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Target Diagnostic Menu Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory SYSM-5620: Design Thinking and Systems Engineering

Target Diagnostic’s Engineering Science (TDES) currently supports over 80 diagnostic systems, all of which draw from a fixed budget that covers staff time and procurement. As the division continues to add new diagnostics, demand on these limited resources increases, yet the budget remains unchanged. Shot Responsible Individuals (RIs) have unrestricted freedom to select any number or type of diagnostics for each experiment, often by copying previous shot configurations with only minor modifications. This practice makes it easy to generate new shots but does not encourage critical evaluation of diagnostic necessity. As a result, many diagnostics are routinely included in a shot without a clear justification, and in practice, much of the data collected is not analyzed. The ever-growing arsenal of diagnostics also increases the burden on TDES personnel, requiring more staff for support, maintenance, and service. This environment creates challenges in focusing resources on diagnostics that provide the greatest value to the NIF mission and raises concerns about the continued justification for maintaining all existing systems. The static TDES budget cannot sustain the ongoing growth in demand for new diagnostic systems. Shot RIs currently face no constraints on the number or type of diagnostics they assign to each experiment, often defaulting to previous configurations without critically assessing the necessity of each diagnostic. This results in the routine inclusion of diagnostics whose data may not be analyzed or may no longer directly support the NIF mission. Consequently, TDES is required to maintain and support an expanding set of diagnostics, straining limited resources and risking inefficient use of staff and funding. There is a need for TDES to efficiently allocate limited resources by establishing a process that requires shot RIs to critically evaluate and justify the inclusion of each diagnostic in their experiments. This process should discourage the routine, unexamined inclusion of diagnostics, support the identification of underutilized or obsolete systems, and ensure that only those diagnostics providing the greatest value to the NIF mission are maintained and supported. Ultimately, this approach must enable TDES to operate within budget constraints while maximizing scientific impact and operational efficiency.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Electric field driven domain wall dynamics in BaTiO 3 nanoparticles

We report a detailed investigation into the response of single BaTiO 3 (BTO) nanocrystals under applied electric fields (E-field) using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging. Our study reveals pronounced domain wall migration and expansion of a sample measure under applied electric field. The changes are most prominent at the surface of the nanocrystal, where the lack of external strain allows greater domain wall mobility. The observed domain shifts are correlated to the strength and orientation of the applied E-field, following a side-by-side domain model from Suzana []. Notably, we identified a critical electric field strength of 3 MV/m, which leads to irreversible structural changes, suggesting plastic deformation. The findings highlight how surface effects and intrinsic defects contribute to the enhanced dielectric properties of BTO at the nanoscale, in contrast to bulk materials, where strain limits domain mobility. These findings deepen our understanding of nanoscale dielectric behavior and inform the design of advanced nanoelectronic devices. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Preliminary Experimental Results in Support of the Development of EPP and SMT Design Methods and Viscoplastic Model for A709

The ASME code qualification effort for Alloy 709 (A709) is currently underway to qualify it for Class A construction in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5. The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories are collaborating in the advanced materials development initiative to investigate the mechanical performance of A709 in support of its code qualification. As part of the A709 code qualification effort, this report summarizes ORNL’s initial experimental findings that support the integration of A709 into the elastic-perfectly plastic (EPP) strain limits code case. It also covers thermomechanical fatigue testing conducted to develop viscoelastic material models, along with the preliminary results of creep-fatigue experiments at 816°C using the Simplified Model Test (SMT) method.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development of a Framework and Methodology for an Advanced Reactor Materials Environmental Effects Design Guide

Advanced non-light-water reactor components may operate at elevated temperature while experiencing cyclic loading, significant neutron irradiation, and exposure to reactor coolant. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5, provides design rules for elevated-temperature service but does not include specific procedures to account for environmental effects on material properties. This report develops an initial framework and methodology for an Environmental Effects Design Guide (EEDG) focused on neutron irradiation; coolant-environment effects are reserved for future work. The proposed approach treats irradiation as a property-based overlay on the existing Division 5 design process, with two routes: a sparse-data route applying two reduction factors — FCR on creep-rupture strength and FF on fatigue life — for the creep-fatigue evaluations that typically control the design of advanced high-temperature reactor components, and a fuller framework developing the property-to-rule chain across the four Division 5 checks (primary load, strain limits and ratcheting, creep-fatigue, and buckling), together with swelling and weldments as scope items. Both routes are scoped by an in-pile qualification that restricts the use of post-irradiation-examination-derived properties in regimes where an in-pile mechanism could control the design outcome. Illustrative outputs derived on a compiled annealed Type 316 database — FCR ≈ 0.78–0.86 and FF ≈ 0.4 — demonstrate the calculation method within that specific dataset. The framework is an initial, testable design-rule concept; it identifies a practical path for preliminary design evaluations under sparse data and the material data and testing needed to develop the framework further.

Barua, Bipul (ORCID:0000000247184113)↗

Probing the Interstellar Medium of External Galaxies Using Quasar Absorption Lines: the 3C 232/NGC 3067 System

Quasar absorption lines offer unique opportunities to probe the interstellar medium of external galaxies. Researchers present new optical and UV absorption line spectroscopy of the quasar 3C232 (z=0.55) revealing new detail in the foreground absorption system due to the bright, spiral galaxy NGC 3067 (cz=1420 km/s). Specifically, the spectra show evidence for two and possibly three separate absorption components in CaII and Na I spanning approx. 150 km/s. The original HI detection of Haschick and Burke (1975) corresponds to the strongest of these metal systems which exhibits doublet ratios consistent with saturation in both CaII and Na I. Due to the recent detection in HI emission of a tidal tail or finger of HI extending from the western edge of NGC 3067 through the position of 3C 232 (Carilli, van Gorkom and Stocke, 1989), the morphology of the HI absorber is now known and is not either a warped disk nor a spherical halo as had been proposed. New deep continuum and H alpha imaging provides a sensitive upper limit on the the ionizing continuum impinging upon this cloud (and thus a limit on the intensity of the extragalactic ionizing radiation field). Together with the observed UV spectrum of 3C 232, the optical emission line ratios and the deep H alpha imaging set a minimum distance between the quasar and the HI cloud disregarding redshift information. This limit strains the non-cosmological redshift interpretation for 3C 232 -- and this quasar is one of the original 5 3C quasars found to be too close to NGC galaxies as if by chance (Burbidge, Burbidge, Solomon and Strittmatter, 1972).

Stocke, John T.↗