The effect of wall thickness distribution on mechanical reliability and strength in unidirectional porous ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seuba, Jordi; Deville, Sylvain; Guizard, Christian; Stevenson, Adam J.

2016-01-01

Macroporous ceramics exhibit an intrinsic strength variability caused by the random distribution of defects in their structure. However, the precise role of microstructural features, other than pore volume, on reliability is still unknown. Here, we analyze the applicability of the Weibull analysis to unidirectional macroporous yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) prepared by ice-templating. First, we performed crush tests on samples with controlled microstructural features with the loading direction parallel to the porosity. The compressive strength data were fitted using two different fitting techniques, ordinary least squares and Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo, to evaluate whether Weibull statistics are an adequate descriptor of the strength distribution. The statistical descriptors indicated that the strength data are well described by the Weibull statistical approach, for both fitting methods used. Furthermore, we assess the effect of different microstructural features (volume, size, densification of the walls, and morphology) on Weibull modulus and strength. We found that the key microstructural parameter controlling reliability is wall thickness. In contrast, pore volume is the main parameter controlling the strength. The highest Weibull modulus (?) and mean strength (198.2 MPa) were obtained for the samples with the smallest and narrowest wall thickness distribution (3.1 ?m) and lower pore volume (54.5%).

Microstructure design for fast oxygen conduction

DOE PAGES

Aidhy, Dilpuneet S.; Weber, William J.

2015-11-11

Research from the last decade has shown that in designing fast oxygen conducting materials for electrochemical applications has largely shifted to microstructural features, in contrast to material-bulk. In particular, understanding oxygen energetics in heterointerface materials is currently at the forefront, where interfacial tensile strain is being considered as the key parameter in lowering oxygen migration barriers. Nanocrystalline materials with high densities of grain boundaries have also gathered interest that could possibly allow leverage over excess volume at grain boundaries, providing fast oxygen diffusion channels similar to those previously observed in metals. In addition, near-interface phase transformations and misfit dislocations aremore » other microstructural phenomenon/features that are being explored to provide faster diffusion. In this review, the current understanding on oxygen energetics, i.e., thermodynamics and kinetics, originating from these microstructural features is discussed. Moreover, our experimental observations, theoretical predictions and novel atomistic mechanisms relevant to oxygen transport are highlighted. In addition, the interaction of dopants with oxygen vacancies in the presence of these new microstructural features, and their future role in the design of future fast-ion conductors, is outlined.« less

Process Integration and Optimization of ICME Carbon Fiber Composites for Vehicle Lightweighting: A Preliminary Development

DOE PAGES

Xu, Hongyi; Li, Yang; Zeng, Danielle

2017-01-02

Process integration and optimization is the key enabler of the Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) of carbon fiber composites. In this paper, automated workflows are developed for two types of composites: Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) short fiber composites, and multi-layer unidirectional (UD) composites. For SMC, the proposed workflow integrates material processing simulation, microstructure representation volume element (RVE) models, material property prediction and structure preformation simulation to enable multiscale, multidisciplinary analysis and design. Processing parameters, microstructure parameters and vehicle subframe geometry parameters are defined as the design variables; the stiffness and weight of the structure are defined as the responses. Formore » multi-layer UD structure, this work focuses on the discussion of different design representation methods and their impacts on the optimization performance. Challenges in ICME process integration and optimization are also summarized and highlighted. Two case studies are conducted to demonstrate the integrated process and its application in optimization.« less

Microdesigning of Lightweight/High Strength Ceramic Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-07-31

Continue on reverse if necessary and identiy by block number) FIELD GROUP SUB- GROUP Ceramics, Composite Materials, Colloidal Processing Iii 19. ABSTRACT...to identify key processing parameters that affect the microstructure of the composite material. The second section describes experimental results in...results of the significant theoretical effort made in our group . Theoretical models of particle-particle interaction, particle-polymer interaction

Effect of Low-Dose MDCT and Iterative Reconstruction on Trabecular Bone Microstructure Assessment.

PubMed

Kopp, Felix K; Holzapfel, Konstantin; Baum, Thomas; Nasirudin, Radin A; Mei, Kai; Garcia, Eduardo G; Burgkart, Rainer; Rummeny, Ernst J; Kirschke, Jan S; Noël, Peter B

2016-01-01

We investigated the effects of low-dose multi detector computed tomography (MDCT) in combination with statistical iterative reconstruction algorithms on trabecular bone microstructure parameters. Twelve donated vertebrae were scanned with the routine radiation exposure used in our department (standard-dose) and a low-dose protocol. Reconstructions were performed with filtered backprojection (FBP) and maximum-likelihood based statistical iterative reconstruction (SIR). Trabecular bone microstructure parameters were assessed and statistically compared for each reconstruction. Moreover, fracture loads of the vertebrae were biomechanically determined and correlated to the assessed microstructure parameters. Trabecular bone microstructure parameters based on low-dose MDCT and SIR significantly correlated with vertebral bone strength. There was no significant difference between microstructure parameters calculated on low-dose SIR and standard-dose FBP images. However, the results revealed a strong dependency on the regularization strength applied during SIR. It was observed that stronger regularization might corrupt the microstructure analysis, because the trabecular structure is a very small detail that might get lost during the regularization process. As a consequence, the introduction of SIR for trabecular bone microstructure analysis requires a specific optimization of the regularization parameters. Moreover, in comparison to other approaches, superior noise-resolution trade-offs can be found with the proposed methods.

Simulations of Precipitate Microstructure Evolution during Heat Treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Kaisheng; Sterner, Gustaf; Chen, Qing; Jou, Herng-Jeng; Jeppsson, Johan; Bratberg, Johan; Engström, Anders; Mason, Paul

Precipitation, a major solid state phase transformation during heat treatment processes, has for more than one century been intensively employed to improve the strength and toughness of various high performance alloys. Recently, sophisticated precipitation reaction models, in assistance with well-developed CALPHAD databases, provide an efficient and cost-effective way to tailor precipitate microstructures that maximize the strengthening effect via the optimization of alloy chemistries and heat treatment schedules. In this presentation, we focus on simulating precipitate microstructure evolution in Nickel-base superalloys under arbitrary heat treatment conditions. The newly-developed TC-PRISMA program has been used for these simulations, with models refined especially for non-isothermal conditions. The effect of different cooling profiles on the formation of multimodal microstructures has been thoroughly examined in order to understand the underlying thermodynamics and kinetics. Meanwhile, validations against several experimental results have been carried out. Practical issues that are critical to the accuracy and applicability of the current simulations, such as modifications that overcome mean-field approximations, compatibility between CALPHAD databases, selection of key parameters (particularly interfacial energy and nucleation site densities), etc., are also addressed.

Inferring Spatial Variations of Microstructural Properties from Macroscopic Mechanical Response

PubMed Central

Liu, Tengxiao; Hall, Timothy J.; Barbone, Paul E.; Oberai, Assad A.

2016-01-01

Disease alters tissue microstructure, which in turn affects the macroscopic mechanical properties of tissue. In elasticity imaging, the macroscopic response is measured and is used to infer the spatial distribution of the elastic constitutive parameters. When an empirical constitutive model is used these parameters cannot be linked to the microstructure. However, when the constitutive model is derived from a microstructural representation of the material, it allows for the possibility of inferring the local averages of the spatial distribution of the microstructural parameters. This idea forms the basis of this study. In particular, we first derive a constitutive model by homogenizing the mechanical response of a network of elastic, tortuous fibers. Thereafter, we use this model in an inverse problem to determine the spatial distribution of the microstructural parameters. We solve the inverse problem as a constrained minimization problem, and develop efficient methods for solving it. We apply these methods to displacement fields obtained by deforming gelatin-agar co-gels, and determine the spatial distribution of agar concentration and fiber tortuosity, thereby demonstrating that it is possible to image local averages of microstructural parameters from macroscopic measurements of deformation. PMID:27655420

Containerless processing of undercooled melts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perepezko, J. H.

1993-01-01

The investigation focused on the control of microstructural evolution in Mn-Al, Fe-Ni, Ni-V, and Au-Pb-Sb alloys through the high undercooling levels provided by containerless processing, and provided fundamental new information on the control of nucleation. Solidification analysis was conducted by means of thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and metallographic characterization on samples processed in a laboratory scale drop tube system. The Mn-Al alloy system offers a useful model system with the capability of phase separation on an individual particle basis, thus permitting a more complete understanding of the operative kinetics and the key containerless processing variables. This system provided the opportunity of analyzing the nucleation rate as a function of processing conditions and allowed for the quantitative assessment of the relevant processing parameters. These factors are essential in the development of a containerless processing model which has a predictive capability. Similarly, Ni-V is a model system that was used to study duplex partitionless solidification, which is a structure possible only in high under cooling solidification processes. Nucleation kinetics for the competing bcc and fcc phases were studied to determine how this structure can develop and the conditions under which it may occur. The Fe-Ni alloy system was studied to identify microstructural transitions with controlled variations in sample size and composition during containerless solidification. This work was forwarded to develop a microstructure map which delineates regimes of structural evolution and provides a unified analysis of experimental observations. The Au-Pb-Sb system was investigated to characterize the thermodynamic properties of the undercooled liquid phase and to characterize the glass transition under a variety of processing conditions. By analyzing key containerless processing parameters in a ground based drop tube study, a carefully designed flight experiment may be planned to utilize the extended duration microgravity conditions of orbiting spacecraft.

Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties and Porosity of Organic Microcapsules Based Self-Healing Cementitious Composite.

PubMed

Wang, Xianfeng; Sun, Peipei; Han, Ningxu; Xing, Feng

2017-01-01

Encapsulation of healing agents embedded in a material matrix has become one of the major approaches for achieving self-healing function in cementitious materials in recent years. A novel type of microcapsules based self-healing cementitious composite was developed in Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Durability for Marine Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University. In this study, both macro performance and the microstructure of the composite are investigated. The macro performance was evaluated by employing the compressive strength and the dynamic modulus, whereas the microstructure was represented by the pore structure parameters such as porosity, cumulative-pore volume, and average-pore diameter, which are significantly correlated to the pore-size distribution and the compressive strength. The results showed that both the compressive strength and the dynamic modulus, as well as the pore structure parameters such as porosity, cumulative-pore volume, and average-pore diameter of the specimen decrease to some extent with the amount of microcapsules. However, the self-healing rate and the recovery rate of the specimen performance and the pore-structure parameters increase with the amount of microcapsules. The results should confirm the self-healing function of microcapsules in the cementitious composite from macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints.

Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties and Porosity of Organic Microcapsules Based Self-Healing Cementitious Composite

PubMed Central

Wang, Xianfeng; Sun, Peipei; Han, Ningxu; Xing, Feng

2017-01-01

Encapsulation of healing agents embedded in a material matrix has become one of the major approaches for achieving self-healing function in cementitious materials in recent years. A novel type of microcapsules based self-healing cementitious composite was developed in Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Durability for Marine Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University. In this study, both macro performance and the microstructure of the composite are investigated. The macro performance was evaluated by employing the compressive strength and the dynamic modulus, whereas the microstructure was represented by the pore structure parameters such as porosity, cumulative-pore volume, and average-pore diameter, which are significantly correlated to the pore-size distribution and the compressive strength. The results showed that both the compressive strength and the dynamic modulus, as well as the pore structure parameters such as porosity, cumulative-pore volume, and average-pore diameter of the specimen decrease to some extent with the amount of microcapsules. However, the self-healing rate and the recovery rate of the specimen performance and the pore-structure parameters increase with the amount of microcapsules. The results should confirm the self-healing function of microcapsules in the cementitious composite from macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints. PMID:28772382

A Data Analytics Approach to Discovering Unique Microstructural Configurations Susceptible to Fatigue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jha, S. K.; Brockman, R. A.; Hoffman, R. M.; Sinha, V.; Pilchak, A. L.; Porter, W. J.; Buchanan, D. J.; Larsen, J. M.; John, R.

2018-05-01

Principal component analysis and fuzzy c-means clustering algorithms were applied to slip-induced strain and geometric metric data in an attempt to discover unique microstructural configurations and their frequencies of occurrence in statistically representative instantiations of a titanium alloy microstructure. Grain-averaged fatigue indicator parameters were calculated for the same instantiation. The fatigue indicator parameters strongly correlated with the spatial location of the microstructural configurations in the principal components space. The fuzzy c-means clustering method identified clusters of data that varied in terms of their average fatigue indicator parameters. Furthermore, the number of points in each cluster was inversely correlated to the average fatigue indicator parameter. This analysis demonstrates that data-driven methods have significant potential for providing unbiased determination of unique microstructural configurations and their frequencies of occurrence in a given volume from the point of view of strain localization and fatigue crack initiation.

Effect of low-dose CT and iterative reconstruction on trabecular bone microstructure assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kopp, Felix K.; Baum, Thomas; Nasirudin, Radin A.; Mei, Kai; Garcia, Eduardo G.; Burgkart, Rainer; Rummeny, Ernst J.; Bauer, Jan S.; Noël, Peter B.

2016-03-01

The trabecular bone microstructure is an important factor in the development of osteoporosis. It is well known that its deterioration is one effect when osteoporosis occurs. Previous research showed that the analysis of trabecular bone microstructure enables more precise diagnoses of osteoporosis compared to a sole measurement of the mineral density. Microstructure parameters are assessed on volumetric images of the bone acquired either with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography or high-resolution computed tomography (CT), with only CT being applicable to the spine, which is one of clinically most relevant fracture sites. However, due to the high radiation exposure for imaging the whole spine these measurements are not applicable in current clinical routine. In this work, twelve vertebrae from three different donors were scanned with standard and low radiation dose. Trabecular bone microstructure parameters were assessed for CT images reconstructed with statistical iterative reconstruction (SIR) and analytical filtered backprojection (FBP). The resulting structure parameters were correlated to the biomechanically determined fracture load of each vertebra. Microstructure parameters assessed for low-dose data reconstructed with SIR significantly correlated with fracture loads as well as parameters assessed for standard-dose data reconstructed with FBP. Ideal results were achieved with low to zero regularization strength yielding microstructure parameters not significantly different from those assessed for standard-dose FPB data. Moreover, in comparison to other approaches, superior noise-resolution trade-offs can be found with the proposed methods.

A 2-DOF microstructure-dependent model for the coupled torsion/bending instability of rotational nanoscanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keivani, M.; Abadian, N.; Koochi, A.; Mokhtari, J.; Abadyan, M.

2016-10-01

It has been well established that the physical performance of nanodevices might be affected by the microstructure. Herein, a two-degree-of-freedom model base on the modified couple stress theory is developed to incorporate the impact of microstructure in the torsion/bending coupled instability of rotational nanoscanner. Effect of microstructure dependency on the instability parameters is determined as a function of the microstructure parameter, bending/torsion coupling ratio, van der Waals force parameter and geometrical dimensions. It is found that the bending/torsion coupling substantially affects the stable behavior of the scanners especially those with long rotational beam elements. Impact of microstructure on instability voltage of the nanoscanner depends on coupling ratio and the conquering bending mode over torsion mode. This effect is more highlighted for higher values of coupling ratio. Depending on the geometry and material characteristics, the presented model is able to simulate both hardening behavior (due to microstructure) and softening behavior (due to torsion/bending coupling) of the nanoscanners.

Thermomechanical analysis of freezing-induced cell-fluid-matrix interactions in engineered tissues

PubMed Central

Han, Bumsoo; Teo, Ka Yaw; Ghosh, Soham; Dutton, J. Craig; Grinnell, Frederick

2012-01-01

Successful cryopreservation of functional engineered tissues (ETs) is significant to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, but it is extremely challenging to develop a successful protocol because the effects of cryopreservation parameters on the post-thaw functionality of ETs are not well understood. Particularly, the effects on the microstructure of their extracellular matrix (ECM) have not been well studied, which determines many functional properties of the ETs. In this study, we investigated the effects of two key cryopreservation parameters – i) freezing temperature and corresponding cooling rate; and ii) the concentration of cryoprotective agent (CPA) on the ECM microstructure as well as the cellular viability. Using dermal equivalent as a model ET and DMSO as a model CPA, freezing-induced spatiotemporal deformation and post-thaw ECM microstructure of ETs was characterized while varying the freezing temperature and DMSO concentrations. The spatial distribution of cellular viability and the cellular actin cytoskeleton was also examined. The results showed that the tissue dilatation increased significantly with reduced freezing temperature (i.e., rapid freezing). A maximum limit of tissue deformation was observed for preservation of ECM microstructure, cell viability and cell-matrix adhesion. The dilatation decreased with the use of DMSO, and a freezing temperature dependent threshold concentration of DMSO was observed. The threshold DMSO concentration increased with lowering freezing temperature. In addition, an analysis was performed to delineate thermodynamic and mechanical components of freezing-induced tissue deformation. The results are discussed to establish a mechanistic understanding of freezing-induced cell-fluid-matrix interaction and phase change behavior within ETs in order to improve cryopreservation of ETs. PMID:23246556

Effect of Hot Rolling Process on Microstructure and Properties of Low-Carbon Al-Killed Steels Produced Through TSCR Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, S. K.; Ahmed, U.; Megahed, G. M.

2011-10-01

Low-carbon Al-killed hot rolled strips for direct forming, cold rolling, and galvanizing applications are produced from the similar chemistry at Ezz Flat Steel (EFS) through thin slab casting and rolling (TSCR) technology. The desired mechanical and microstructural properties in hot bands for different applications are achieved through control of hot rolling parameters, which in turn control the precipitation and growth of AlN. Nitrogen in solid solution strongly influences the yield strength (YS), ductility, strain aging index (SAI), and other formability properties of steel. The equilibrium solubility of AlN in austenite at different temperatures and its isothermal precipitation have been studied. To achieve the formability properties for direct forming, soluble nitrogen is fixed as AlN by coiling the strip at higher temperatures. For stringent cold forming, boron was added below the stoichiometric ratio with nitrogen, which improved the formability properties dramatically. The requirements of hot band for processing into cold rolled and annealed deep drawing sheets are high SAI and fine-grain microstructure. Higher finish rolling and low coiling temperatures are used to achieve these. Fully processed cold rolled sheets from these hot strips at customer's end have shown good formability properties. Coil break marks observed in some coils during uncoiling were found to be associated with yielding phenomenon. The spike height (difference between upper and lower yield stresses) and yield point elongation (YPE) were found to be the key material parameters for the break marks. Factors affecting these parameters have been studied and the coiling temperature optimized to overcome the problem.

A 4-D dataset for validation of crystal growth in a complex three-phase material, ice cream

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rockett, P.; Karagadde, S.; Guo, E.; Bent, J.; Hazekamp, J.; Kingsley, M.; Vila-Comamala, J.; Lee, P. D.

2015-06-01

Four dimensional (4D, or 3D plus time) X-ray tomographic imaging of phase changes in materials is quickly becoming an accepted tool for quantifying the development of microstructures to both inform and validate models. However, most of the systems studied have been relatively simple binary compositions with only two phases. In this study we present a quantitative dataset of the phase evolution in a complex three-phase material, ice cream. The microstructure of ice cream is an important parameter in terms of sensorial perception, and therefore quantification and modelling of the evolution of the microstructure with time and temperature is key to understanding its fabrication and storage. The microstructure consists of three phases, air cells, ice crystals, and unfrozen matrix. We perform in situ synchrotron X-ray imaging of ice cream samples using in-line phase contrast tomography, housed within a purpose built cold-stage (-40 to +20oC) with finely controlled variation in specimen temperature. The size and distribution of ice crystals and air cells during programmed temperature cycling are determined using 3D quantification. The microstructural evolution of three-phase materials has many other important applications ranging from biological to structural and functional material, hence this dataset can act as a validation case for numerical investigations on faceted and non-faceted crystal growth in a range of materials.

Impact of the irregular microgeometry of polyurethane foam on the macroscopic acoustic behavior predicted by a unit-cell model.

PubMed

Doutres, O; Ouisse, M; Atalla, N; Ichchou, M

2014-10-01

This paper deals with the prediction of the macroscopic sound absorption behavior of highly porous polyurethane foams using two unit-cell microstructure-based models recently developed by Doutres, Atalla, and Dong [J. Appl. Phys. 110, 064901 (2011); J. Appl. Phys. 113, 054901 (2013)]. In these models, the porous material is idealized as a packing of a tetrakaidecahedra unit-cell representative of the disordered network that constitutes the porous frame. The non-acoustic parameters involved in the classical Johnson-Champoux-Allard model (i.e., porosity, airflow resistivity, tortuosity, etc.) are derived from characteristic properties of the unit-cell and semi-empirical relationships. A global sensitivity analysis is performed on these two models in order to investigate how the variability associated with the measured unit-cell characteristics affects the models outputs. This allows identification of the possible limitations of a unit-cell micro-macro approach due to microstructure irregularity. The sensitivity analysis mainly shows that for moderately and highly reticulated polyurethane foams, the strut length parameter is the key parameter since it greatly impacts three important non-acoustic parameters and causes large uncertainty on the sound absorption coefficient even if its measurement variability is moderate. For foams with a slight inhomogeneity and anisotropy, a micro-macro model associated to cell size measurements should be preferred.

[Analysis of correlation between trabecular microstructure and clinical imaging parameters in fracture region of osteoporotic hip].

PubMed

Peng, Jing; Zhou, Yong; Min, Li; Zhang, Wenli; Luo, Yi; Zhang, Xuelei; Zou, Chang; Shi, Rui; Tu, Chongqi

2014-05-01

To analyze the correlation between the trabecular microstructure and the clinical imaging parameters in the fracture region of osteoporotic hip so as to provide a simple method to evaluate the trabecular microstructure by a non-invasive way. Between June 2012 and January 2013, 16 elderly patients with femoral neck fracture underwent hip arthroplasty were selected as the trial group; 5 young patients with pelvic fracture were selected as the control group. The hip CT examination was done, and cancellous bone volume/marrow cavity volume (CV/MV) was analyzed with Mimics 10.01 software in the control group. The CT scan and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement were performed on normal hips of the trial group, and cuboid specimens were gained from the femoral necks at the place of the tensional trabeculae to evaluate the trabecular microstructure parameters by Micro-CT, including bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), connect density (Conn.D), and structure model index (SMI). The correlation between imaging parameters and microstructure parameters was analyzed. In the trial group, the BMD value was 0.491-0.698 g/cm2 (mean, 0.601 g/cm2); according to World Health Organization (WHO) standard, 10 cases were diagnosed as having osteoporosis, and 6 cases as having osteopenia. The CV/MV of the trial group (0.670 1 +/- 0.102 0) was significantly lower than that of the control group (0.885 0 +/- 0.089 1) (t = -4.567, P = 0.000). In the trial group, CV/MV had correlation with BV/TV, Tb.Th, and SMI (P < 0.05); however, CV/MV had no correlation with Tb.N, Tb.Sp, or Conn.D (P > 0.05). BV/TV had correlation with Tb.Th, Tb.N, Tb.Sp, and SMI (P < 0.05), but it had no correlation with Conn.D (P=0.075). There was no correlation between BMD and microstructure parameters (P > 0.05). CV/MV obviously decreases in the osteoporotic hip, and there is a correlation between CV/MV and the microstructure parameters of BV/TV, Tb.Th, and SMI, to some extent, which can reflect the variety of the microstructure of the trabeculae. There is no correlation between BMD of femoral neck and microstructure parameters.

Effect of solidification parameters on mechanical properties of directionally solidified Al-Rich Al-Cu alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Çadırlı, Emin

2013-05-01

Al(100-x)-Cux alloys (x=3 wt%, 6 wt%, 15 wt%, 24 wt% and 33 wt%) were prepared using metals of 99.99% high purity in vacuum atmosphere. These alloys were directionally solidified under steady-state conditions by using a Bridgman-type directional solidification furnace. Solidification parameters (G, V and ), microstructure parameters (λ1, λ2 and λE) and mechanical properties (HV, σ) of the Al-Cu alloys were measured. Microstructure parameters were expressed as functions of solidification parameters by using a linear regression analysis. The dependency of HV, σ on the cooling rate, microstructure parameters and composition were determined. According to experimental results, the microhardness and ultimate tensile strength of the solidified samples was increased by increasing the cooling rate and Cu content, but decreased with increasing microstructure parameters. The microscopic fracture surfaces of the different samples were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Fractographic analysis of the tensile fracture surfaces showed that the type of fracture significantly changed from ductile to brittle depending on the composition.

A Constitutive Equation Relating Composition and Microstructure to Properties in Ti-6Al-4V: As Derived Using a Novel Integrated Computational Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghamarian, Iman; Samimi, Peyman; Dixit, Vikas; Collins, Peter C.

2015-11-01

While it is useful to predict properties in metallic materials based upon the composition and microstructure, the complexity of real, multi-component, and multi-phase engineering alloys presents difficulties when attempting to determine constituent-based phenomenological equations. This paper applies an approach based upon the integration of three separate modeling approaches, specifically artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, and Monte Carlo simulations to determine a mechanism-based equation for the yield strength of α+ β processed Ti-6Al-4V (all compositions in weight percent) which consists of a complex multi-phase microstructure with varying spatial and morphological distributions of the key microstructural features. Notably, this is an industrially important alloy yet an alloy for which such an equation does not exist in the published literature. The equation ultimately derived in this work not only can accurately describe the properties of the current dataset but also is consistent with the limited and dissociated information available in the literature regarding certain parameters such as intrinsic yield strength of pure hexagonal close-packed alpha titanium. In addition, this equation suggests new interesting opportunities for controlling yield strength by controlling the relative intrinsic strengths of the two phases through solid solution strengthening.

Recent advances in the deformation processing of titanium alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamirisakandala, S.; Bhat, R. B.; Vedam, B. V.

2003-12-01

Titanium (Ti) alloys are special-purpose materials used for several critical applications in aerospace as well as non-aerospace industries, and extensive deformation processing is necessary to shape-form these materials, which poses many challenges due to the microstructural complexities. Some of the recent developments in the deformation processing of Ti alloys and usefulness of integrating the material behavior information with simulation schemes while designing and optimizing manufacturing process schedules are discussed in this paper. Discussions are primarily focused on the most important alloy, Ti-6Al-4V and on developing a clear understanding on the influence of key parameters (e.g., oxygen content, starting microstructure, temperature, and strain rate) on the deformation behavior during hot working. These studies are very useful not only for obtaining controlled microstructures but also to design complex multi-step processing sequences to produce defect-free components. Strain-induced porosity (SIP) has been a serious problem during titanium alloy processing, and improved scientific understanding helps in seeking elegant solutions to avoid SIP. A novel high-speed processing technique for microstructural conversion in titanium has been described, which provides several benefits over the conventional slow-speed practices. The hot working behavior of some of the affordable α+β and β titanium alloys being developed recently—namely, Ti-5.5Al-1Fe, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, Ti-6.8Mo-4.5Fe-1.5Al, and Ti-10V-4.5Fe-1.5Al—has been analyzed, and the usefulness of the processing maps in optimizing the process parameters and design of hot working schedules in these alloys is demonstrated. Titanium alloys modified with small additions of boron are emerging as potential candidates for replacing structural components requiring high specific strength and stiffness. Efforts to understand the microstructural mechanisms during deformation processing of Ti-B alloys and the issues associated with their processing are discussed.

A Simplified Model of Moisture Transport in Hydrophilic Porous Media With Applications to Pharmaceutical Tablets.

PubMed

Klinzing, Gerard R; Zavaliangos, Antonios

2016-08-01

This work establishes a predictive model that explicitly recognizes microstructural parameters in the description of the overall mass uptake and local gradients of moisture into tablets. Model equations were formulated based on local tablet geometry to describe the transient uptake of moisture. An analytical solution to a simplified set of model equations was solved to predict the overall mass uptake and moisture gradients with the tablets. The analytical solution takes into account individual diffusion mechanisms in different scales of porosity and diffusion into the solid phase. The time constant of mass uptake was found to be a function of several key material properties, such as tablet relative density, pore tortuosity, and equilibrium moisture content of the material. The predictions of the model are in excellent agreement with experimental results for microcrystalline cellulose tablets without the need for parameter fitting. The model presented provides a new method to analyze the transient uptake of moisture into hydrophilic materials with the knowledge of only a few fundamental material and microstructural parameters. In addition, the model allows for quick and insightful predictions of moisture diffusion for a variety of practical applications including pharmaceutical tablets, porous polymer systems, or cementitious materials. Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prediction of microstructure, residual stress, and deformation in laser powder bed fusion process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Y. P.; Jamshidinia, M.; Boulware, P.; Kelly, S. M.

2018-05-01

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process has been investigated significantly to build production parts with a complex shape. Modeling tools, which can be used in a part level, are essential to allow engineers to fine tune the shape design and process parameters for additive manufacturing. This study focuses on developing modeling methods to predict microstructure, hardness, residual stress, and deformation in large L-PBF built parts. A transient sequentially coupled thermal and metallurgical analysis method was developed to predict microstructure and hardness on L-PBF built high-strength, low-alloy steel parts. A moving heat-source model was used in this analysis to accurately predict the temperature history. A kinetics based model which was developed to predict microstructure in the heat-affected zone of a welded joint was extended to predict the microstructure and hardness in an L-PBF build by inputting the predicted temperature history. The tempering effect resulting from the following built layers on the current-layer microstructural phases were modeled, which is the key to predict the final hardness correctly. It was also found that the top layers of a build part have higher hardness because of the lack of the tempering effect. A sequentially coupled thermal and mechanical analysis method was developed to predict residual stress and deformation for an L-PBF build part. It was found that a line-heating model is not suitable for analyzing a large L-PBF built part. The layer heating method is a potential method for analyzing a large L-PBF built part. The experiment was conducted to validate the model predictions.

Prediction of microstructure, residual stress, and deformation in laser powder bed fusion process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Y. P.; Jamshidinia, M.; Boulware, P.; Kelly, S. M.

2017-12-01

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process has been investigated significantly to build production parts with a complex shape. Modeling tools, which can be used in a part level, are essential to allow engineers to fine tune the shape design and process parameters for additive manufacturing. This study focuses on developing modeling methods to predict microstructure, hardness, residual stress, and deformation in large L-PBF built parts. A transient sequentially coupled thermal and metallurgical analysis method was developed to predict microstructure and hardness on L-PBF built high-strength, low-alloy steel parts. A moving heat-source model was used in this analysis to accurately predict the temperature history. A kinetics based model which was developed to predict microstructure in the heat-affected zone of a welded joint was extended to predict the microstructure and hardness in an L-PBF build by inputting the predicted temperature history. The tempering effect resulting from the following built layers on the current-layer microstructural phases were modeled, which is the key to predict the final hardness correctly. It was also found that the top layers of a build part have higher hardness because of the lack of the tempering effect. A sequentially coupled thermal and mechanical analysis method was developed to predict residual stress and deformation for an L-PBF build part. It was found that a line-heating model is not suitable for analyzing a large L-PBF built part. The layer heating method is a potential method for analyzing a large L-PBF built part. The experiment was conducted to validate the model predictions.

Assessing White Matter Microstructure in Brain Regions with Different Myelin Architecture Using MRI.

PubMed

Groeschel, Samuel; Hagberg, Gisela E; Schultz, Thomas; Balla, Dávid Z; Klose, Uwe; Hauser, Till-Karsten; Nägele, Thomas; Bieri, Oliver; Prasloski, Thomas; MacKay, Alex L; Krägeloh-Mann, Ingeborg; Scheffler, Klaus

2016-01-01

We investigate how known differences in myelin architecture between regions along the cortico-spinal tract and frontal white matter (WM) in 19 healthy adolescents are reflected in several quantitative MRI parameters that have been proposed to non-invasively probe WM microstructure. In a clinically feasible scan time, both conventional imaging sequences as well as microstructural MRI parameters were assessed in order to quantitatively characterise WM regions that are known to differ in the thickness of their myelin sheaths, and in the presence of crossing or parallel fibre organisation. We found that diffusion imaging, MR spectroscopy (MRS), myelin water fraction (MWF), Magnetization Transfer Imaging, and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping were myelin-sensitive in different ways, giving complementary information for characterising WM microstructure with different underlying fibre architecture. From the diffusion parameters, neurite density (NODDI) was found to be more sensitive than fractional anisotropy (FA), underlining the limitation of FA in WM crossing fibre regions. In terms of sensitivity to different myelin content, we found that MWF, the mean diffusivity and chemical-shift imaging based MRS yielded the best discrimination between areas. Multimodal assessment of WM microstructure was possible within clinically feasible scan times using a broad combination of quantitative microstructural MRI sequences. By assessing new microstructural WM parameters we were able to provide normative data and discuss their interpretation in regions with different myelin architecture, as well as their possible application as biomarker for WM disorders.

Process optimization for ultrasonic vibration assisted polishing of micro-structured surfaces on super hard material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Zhiyuan; Guo, Bing; Rao, Zhimin; Zhao, Qingliang

2014-08-01

In consideration of the excellent property of SiC, the ground micro-structured surface quality is hard to meet the requirement - consequently the ultrasonic vibration assisted polishing (UVAP) of micro-structures of molds is proposed in this paper. Through the orthogonal experiment, the parameters of UVAP of micro-structures were optimized. The experimental results show that, abrasive polishing process, the effect of the workpiece feed rate on the surface roughness (Ra), groove tip radius (R) and material removal rate (MRR) of micro-structures is significant. While, the UVAP, the most significant effect factor for Ra, R and MRR is the ultrasonic amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration. In addition, within the scope of the polishing process parameters selected by preliminary experiments, ultrasonic amplitude of 2.5μm, polishing force of 0.5N, workpiece feed rate of 5 mm·min-1, polishing wheel rotational speed of 50rpm, polishing time of 35min, abrasive size of 100nm and the polishing liquid concentration of 15% is the best technology of UVAP of micro-structures. Under the optimal parameters, the ground traces on the micro-structured surface were removed efficiently and the integrity of the edges of the micro-structure after grinding was maintained efficiently.

Characterizing the Effects of Washing by Different Detergents on the Wavelength-Scale Microstructures of Silk Samples Using Mueller Matrix Polarimetry.

PubMed

Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; He, Chao; Zhou, Jialing; Zeng, Nan; Ma, Hui

2016-08-10

Silk fibers suffer from microstructural changes due to various external environmental conditions including daily washings. In this paper, we take the backscattering Mueller matrix images of silk samples for non-destructive and real-time quantitative characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructure and examination of the effects of washing by different detergents. The 2D images of the 16 Mueller matrix elements are reduced to the frequency distribution histograms (FDHs) whose central moments reveal the dominant structural features of the silk fibers. A group of new parameters are also proposed to characterize the wavelength-scale microstructural changes of the silk samples during the washing processes. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are carried out to better understand how the Mueller matrix parameters are related to the wavelength-scale microstructure of silk fibers. The good agreement between experiments and simulations indicates that the Mueller matrix polarimetry and FDH based parameters can be used to quantitatively detect the wavelength-scale microstructural features of silk fibers. Mueller matrix polarimetry may be used as a powerful tool for non-destructive and in situ characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructures of silk based materials.

Characterizing the Effects of Washing by Different Detergents on the Wavelength-Scale Microstructures of Silk Samples Using Mueller Matrix Polarimetry

PubMed Central

Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; He, Chao; Zhou, Jialing; Zeng, Nan; Ma, Hui

2016-01-01

Silk fibers suffer from microstructural changes due to various external environmental conditions including daily washings. In this paper, we take the backscattering Mueller matrix images of silk samples for non-destructive and real-time quantitative characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructure and examination of the effects of washing by different detergents. The 2D images of the 16 Mueller matrix elements are reduced to the frequency distribution histograms (FDHs) whose central moments reveal the dominant structural features of the silk fibers. A group of new parameters are also proposed to characterize the wavelength-scale microstructural changes of the silk samples during the washing processes. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are carried out to better understand how the Mueller matrix parameters are related to the wavelength-scale microstructure of silk fibers. The good agreement between experiments and simulations indicates that the Mueller matrix polarimetry and FDH based parameters can be used to quantitatively detect the wavelength-scale microstructural features of silk fibers. Mueller matrix polarimetry may be used as a powerful tool for non-destructive and in situ characterization of the wavelength-scale microstructures of silk based materials. PMID:27517919

Parametric optimisation and microstructural analysis on high power Yb-fibre laser welding of Ti-6Al-4V

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, J.; Chen, L.; Davies, C. M.; Dear, J. P.

2016-11-01

In this work thin sheets of Ti-6Al-4V were full penetration welded using a 5 kW fibre laser in order to evaluate the effectiveness of high power fibre laser as a welding processing tool for welding Ti-6Al-4V with the requirements of the aircraft industry and to determine the effect of welding parameters including laser power, welding speed and beam focal position on the weld microstructure, bead profile and weld quality. It involved establishing an understanding of the influence of welding parameters on microstructural change, welding defects, and the characteristics of heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal (WM) of fibre laser welded joints. The optimum range of welding parameters which produced welds without cracking and porosity were identified. The influence of the welding parameters on the weld joint heterogeneity was characterised by conducting detailed microstructural analysis.

A semi-empirical model relating micro structure to acoustic properties of bimodal porous material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mosanenzadeh, Shahrzad Ghaffari; Doutres, Olivier; Naguib, Hani E.; Park, Chul B.; Atalla, Noureddine

2015-01-01

Complex morphology of open cell porous media makes it difficult to link microstructural parameters and acoustic behavior of these materials. While morphology determines the overall sound absorption and noise damping effectiveness of a porous structure, little is known on the influence of microstructural configuration on the macroscopic properties. In the present research, a novel bimodal porous structure was designed and developed solely for modeling purposes. For the developed porous structure, it is possible to have direct control on morphological parameters and avoid complications raised by intricate pore geometries. A semi-empirical model is developed to relate microstructural parameters to macroscopic characteristics of porous material using precise characterization results based on the designed bimodal porous structures. This model specifically links macroscopic parameters including static airflow resistivity ( σ ) , thermal characteristic length ( Λ ' ) , viscous characteristic length ( Λ ) , and dynamic tortuosity ( α ∞ ) to microstructural factors such as cell wall thickness ( 2 t ) and reticulation rate ( R w ) . The developed model makes it possible to design the morphology of porous media to achieve optimum sound absorption performance based on the application in hand. This study makes the base for understanding the role of microstructural geometry and morphological factors on the overall macroscopic parameters of porous materials specifically for acoustic capabilities. The next step is to include other microstructural parameters as well to generalize the developed model. In the present paper, pore size was kept constant for eight categories of bimodal foams to study the effect of secondary porous structure on macroscopic properties and overall acoustic behavior of porous media.

Location specific solidification microstructure control in electron beam melting of Ti-6Al-4V

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Narra, Sneha P.; Cunningham, Ross; Beuth, Jack

Relationships between prior beta grain size in solidified Ti-6Al-4V and melting process parameters in the Electron Beam Melting (EBM) process are investigated. Samples are built by varying a machine-dependent proprietary speed function to cover the process space. Optical microscopy is used to measure prior beta grain widths and assess the number of prior beta grains present in a melt pool in the raster region of the build. Despite the complicated evolution of beta grain sizes, the beta grain width scales with melt pool width. The resulting understanding of the relationship between primary machine variables and prior beta grain widths ismore » a key step toward enabling the location specific control of as-built microstructure in the EBM process. Control of grain width in separate specimens and within a single specimen is demonstrated.« less

Characterising the structural properties of polymer separators for lithium-ion batteries in 3D using phase contrast X-ray microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finegan, Donal P.; Cooper, Samuel J.; Tjaden, Bernhard; Taiwo, Oluwadamilola O.; Gelb, Jeff; Hinds, Gareth; Brett, Dan J. L.; Shearing, Paul R.

2016-11-01

Separators are an integral component for optimising performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries; therefore, a clear understanding of how their microstructure affects cell performance and safety is crucial. Phase contrast X-ray microscopy is used here to capture the microstructures of commercial monolayer, tri-layer, and ceramic-coated lithium-ion battery polymer separators. Spatial variations in key structural parameters, including porosity, tortuosity factor and pore size distribution, are determined through the application of 3D quantification techniques and stereology. The architectures of individual layers in multi-layer membranes are characterised, revealing anisotropy in porosity, tortuosity factor and mean pore size of the three types of separator. Detailed structural properties of the individual layers of multi-layered membranes are then related with their expected effect on safety and rate capability of cells.

Direct observation of grain rotations during coarsening of a semisolid Al–Cu alloy

PubMed Central

Dake, Jules M.; Oddershede, Jette; Sørensen, Henning O.; Werz, Thomas; Shatto, J. Cole; Uesugi, Kentaro; Schmidt, Søren; Krill, Carl E.

2016-01-01

Sintering is a key technology for processing ceramic and metallic powders into solid objects of complex geometry, particularly in the burgeoning field of energy storage materials. The modeling of sintering processes, however, has not kept pace with applications. Conventional models, which assume ideal arrangements of constituent powders while ignoring their underlying crystallinity, achieve at best a qualitative description of the rearrangement, densification, and coarsening of powder compacts during thermal processing. Treating a semisolid Al–Cu alloy as a model system for late-stage sintering—during which densification plays a subordinate role to coarsening—we have used 3D X-ray diffraction microscopy to track the changes in sample microstructure induced by annealing. The results establish the occurrence of significant particle rotations, driven in part by the dependence of boundary energy on crystallographic misorientation. Evidently, a comprehensive model for sintering must incorporate crystallographic parameters into the thermodynamic driving forces governing microstructural evolution. PMID:27671639

Scaling relations between trabecular bone volume fraction and microstructure at different skeletal sites.

PubMed

Räth, Christoph; Baum, Thomas; Monetti, Roberto; Sidorenko, Irina; Wolf, Petra; Eckstein, Felix; Matsuura, Maiko; Lochmüller, Eva-Maria; Zysset, Philippe K; Rummeny, Ernst J; Link, Thomas M; Bauer, Jan S

2013-12-01

In this study, we investigated the scaling relations between trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and parameters of the trabecular microstructure at different skeletal sites. Cylindrical bone samples with a diameter of 8mm were harvested from different skeletal sites of 154 human donors in vitro: 87 from the distal radius, 59/69 from the thoracic/lumbar spine, 51 from the femoral neck, and 83 from the greater trochanter. μCT images were obtained with an isotropic spatial resolution of 26μm. BV/TV and trabecular microstructure parameters (TbN, TbTh, TbSp, scaling indices (< > and σ of α and αz), and Minkowski Functionals (Surface, Curvature, Euler)) were computed for each sample. The regression coefficient β was determined for each skeletal site as the slope of a linear fit in the double-logarithmic representations of the correlations of BV/TV versus the respective microstructure parameter. Statistically significant correlation coefficients ranging from r=0.36 to r=0.97 were observed for BV/TV versus microstructure parameters, except for Curvature and Euler. The regression coefficients β were 0.19 to 0.23 (TbN), 0.21 to 0.30 (TbTh), -0.28 to -0.24 (TbSp), 0.58 to 0.71 (Surface) and 0.12 to 0.16 (<α>), 0.07 to 0.11 (<αz>), -0.44 to -0.30 (σ(α)), and -0.39 to -0.14 (σ(αz)) at the different skeletal sites. The 95% confidence intervals of β overlapped for almost all microstructure parameters at the different skeletal sites. The scaling relations were independent of vertebral fracture status and similar for subjects aged 60-69, 70-79, and >79years. In conclusion, the bone volume fraction-microstructure scaling relations showed a rather universal character. © 2013.

MR-based trabecular bone microstructure is not altered in subjects with indolent systemic mastocytosis.

PubMed

Baum, Thomas; Karampinos, Dimitrios C; Brockow, Knut; Seifert-Klauss, Vanadin; Jungmann, Pia M; Biedermann, Tilo; Rummeny, Ernst J; Bauer, Jan S; Müller, Dirk

2015-01-01

Subjects with indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) have an increased risk for osteoporosis. It has been demonstrated that trabecular bone microstructure analysis improves the prediction of bone strength beyond dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-based bone mineral density. The purpose of this study was to obtain Magnetic Resonance (MR)-based trabecular bone microstructure parameters as advanced imaging biomarkers in subjects with ISM (n=18) and compare them with those of normal controls (n=18). Trabecular bone microstructure parameters were not significantly (P>.05) different between subjects with ISM and controls. These findings revealed important pathophysiological information about ISM-associated osteoporosis and may limit the use of trabecular bone microstructure analysis in this clinical setting. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SMRT: A new, modular snow microwave radiative transfer model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Picard, Ghislain; Sandells, Melody; Löwe, Henning; Dumont, Marie; Essery, Richard; Floury, Nicolas; Kontu, Anna; Lemmetyinen, Juha; Maslanka, William; Mätzler, Christian; Morin, Samuel; Wiesmann, Andreas

2017-04-01

Forward models of radiative transfer processes are needed to interpret remote sensing data and derive measurements of snow properties such as snow mass. A key requirement and challenge for microwave emission and scattering models is an accurate description of the snow microstructure. The snow microwave radiative transfer model (SMRT) was designed to cater for potential future active and/or passive satellite missions and developed to improve understanding of how to parameterize snow microstructure. SMRT is implemented in Python and is modular to allow easy intercomparison of different theoretical approaches. Separate modules are included for the snow microstructure model, electromagnetic module, radiative transfer solver, substrate, interface reflectivities, atmosphere and permittivities. An object-oriented approach is used with carefully specified exchanges between modules to allow future extensibility i.e. without constraining the parameter list requirements. This presentation illustrates the capabilities of SMRT. At present, five different snow microstructure models have been implemented, and direct insertion of the autocorrelation function from microtomography data is also foreseen with SMRT. Three electromagnetic modules are currently available. While DMRT-QCA and Rayleigh models need specific microstructure models, the Improved Born Approximation may be used with any microstructure representation. A discrete ordinates approach with stream connection is used to solve the radiative transfer equations, although future inclusion of 6-flux and 2-flux solvers are envisioned. Wrappers have been included to allow existing microwave emission models (MEMLS, HUT, DMRT-QMS) to be run with the same inputs and minimal extra code (2 lines). Comparisons between theoretical approaches will be shown, and evaluation against field experiments in the frequency range 5-150 GHz. SMRT is simple and elegant to use whilst providing a framework for future development within the community.

Influence of eye biometrics and corneal micro-structure on noncontact tonometry.

PubMed

Jesus, Danilo A; Majewska, Małgorzata; Krzyżanowska-Berkowska, Patrycja; Iskander, D Robert

2017-01-01

Tonometry is widely used as the main screening tool supporting glaucoma diagnosis. Still, its accuracy could be improved if full knowledge about the variation of the corneal biomechanical properties was available. In this study, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) speckle statistics are used to infer the organisation of the corneal micro-structure and hence, to analyse its influence on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Fifty-six subjects were recruited for this prospective study. Macro and micro-structural corneal parameters as well as subject age were considered. Macro-structural analysis included the parameters that are associated with the ocular anatomy, such as central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal radius, axial length, anterior chamber depth and white-to-white corneal diameter. Micro-structural parameters which included OCT speckle statistics were related to the internal organisation of the corneal tissue and its physiological changes during lifetime. The corneal speckle obtained from OCT was modelled with the Generalised Gamma (GG) distribution that is characterised with a scale parameter and two shape parameters. In macro-structure analysis, only CCT showed a statistically significant correlation with IOP (R2 = 0.25, p<0.001). The scale parameter and the ratio of the shape parameters of GG distribution showed statistically significant correlation with IOP (R2 = 0.19, p<0.001 and R2 = 0.17, p<0.001, respectively). For the studied group, a weak, although significant correlation was found between age and IOP (R2 = 0.053, p = 0.04). Forward stepwise regression showed that CCT and the scale parameter of the Generalised Gamma distribution can be combined in a regression model (R2 = 0.39, p<0.001) to study the role of the corneal structure on IOP. We show, for the first time, that corneal micro-structure influences the IOP measurements obtained from noncontact tonometry. OCT speckle statistics can be employed to learn about the corneal micro-structure and hence, to further calibrate the IOP measurements.

Influence of eye biometrics and corneal micro-structure on noncontact tonometry

PubMed Central

Majewska, Małgorzata; Krzyżanowska-Berkowska, Patrycja; Iskander, D. Robert

2017-01-01

Purpose Tonometry is widely used as the main screening tool supporting glaucoma diagnosis. Still, its accuracy could be improved if full knowledge about the variation of the corneal biomechanical properties was available. In this study, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) speckle statistics are used to infer the organisation of the corneal micro-structure and hence, to analyse its influence on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Methods Fifty-six subjects were recruited for this prospective study. Macro and micro-structural corneal parameters as well as subject age were considered. Macro-structural analysis included the parameters that are associated with the ocular anatomy, such as central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal radius, axial length, anterior chamber depth and white-to-white corneal diameter. Micro-structural parameters which included OCT speckle statistics were related to the internal organisation of the corneal tissue and its physiological changes during lifetime. The corneal speckle obtained from OCT was modelled with the Generalised Gamma (GG) distribution that is characterised with a scale parameter and two shape parameters. Results In macro-structure analysis, only CCT showed a statistically significant correlation with IOP (R2 = 0.25, p<0.001). The scale parameter and the ratio of the shape parameters of GG distribution showed statistically significant correlation with IOP (R2 = 0.19, p<0.001 and R2 = 0.17, p<0.001, respectively). For the studied group, a weak, although significant correlation was found between age and IOP (R2 = 0.053, p = 0.04). Forward stepwise regression showed that CCT and the scale parameter of the Generalised Gamma distribution can be combined in a regression model (R2 = 0.39, p<0.001) to study the role of the corneal structure on IOP. Conclusions We show, for the first time, that corneal micro-structure influences the IOP measurements obtained from noncontact tonometry. OCT speckle statistics can be employed to learn about the corneal micro-structure and hence, to further calibrate the IOP measurements. PMID:28472178

Linear elastic properties derivation from microstructures representative of transport parameters.

PubMed

Hoang, Minh Tan; Bonnet, Guy; Tuan Luu, Hoang; Perrot, Camille

2014-06-01

It is shown that three-dimensional periodic unit cells (3D PUC) representative of transport parameters involved in the description of long wavelength acoustic wave propagation and dissipation through real foam samples may also be used as a standpoint to estimate their macroscopic linear elastic properties. Application of the model yields quantitative agreement between numerical homogenization results, available literature data, and experiments. Key contributions of this work include recognizing the importance of membranes and properties of the base material for the physics of elasticity. The results of this paper demonstrate that a 3D PUC may be used to understand and predict not only the sound absorbing properties of porous materials but also their transmission loss, which is critical for sound insulation problems.

Review of Relationship Between Particle Deformation, Coating Microstructure, and Properties in High-Pressure Cold Spray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rokni, M. R.; Nutt, S. R.; Widener, C. A.; Champagne, V. K.; Hrabe, R. H.

2017-08-01

In the cold spray (CS) process, deposits are produced by depositing powder particles at high velocity onto a substrate. Powders deposited by CS do not undergo melting before or upon impacting the substrate. This feature makes CS suitable for deposition of a wide variety of materials, most commonly metallic alloys, but also ceramics and composites. During processing, the particles undergo severe plastic deformation and create a more mechanical and less metallurgical bond with the underlying material. The deformation behavior of an individual particle depends on multiple material and process parameters that are classified into three major groups—powder characteristics, geometric parameters, and processing parameters, each with their own subcategories. Changing any of these parameters leads to evolution of a different microstructure and consequently changes the mechanical properties in the deposit. While cold spray technology has matured during the last decade, the process is inherently complex, and thus, the effects of deposition parameters on particle deformation, deposit microstructure, and mechanical properties remain unclear. The purpose of this paper is to review the parameters that have been investigated up to now with an emphasis on the existent relationships between particle deformation behavior, microstructure, and mechanical properties of various cold spray deposits.

Progress Toward an Integration of Process-Structure-Property-Performance Models for "Three-Dimensional (3-D) Printing" of Titanium Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, P. C.; Haden, C. V.; Ghamarian, I.; Hayes, B. J.; Ales, T.; Penso, G.; Dixit, V.; Harlow, G.

2014-07-01

Electron beam direct manufacturing, synonymously known as electron beam additive manufacturing, along with other additive "3-D printing" manufacturing processes, are receiving widespread attention as a means of producing net-shape (or near-net-shape) components, owing to potential manufacturing benefits. Yet, materials scientists know that differences in manufacturing processes often significantly influence the microstructure of even widely accepted materials and, thus, impact the properties and performance of a material in service. It is important to accelerate the understanding of the processing-structure-property relationship of materials being produced via these novel approaches in a framework that considers the performance in a statistically rigorous way. This article describes the development of a process model, the assessment of key microstructural features to be incorporated into a microstructure simulation model, a novel approach to extract a constitutive equation to predict tensile properties in Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64), and a probabilistic approach to measure the fidelity of the property model against real data. This integrated approach will provide designers a tool to vary process parameters and understand the influence on performance, enabling design and optimization for these highly visible manufacturing approaches.

Effect of heavy tempering on microstructure and yield strength of 28CrMo48VTiB martensitic steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yu; Gu, Shunjie; Wang, Qian; Wang, Huibin; Wang, Qingfeng; Zhang, Fucheng

2018-02-01

The 28CrMo48VTiB martensitic steel for sulfide stress cracking (SSC) resistance oil country tubular goods (OCTG) of C110 grade was thermally processed through quenching at 890 °C and tempering at 600 °C-720 °C for 30-90 min. The microstructures of all samples were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffractometry (XRD). Also, the tensile properties were measured. The results indicated that the yield strength (YS) decreased as both the tempering temperature and duration increased, due to the coarsening of martensitic packet/block/lath structures, the reduction of dislocation density, as well as the increase of both the volume fraction and average diameter of the precipitates. The martensitic lath width was the key microstructural parameter controlling the YS of this heavily-tempered martensitic steel, whereas the corresponding relationship was in accordance with the Langford-Cohen model. Furthermore, the martensitic structure boundary and the solid solution strengthening were the two most significant factors dominating the YS, in comparison with the dislocation and precipitation strengthening.

Predicting mesoscale microstructural evolution in electron beam welding

DOE PAGES

Rodgers, Theron M.; Madison, Jonathan D.; Tikare, Veena; ...

2016-03-16

Using the kinetic Monte Carlo simulator, Stochastic Parallel PARticle Kinetic Simulator, from Sandia National Laboratories, a user routine has been developed to simulate mesoscale predictions of a grain structure near a moving heat source. Here, we demonstrate the use of this user routine to produce voxelized, synthetic, three-dimensional microstructures for electron-beam welding by comparing them with experimentally produced microstructures. When simulation input parameters are matched to experimental process parameters, qualitative and quantitative agreement for both grain size and grain morphology are achieved. The method is capable of simulating both single- and multipass welds. As a result, the simulations provide anmore » opportunity for not only accelerated design but also the integration of simulation and experiments in design such that simulations can receive parameter bounds from experiments and, in turn, provide predictions of a resultant microstructure.« less

Modeling of microstructure evolution in direct metal laser sintering: A phase field approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nandy, Jyotirmoy; Sarangi, Hrushikesh; Sahoo, Seshadev

2017-02-01

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is a new technology in the field of additive manufacturing, which builds metal parts in a layer by layer fashion directly from the powder bed. The process occurs within a very short time period with rapid solidification rate. Slight variations in the process parameters may cause enormous change in the final build parts. The physical and mechanical properties of the final build parts are dependent on the solidification rate which directly affects the microstructure of the material. Thus, the evolving of microstructure plays a vital role in the process parameters optimization. Nowadays, the increase in computational power allows for direct simulations of microstructures during materials processing for specific manufacturing conditions. In this study, modeling of microstructure evolution of Al-Si-10Mg powder in DMLS process was carried out by using a phase field approach. A MATLAB code was developed to solve the set of phase field equations, where simulation parameters include temperature gradient, laser scan speed and laser power. The effects of temperature gradient on microstructure evolution were studied and found that with increase in temperature gradient, the dendritic tip grows at a faster rate.

Osteoporosis imaging: effects of bone preservation on MDCT-based trabecular bone microstructure parameters and finite element models.

PubMed

Baum, Thomas; Grande Garcia, Eduardo; Burgkart, Rainer; Gordijenko, Olga; Liebl, Hans; Jungmann, Pia M; Gruber, Michael; Zahel, Tina; Rummeny, Ernst J; Waldt, Simone; Bauer, Jan S

2015-06-26

Osteoporosis is defined as a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength due to a reduction of bone mass and deterioration of bone microstructure predisposing an individual to an increased risk of fracture. Trabecular bone microstructure analysis and finite element models (FEM) have shown to improve the prediction of bone strength beyond bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. These computational methods have been developed and validated in specimens preserved in formalin solution or by freezing. However, little is known about the effects of preservation on trabecular bone microstructure and FEM. The purpose of this observational study was to investigate the effects of preservation on trabecular bone microstructure and FEM in human vertebrae. Four thoracic vertebrae were harvested from each of three fresh human cadavers (n=12). Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) images were obtained at baseline, 3 and 6 month follow-up. In the intervals between MDCT imaging, two vertebrae from each donor were formalin-fixed and frozen, respectively. BMD, trabecular bone microstructure parameters (histomorphometry and fractal dimension), and FEM-based apparent compressive modulus (ACM) were determined in the MDCT images and validated by mechanical testing to failure of the vertebrae after 6 months. Changes of BMD, trabecular bone microstructure parameters, and FEM-based ACM in formalin-fixed and frozen vertebrae over 6 months ranged between 1.0-5.6% and 1.3-6.1%, respectively, and were not statistically significant (p>0.05). BMD, trabecular bone microstructure parameters, and FEM-based ACM as assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 month follow-up correlated significantly with mechanically determined failure load (r=0.89-0.99; p<0.05). The correlation coefficients r were not significantly different for the two preservation methods (p>0.05). Formalin fixation and freezing up to six months showed no significant effects on trabecular bone microstructure and FEM-based ACM in human vertebrae and may both be used in corresponding in-vitro experiments in the context of osteoporosis.

Ring rolling process simulation for microstructure optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franchi, Rodolfo; Del Prete, Antonio; Donatiello, Iolanda; Calabrese, Maurizio

2017-10-01

Metal undergoes complicated microstructural evolution during Hot Ring Rolling (HRR), which determines the quality, mechanical properties and life of the ring formed. One of the principal microstructure properties which mostly influences the structural performances of forged components, is the value of the average grain size. In the present paper a ring rolling process has been studied and optimized in order to obtain anular components to be used in aerospace applications. In particular, the influence of process input parameters (feed rate of the mandrel and angular velocity of driver roll) on microstructural and on geometrical features of the final ring has been evaluated. For this purpose, a three-dimensional finite element model for HRR has been developed in SFTC DEFORM V11, taking into account also microstructural development of the material used (the nickel superalloy Waspalloy). The Finite Element (FE) model has been used to formulate a proper optimization problem. The optimization procedure has been developed in order to find the combination of process parameters which allows to minimize the average grain size. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has been used to find the relationship between input and output parameters, by using the exact values of output parameters in the control points of a design space explored through FEM simulation. Once this relationship is known, the values of the output parameters can be calculated for each combination of the input parameters. Then, an optimization procedure based on Genetic Algorithms has been applied. At the end, the minimum value of average grain size with respect to the input parameters has been found.

Unconventional barometry and rheometry: new quantification approaches for mechanically-controlled microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tajcmanova, L.; Moulas, E.; Vrijmoed, J.; Podladchikov, Y.

2016-12-01

Estimation of pressure-temperature (P-T) from petrographic observations in metamorphic rocks has become a common practice in petrology studies during the last 50 years. This data often serves as a key input in geodynamic reconstructions and thus directly influences our understanding of lithospheric processes. Such an approach might have led the metamorphic geology field to a certain level of quiescence. In the classical view of metamorphic quantification approaches, fast viscous relaxation (and therefore constant pressure across the rock microstructure) is assumed, with chemical diffusion being the limiting factor in equilibration. Recently, we have focused on the other possible scenario - fast chemical diffusion and slow viscous relaxation - and brings an alternative interpretation of chemical zoning found in high-grade rocks. The aim has been to provide insight into the role of mechanically maintained pressure variations on multi-component chemical zoning in minerals. Furthermore, we used the pressure information from the mechanically-controlled microstructure for rheological constrains. We show an unconventional way of relating the direct microstructural observations in rocks to the nonlinearity of rheology at time scales unattainable by laboratory measurements. Our analysis documents that mechanically controlled microstructures that have been preserved over geological times can be used to deduce flow-law parameters and in turn estimate stress levels of minerals in their natural environment. The development of the new quantification approaches has opened new horizons in understanding the phase transformations in the Earth's lithosphere. Furthermore, the new data generated can serve as a food for thought for the next generation of fully coupled numerical codes that involve reacting materials while respecting conservation of mass, momentum and energy.

Sequence of Stages in the Microstructure Evolution in Copper under Mild Reciprocating Tribological Loading.

PubMed

Greiner, Christian; Liu, Zhilong; Strassberger, Luis; Gumbsch, Peter

2016-06-22

Tailoring the surface properties of a material for low friction and little wear has long been a goal of tribological research. Since the microstructure of the material under the contact strongly influences tribological performance, the ability to control this microstructure is thereby of key importance. However, there is a significant lack of knowledge about the elementary mechanisms of microstructure evolution under tribological load. To cover different stages of this microstructure evolution, high-purity copper was investigated after increasing numbers of sliding cycles of a sapphire sphere in reciprocating motion. Scanning electron and focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy were applied to monitor the microstructure changes. A thin tribologically deformed layer which grew from tens of nanometers to several micrometers with increasing number of cycles was observed in cross-sections. By analyzing dislocation structures and local orientation changes in the cross-sectional areas, dislocation activity, the occurrence of a distinct dislocation trace line, and the emergence of new subgrain boundaries could be observed at different depths. These results strongly suggest that dislocation self-organization is a key elementary mechanism for the microstructure evolution under a tribological load. The distinct elementary processes at different stages of sliding identified here will be essential for the future modeling of the microstructure evolution in tribological contacts.

Microstructure-Sensitive Modeling of High Cycle Fatigue (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

SUBJECT TERMS microplasticity , microstructure-sensitive modeling, high cycle fatigue, fatigue variability 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17...3Air Force Research Laboratory Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433 Keywords: Microplasticity , microstructure-sensitive modeling, high cycle...cyclic microplasticity ) plays a key role in modeling fatigue resistance. Unlike effective properties such as elastic stiffness, fatigue is

A non-classical Mindlin plate model incorporating microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects.

PubMed

Gao, X-L; Zhang, G Y

2016-07-01

A non-classical model for a Mindlin plate resting on an elastic foundation is developed in a general form using a modified couple stress theory, a surface elasticity theory and a two-parameter Winkler-Pasternak foundation model. It includes all five kinematic variables possible for a Mindlin plate. The equations of motion and the complete boundary conditions are obtained simultaneously through a variational formulation based on Hamilton's principle, and the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects are treated in a unified manner. The newly developed model contains one material length-scale parameter to describe the microstructure effect, three surface elastic constants to account for the surface energy effect, and two foundation parameters to capture the foundation effect. The current non-classical plate model reduces to its classical elasticity-based counterpart when the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects are all suppressed. In addition, the new model includes the Mindlin plate models considering the microstructure dependence or the surface energy effect or the foundation influence alone as special cases, recovers the Kirchhoff plate model incorporating the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects, and degenerates to the Timoshenko beam model including the microstructure effect. To illustrate the new Mindlin plate model, the static bending and free vibration problems of a simply supported rectangular plate are analytically solved by directly applying the general formulae derived.

A non-classical Mindlin plate model incorporating microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects

PubMed Central

Zhang, G. Y.

2016-01-01

A non-classical model for a Mindlin plate resting on an elastic foundation is developed in a general form using a modified couple stress theory, a surface elasticity theory and a two-parameter Winkler–Pasternak foundation model. It includes all five kinematic variables possible for a Mindlin plate. The equations of motion and the complete boundary conditions are obtained simultaneously through a variational formulation based on Hamilton's principle, and the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects are treated in a unified manner. The newly developed model contains one material length-scale parameter to describe the microstructure effect, three surface elastic constants to account for the surface energy effect, and two foundation parameters to capture the foundation effect. The current non-classical plate model reduces to its classical elasticity-based counterpart when the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects are all suppressed. In addition, the new model includes the Mindlin plate models considering the microstructure dependence or the surface energy effect or the foundation influence alone as special cases, recovers the Kirchhoff plate model incorporating the microstructure, surface energy and foundation effects, and degenerates to the Timoshenko beam model including the microstructure effect. To illustrate the new Mindlin plate model, the static bending and free vibration problems of a simply supported rectangular plate are analytically solved by directly applying the general formulae derived. PMID:27493578

Kinetics of Sub-Micron Grain Size Refinement in 9310 Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozmel, Thomas; Chen, Edward Y.; Chen, Charlie C.; Tin, Sammy

2014-05-01

Recent efforts have focused on the development of novel manufacturing processes capable of producing microstructures dominated by sub-micron grains. For structural applications, grain refinement has been shown to enhance mechanical properties such as strength, fatigue resistance, and fracture toughness. Through control of the thermo-mechanical processing parameters, dynamic recrystallization mechanisms were used to produce microstructures consisting of sub-micron grains in 9310 steel. Starting with initial bainitic grain sizes of 40 to 50 μm, various levels of grain refinement were observed following hot deformation of 9310 steel samples at temperatures and strain rates ranging from 755 K to 922 K (482 °C and 649 °C) and 1 to 0.001/s, respectively. The resulting deformation microstructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction techniques to quantify the extent of carbide coarsening and grain refinement occurring during deformation. Microstructural models based on the Zener-Holloman parameter were developed and modified to include the effect of the ferrite/carbide interactions within the system. These models were shown to effectively correlate microstructural attributes to the thermal mechanical processing parameters.

An Investigation of TIG welding parameters on microhardness and microstructure of heat affected zone of HSLA steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Musa, M. H. A.; Maleque, M. A.; Ali, M. Y.

2018-01-01

Nowadays a wide variety of metal joining methods are used in fabrication industries. In this study, the effect of various welding parameters of the TIG welding process on microhardness, depth, and microstructure of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of L450 HSLA steel and optimizing these process parameters following Taguchi experimental design was investigated. The microhardness tended to increase significantly with the increase of welding speed from 1.0 to 2.5 mm/s whereas the width of HAZ decreased. The current and arc voltage was found to be less significant in relative comparison. Microstructures of the welded samples were also studied to analyze the changes in the microstructure of the material in terms of ferrite, pearlite, bainite, and martensite formations. Welding speed was found to be the most significant factors leading to changes in microhardness and metallurgical properties. The increase of welding heat input caused an increase in width (depth) of HAZ and the growth of prior austenite grains and then enlarged the grain size of coarse grain heat affected zone (CGHAZ). However, the amount of martensite in the HAZ decreased accompanied by an opposite change of paint. It was observed that the hardness properties and the microstructural feature of HAZ area was strongly affected by the welding parameters.

Generation of random microstructures and prediction of sound velocity and absorption for open foams with spherical pores.

PubMed

Zieliński, Tomasz G

2015-04-01

This paper proposes and discusses an approach for the design and quality inspection of the morphology dedicated for sound absorbing foams, using a relatively simple technique for a random generation of periodic microstructures representative for open-cell foams with spherical pores. The design is controlled by a few parameters, namely, the total open porosity and the average pore size, as well as the standard deviation of pore size. These design parameters are set up exactly and independently, however, the setting of the standard deviation of pore sizes requires some number of pores in the representative volume element (RVE); this number is a procedure parameter. Another pore structure parameter which may be indirectly affected is the average size of windows linking the pores, however, it is in fact weakly controlled by the maximal pore-penetration factor, and moreover, it depends on the porosity and pore size. The proposed methodology for testing microstructure-designs of sound absorbing porous media applies the multi-scale modeling where some important transport parameters-responsible for sound propagation in a porous medium-are calculated from microstructure using the generated RVE, in order to estimate the sound velocity and absorption of such a designed material.

Microstructural effects on constitutive and fatigue fracture behavior of TinSilverCopper solder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tucker, Jonathon P.

As microelectronic package construction becomes more diverse and complex, the need for accurate, geometry-independent material constitutive and failure models increases. Evaluations of packages based on accelerated environmental tests (such as accelerated thermal cycling or power cycling) only provide package-dependent reliability information. In addition, extrapolations of such test data to life predictions under field conditions are often empirical. Besides geometry, accelerated environmental test data must account for microstructural factors such as alloy composition or isothermal aging condition, resulting in expensive experimental variation. In this work, displacement-controlled, creep, and fatigue lap shear tests are conducted on specially designed SnAgCu test specimens with microstructures representative to those found in commercial microelectronic packages. The data are used to develop constitutive and fatigue fracture material models capable of describing deformation and fracture behavior for the relevant temperature and strain rate ranges. Furthermore, insight is provided into the microstructural variation of solder joints and the subsequent effect on material behavior. These models are appropriate for application to packages of any geometrical construction. The first focus of the thesis is on Pb-mixed SnAgCu solder alloys. During the transition from Pb-containing solders to Pb-free solders, joints composed of a mixture of SnPb and SnAgCu often result from either mixed assemblies or rework. Three alloys of 1, 5 and 20 weight percent Pb were selected so as to represent reasonable ranges of Pb contamination expected from different 63Sn37Pb components mixed with Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu. Displacement-controlled (constant strain rate) and creep tests were performed at temperatures of 25°C, 75°C, and 125°C using a double lap shear test setup that ensures a nearly homogeneous state of plastic strain at the joint interface. Rate-dependent constitutive models for Pb-contaminated SnAgCu solder alloys ranging from the traditional time-hardening creep model to the viscoplastic Anand model are described. The second focus of the thesis is on fatigue damage accumulation in SnAgCu solder alloys. While, typical fatigue fracture models are empirical, recently a non-empirical model termed Maximum Entropy Fracture Model (MEFM) was proposed. MEFM is a thermodynamically consistent and information theory inspired damage accumulation theory for ductile solids. This model has been validated recently for Sn3.8Ag0.7Cu solder alloy, and uses a single damage accumulation parameter to relate the probability of fracture to accumulated entropic dissipation. Isothermal cycling fatigue tests on Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu and mixed SnPb/Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu solder alloys at varying strain rates and temperatures are conducted using a custom-built microscale mechanical tester capable of submicron displacement resolution. MEFM is applied here in conjunction with the Anand viscoplasticity model to predict the softening occurring over successive cycles as a result of damage accumulation. The damage accumulation parameters for Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu in different aged states are related to a microstructural parameter which quantitatively describes the state of coarsening. In addition, damage accumulation parameters for the three mixed solder alloys are reported. This approach allows for a non-empirical prediction of both constitutive and fracture behavior of packages of different geometries and different microstructural states under thermo-mechanical fatigue. Approaches to solder joint reliability predictions from materials science and mechanics perspectives differ dramatically. Materials science methods identify key failure mechanisms, but most models cannot predict failure. In contrast, mechanics approaches often provide estimates of joint lifetime, but fail to provide insight into microstructural influences. This work attempts to connect the two fields by relating constitutive behavior and fatigue fracture models for different alloys and aging conditions to one or more microstructural parameters.

Food structure: Its formation and relationships with other properties.

PubMed

Joardder, Mohammad U H; Kumar, Chandan; Karim, M A

2017-04-13

Food materials are complex in nature as it has heterogeneous, amorphous, hygroscopic and porous properties. During processing, microstructure of food materials changes which significantly affects other properties of food. An appropriate understanding of the microstructure of the raw food material and its evolution during processing is critical in order to understand and accurately describe dehydration processes and quality anticipation. This review critically assesses the factors that influence the modification of microstructure in the course of drying of fruits and vegetables. The effect of simultaneous heat and mass transfer on microstructure in various drying methods is investigated. Effects of changes in microstructure on other functional properties of dried foods are discussed. After an extensive review of the literature, it is found that development of food structure significantly depends on fresh food properties and process parameters. Also, modification of microstructure influences the other properties of final product. An enhanced understanding of the relationships between food microstructure, drying process parameters and final product quality will facilitate the energy efficient optimum design of the food processor in order to achieve high-quality food.

Selective laser melting of Ni-rich NiTi: selection of process parameters and the superelastic response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shayesteh Moghaddam, Narges; Saedi, Soheil; Amerinatanzi, Amirhesam; Saghaian, Ehsan; Jahadakbar, Ahmadreza; Karaca, Haluk; Elahinia, Mohammad

2018-03-01

Material and mechanical properties of NiTi shape memory alloys strongly depend on the fabrication process parameters and the resulting microstructure. In selective laser melting, the combination of parameters such as laser power, scanning speed, and hatch spacing determine the microstructural defects, grain size and texture. Therefore, processing parameters can be adjusted to tailor the microstructure and mechanical response of the alloy. In this work, NiTi samples were fabricated using Ni50.8Ti (at.%) powder via SLM PXM by Phenix/3D Systems and the effects of processing parameters were systematically studied. The relationship between the processing parameters and superelastic properties were investigated thoroughly. It will be shown that energy density is not the only parameter that governs the material response. It will be shown that hatch spacing is the dominant factor to tailor the superelastic response. It will be revealed that with the selection of right process parameters, perfect superelasticity with recoverable strains of up to 5.6% can be observed in the as-fabricated condition.

Process-Structure Linkages Using a Data Science Approach: Application to Simulated Additive Manufacturing Data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Popova, Evdokia; Rodgers, Theron M.; Gong, Xinyi

A novel data science workflow is developed and demonstrated to extract process-structure linkages (i.e., reduced-order model) for microstructure evolution problems when the final microstructure depends on (simulation or experimental) processing parameters. Our workflow consists of four main steps: data pre-processing, microstructure quantification, dimensionality reduction, and extraction/validation of process-structure linkages. These methods that can be employed within each step vary based on the type and amount of available data. In this paper, this data-driven workflow is applied to a set of synthetic additive manufacturing microstructures obtained using the Potts-kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) approach. Additive manufacturing techniques inherently produce complex microstructures thatmore » can vary significantly with processing conditions. Using the developed workflow, a low-dimensional data-driven model was established to correlate process parameters with the predicted final microstructure. In addition, the modular workflows developed and presented in this work facilitate easy dissemination and curation by the broader community.« less

Process-Structure Linkages Using a Data Science Approach: Application to Simulated Additive Manufacturing Data

DOE PAGES

Popova, Evdokia; Rodgers, Theron M.; Gong, Xinyi; ...

2017-03-13

A novel data science workflow is developed and demonstrated to extract process-structure linkages (i.e., reduced-order model) for microstructure evolution problems when the final microstructure depends on (simulation or experimental) processing parameters. Our workflow consists of four main steps: data pre-processing, microstructure quantification, dimensionality reduction, and extraction/validation of process-structure linkages. These methods that can be employed within each step vary based on the type and amount of available data. In this paper, this data-driven workflow is applied to a set of synthetic additive manufacturing microstructures obtained using the Potts-kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) approach. Additive manufacturing techniques inherently produce complex microstructures thatmore » can vary significantly with processing conditions. Using the developed workflow, a low-dimensional data-driven model was established to correlate process parameters with the predicted final microstructure. In addition, the modular workflows developed and presented in this work facilitate easy dissemination and curation by the broader community.« less

Quantitatively differentiating microstructural variations of skeletal muscle tissues by multispectral Mueller matrix imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; He, Chao; Ma, Hui

2016-10-01

Polarized light is sensitive to the microstructures of biological tissues and can be used to detect physiological changes. Meanwhile, spectral features of the scattered light can also provide abundant microstructural information of tissues. In this paper, we take the backscattering polarization Mueller matrix images of bovine skeletal muscle tissues during the 24-hour experimental time, and analyze their multispectral behavior using quantitative Mueller matrix parameters. In the processes of rigor mortis and proteolysis of muscle samples, multispectral frequency distribution histograms (FDHs) of the Mueller matrix elements can reveal rich qualitative structural information. In addition, we analyze the temporal variations of the sample using the multispectral Mueller matrix transformation (MMT) parameters. The experimental results indicate that the different stages of rigor mortis and proteolysis for bovine skeletal muscle samples can be judged by these MMT parameters. The results presented in this work show that combining with the multispectral technique, the FDHs and MMT parameters can characterize the microstructural variation features of skeletal muscle tissues. The techniques have the potential to be used as tools for quantitative assessment of meat qualities in food industry.

Biomass particle models with realistic morphology and resolved microstructure for simulations of intraparticle transport phenomena

DOE PAGES

Ciesielski, Peter N.; Crowley, Michael F.; Nimlos, Mark R.; ...

2014-12-09

Biomass exhibits a complex microstructure of directional pores that impact how heat and mass are transferred within biomass particles during conversion processes. However, models of biomass particles used in simulations of conversion processes typically employ oversimplified geometries such as spheres and cylinders and neglect intraparticle microstructure. In this study, we develop 3D models of biomass particles with size, morphology, and microstructure based on parameters obtained from quantitative image analysis. We obtain measurements of particle size and morphology by analyzing large ensembles of particles that result from typical size reduction methods, and we delineate several representative size classes. Microstructural parameters, includingmore » cell wall thickness and cell lumen dimensions, are measured directly from micrographs of sectioned biomass. A general constructive solid geometry algorithm is presented that produces models of biomass particles based on these measurements. Next, we employ the parameters obtained from image analysis to construct models of three different particle size classes from two different feedstocks representing a hardwood poplar species ( Populus tremuloides, quaking aspen) and a softwood pine ( Pinus taeda, loblolly pine). Finally, we demonstrate the utility of the models and the effects explicit microstructure by performing finite-element simulations of intraparticle heat and mass transfer, and the results are compared to similar simulations using traditional simplified geometries. In conclusion, we show how the behavior of particle models with more realistic morphology and explicit microstructure departs from that of spherical models in simulations of transport phenomena and that species-dependent differences in microstructure impact simulation results in some cases.« less

Characterization of aging-induced microstructural changes in M250 maraging steel using magnetic parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajkumar, K. V.; Vaidyanathan, S.; Kumar, Anish; Jayakumar, T.; Raj, Baldev; Ray, K. K.

2007-05-01

The best combinations of mechanical properties (yield stress and fracture toughness) of M250 maraging steel is obtained through short-term thermal aging (3-10 h) at 755 K. This is attributed to the microstructure containing precipitation of intermetallic phases in austenite-free low-carbon martensite matrix. Over-aged microstructure, containing reverted austenite degrades the mechanical properties drastically. Hence, it necessitates identification of a suitable non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique for detecting any reverted austenite unambiguously during aging. The influence of aging on microstructure, room temperature hardness and non-destructive magnetic parameters such as coercivity ( Hc), saturation magnetization ( Ms) and magnetic Barkhausen emission (MBE) RMS peak voltage is studied in order to derive correlations between these parameters in aged M250 maraging steel. Hardness was found to increase with precipitation of intermetallics during initial aging and decrease at longer durations due to austenite reversion. Among the different magnetic parameters studied, MBE RMS peak voltage was found to be very sensitive to austenite reversion (non-magnetic phase) as they decreased drastically up on initiation of austenite reversion. Hence, this parameter can be effectively utilized to detect and quantify the reverted austenite in maraging steel specimen. The present study clearly indicates that the combination of MBE RMS peak voltage and hardness can be used for unambiguous characterization of microstructural features of technological and practical importance (3-10 h of aging duration at 755 K) in M250 grade maraging steel.

Effect of point defects on the thermal conductivity of UO2: molecular dynamics simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Xiang-Yang; Stanek, Christopher Richard; Andersson, Anders David Ragnar

2015-07-21

The thermal conductivity of uranium dioxide (UO 2) fuel is an important materials property that affects fuel performance since it is a key parameter determining the temperature distribution in the fuel, thus governing, e.g., dimensional changes due to thermal expansion, fission gas release rates, etc. [1] The thermal conductivity of UO 2 nuclear fuel is also affected by fission gas, fission products, defects, and microstructural features such as grain boundaries. Here, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are carried out to determine quantitatively, the effect of irradiation induced point defects on the thermal conductivity of UO 2, as a function of defectmore » concentrations, for a range of temperatures, 300 – 1500 K. The results will be used to develop enhanced continuum thermal conductivity models for MARMOT and BISON by INL. These models express the thermal conductivity as a function of microstructure state-variables, thus enabling thermal conductivity models with closer connection to the physical state of the fuel [2].« less

Laser etching of austenitic stainless steels for micro-structural evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baghra, Chetan; Kumar, Aniruddha; Sathe, D. B.; Bhatt, R. B.; Behere, P. G.; Afzal, Mohd

2015-06-01

Etching is a key step in metallography to reveal microstructure of polished specimen under an optical microscope. A conventional technique for producing micro-structural contrast is chemical etching. As an alternate, laser etching is investigated since it does not involve use of corrosive reagents and it can be carried out without any physical contact with sample. Laser induced etching technique will be beneficial especially in nuclear industry where materials, being radioactive in nature, are handled inside a glove box. In this paper, experimental results of pulsed Nd-YAG laser based etching of few austenitic stainless steels such as SS 304, SS 316 LN and SS alloy D9 which are chosen as structural material for fabrication of various components of upcoming Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam India were reported. Laser etching was done by irradiating samples using nanosecond pulsed Nd-YAG laser beam which was transported into glass paneled glove box using optics. Experiments were carried out to understand effect of laser beam parameters such as wavelength, fluence, pulse repetition rate and number of exposures required for etching of austenitic stainless steel samples. Laser etching of PFBR fuel tube and plug welded joint was also carried to evaluate base metal grain size, depth of fusion at welded joint and heat affected zone in the base metal. Experimental results demonstrated that pulsed Nd-YAG laser etching is a fast and effortless technique which can be effectively employed for non-contact remote etching of austenitic stainless steels for micro-structural evaluation.

The ASMEx snow slab experiment: snow microwave radiative transfer (SMRT) model evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandells, Melody; Löwe, Henning; Picard, Ghislain; Dumont, Marie; Essery, Richard; Floury, Nicolas; Kontu, Anna; Lemmetyinen, Juha; Maslanka, William; Mätzler, Christian; Morin, Samuel; Wiesmann, Andreas

2017-04-01

A major uncertainty in snow microwave modelling to date has been the treatment of the snow microstructure. Although observations of microstructural parameters such as the optical grain diameter, specific surface area and correlation length have improved drastically over the last few years, scale factors have been used to derive the parameters needed in microwave emission models from these observations. Previous work has shown that a major difference between electromagnetic models of scattering coefficients is due to the specific snow microstructure models used. The snow microwave radiative transfer model (SMRT) is a new model developed to advance understanding of the role of microstructure and isolate different assumptions in existing microwave models that collectively hinder interpretation of model intercomparison studies. SMRT is implemented in Python and is modular, thus allows switching between different representations in its various components. Here, the role of microstructure is examined with the Improved Born Approximation electromagnetic model. The model is evaluated against scattering and absorption coefficients derived from radiometer measurements of snow slabs taken as part of the Arctic Snow Microstructure Experiment (ASMEx), which took place in Sodankylä, Finland over two seasons. Microtomography observations of slab samples were used to determine parameters for five microstructure models: spherical, exponential, sticky hard sphere, Teubner-Strey and Gaussian random field. SMRT brightness temperature simulations are also compared with radiometric observations of the snow slabs over a reflector plate and an absorber substrate. Agreement between simulations and observations is generally good except for slabs that are highly anisotropic.

Microstructural characterization of multiphase chocolate using X-ray microtomography.

PubMed

Frisullo, Pierangelo; Licciardello, Fabio; Muratore, Giuseppe; Del Nobile, Matteo Alessandro

2010-09-01

In this study, X-ray microtomography (μCT) was used for the image analysis of the microstructure of 12 types of Italian aerated chocolate chosen to exhibit variability in terms of cocoa mass content. Appropriate quantitative 3-dimensional parameters describing the microstructure were calculated, for example, the structure thickness (ST), object structure volume ratio (OSVR), and the percentage object volume (POV). Chemical analysis was also performed to correlate the microstructural data to the chemical composition of the samples. Correlation between the μCT parameters acquired for the pore microstructure evaluation and the chemical analysis revealed that the sugar crystals content does not influence the pore structure and content. On the other hand, it revealed that there is a strong correlation between the POV and the sugar content obtained by chemical analysis. The results from this study show that μCT is a suitable technique for the microstructural analysis of confectionary products such as chocolates and not only does it provide an accurate analysis of the pores and microstructure but the data obtained could also be used to aid in the assessment of its composition and consistency with label specifications. X-ray microtomography (μCT) is a noninvasive and nondestructive 3-D imaging technique that has several advantages over other methods, including the ability to image low-moisture materials. Given the enormous success of μCT in medical applications, material science, chemical engineering, geology, and biology, it is not surprising that in recent years much attention has been focused on extending this imaging technique to food science as a useful technique to aid in the study of food microstructure. X-ray microtomography provides in-depth information on the microstructure of the food product being tested; therefore, a better understanding of the physical structure of the product and from an engineering perspective, knowledge about the microstructure of foods can be used to identify the important processing parameters that affect the quality of a product.

Interplay Between Thin Film Ferroelectric Composition, Microstructure and Microwave Phase Shifter Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mueller, Carl H.; VanKeuls, Frederick W.; Romanofsky, Robert R.; Alterovitz, Samuel A.; Miranda, Felix A.

2003-01-01

One of the keys to successfully incorporating ferroelectric films into Ku-band (12 to 18 GHz) phase shifters is to establish the composition, microstructure, and thickness required to meet the tuning needs, and tailor the film properties to meet these needs. Optimal performance is obtained when the film composition and device design are such that the device performance is limited by odd mode dielectric losses, and these losses are minimized as much as possible while still maintaining adequate tunability. The parameters required to maintain device performance will vary slightly depending on composition, but we can conclude that the best tuning-to-loss figures of merit (K-factor) are obtained when there is minimal variation between the in-plane and out-of-plane lattice parameters, and the full-width half maximum values of the BSTO (002) peaks are less than approximately 0.04 deg. We have observed that for phase shifters in which the ferroelectric crystalline quality and thickness are almost identical, higher losses are observed in films with higher BaISr ratios. The best performance was observed in phase shifters with Ba:Sr = 30:70. The superiority of this composition was attributed to several interacting factors: the B a: Sr ratio was such that the Curie temperature (180 K) was far removed from room temperature, the crystalline quality of the film was excellent, and there was virtually no difference between the inplane and out-of-plane lattice parameters of the film.

Prediction of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 cathode microstructures during sintering: Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations calibrated by artificial neural networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zilin; Kim, Yongtae; Hara, Shotaro; Shikazono, Naoki

2017-04-01

The Potts Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) model, proven to be a robust tool to study all stages of sintering process, is an ideal tool to analyze the microstructure evolution of electrodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Due to the nature of this model, the input parameters of KMC simulations such as simulation temperatures and attempt frequencies are difficult to identify. We propose a rigorous and efficient approach to facilitate the input parameter calibration process using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The trained ANN reduces drastically the number of trial-and-error of KMC simulations. The KMC simulation using the calibrated input parameters predicts the microstructures of a La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 cathode material during sintering, showing both qualitative and quantitative congruence with real 3D microstructures obtained by focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) reconstruction.

3D geometrical characterization and modelling of solid oxide cells electrodes microstructure by image analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moussaoui, H.; Debayle, J.; Gavet, Y.; Delette, G.; Hubert, M.; Cloetens, P.; Laurencin, J.

2017-03-01

A strong correlation exists between the performance of Solid Oxide Cells (SOCs), working either in fuel cell or electrolysis mode, and their electrodes microstructure. However, the basic relationships between the three-dimensional characteristics of the microstructure and the electrode properties are not still precisely understood. Thus, several studies have been recently proposed in an attempt to improve the knowledge of such relations, which are essential before optimizing the microstructure, and hence, designing more efficient SOC electrodes. In that frame, an original model has been adapted to generate virtual 3D microstructures of typical SOCs electrodes. Both the oxygen electrode, which is made of porous LSCF, and the hydrogen electrodes, made of porous Ni-YSZ, have been studied. In this work, the synthetic microstructures are generated by the so-called 3D Gaussian `Random Field model'. The morphological representativeness of the virtual porous media have been validated on real 3D electrode microstructures of a commercial cell, obtained by X-ray nano-tomography at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). This validation step includes the comparison of the morphological parameters like the phase covariance function and granulometry as well as the physical parameters like the `apparent tortuosity'. Finally, this validated tool will be used, in forthcoming studies, to identify the optimal microstructure of SOCs.

A common microstructure in behavioral hearing thresholds and stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions.

PubMed

Dewey, James B; Dhar, Sumitrajit

2017-11-01

Behavioral hearing thresholds and otoacoustic emission (OAE) spectra often exhibit quasiperiodic fluctuations with frequency. For behavioral and OAE responses to single tones-the latter referred to as stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs)-this microstructure has been attributed to intracochlear reflections of SFOAE energy between its region of generation and the middle ear boundary. However, the relationship between behavioral and SFOAE microstructures, as well as their presumed dependence on the properties of the SFOAE-generation mechanism, have yet to be adequately examined. To address this, behavioral thresholds and SFOAEs evoked by near-threshold tones were compared in 12 normal-hearing female subjects. The microstructures observed in thresholds and both SFOAE amplitudes and delays were found to be strikingly similar. SFOAE phase accumulated an integer number of cycles between the frequencies of microstructure maxima, consistent with a dependence of microstructure periodicity on SFOAE propagation delays. Additionally, microstructure depth was correlated with SFOAE magnitude in a manner resembling that predicted by the intracochlear reflection framework, after assuming reasonable values of parameters related to middle ear transmission. Further exploration of this framework may yield more precise estimates of such parameters and provide insight into their frequency dependence.

Modeling transmission parameters of polymer microstructured fibers for applications in FTTH networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gdula, P.; Welikow, K.; Szczepański, P.; Buczyński, R.; Piramidowicz, R.

2011-10-01

This paper is focused on selected aspects of designing and modeling of transmission parameters of plastic optical fibers (POFs), considered in the context of their potential applications in optical access networks and, specifically, in Fiber-To- The-Home (FTTH) systems. The survey of state-of-the-art solutions is presented and possibility of improving transmission properties of POFs by microstructurization is discussed on the basis of the first results of numerical modeling. In particular, the microstructured POF was designed supporting propagation of limited number of modes while keeping relatively large mode area and, simultaneously, significantly lowered bending losses.

Process Optimization and Microstructure Characterization of Ti6Al4V Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

junfeng, Li; zhengying, Wei

2017-11-01

Process optimization and microstructure characterization of Ti6Al4V manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) were investigated in this article. The relative density of sampled fabricated by SLM is influenced by the main process parameters, including laser power, scan speed and hatch distance. The volume energy density (VED) was defined to account for the combined effect of the main process parameters on the relative density. The results shown that the relative density changed with the change of VED and the optimized process interval is 55˜60J/mm3. Furthermore, compared with laser power, scan speed and hatch distance by taguchi method, it was found that the scan speed had the greatest effect on the relative density. Compared with the microstructure of the cross-section of the specimen at different scanning speeds, it was found that the microstructures at different speeds had similar characteristics, all of them were needle-like martensite distributed in the β matrix, but with the increase of scanning speed, the microstructure is finer and the lower scan speed leads to coarsening of the microstructure.

The numerical simulation and experiment on extrusion roller embossing of light diffusion plate with micro-structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zang, Gongzheng; Fu, Zhihong; Zhang, Lei; Wan, Yue

2018-01-01

Extrusion roller embossing process has demonstrated the ability to produce polymer film with micro-structure. However the influence of various parameters on the forming quality has not been understood clearly. In this paper, a light diffusion plate with semi cylindrical micro-structure array as the research object, the influence of the main processing parameters such as roller speed, pressuring distance and polymer film temperature to the rolling quality was investigated in detail by simulation and experimental methods. The results show that the thickness of the light diffusion plate and the micro-structure fitting diameter increases with the increasing of the roll speed and the polymer film temperature, and decreases with the increasing of the pressing distance. Besides, the simulation results conformed well to the experimental results.

A Community Database of Quartz Microstructures: Can we make measurements that constrain rheology?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toy, Virginia; Peternell, Mark; Morales, Luiz; Kilian, Ruediger

2014-05-01

Rheology can be explored by performing deformation experiments, and by examining resultant microstructures and textures as links to naturally deformed rocks. Certain deformation processes are assumed to result in certain microstructures or textures, of which some might be uniquely indicative, while most cannot be unequivocally used to interpret the deformation mechanism and hence rheology. Despite our lack of a sufficient understanding of microstructure and texture forming processes, huge advances in texture measurements and quantification of microstructural parameters have been made. Unfortunately, there are neither standard procedures nor a common consensus on interpretation of many parameters (e.g. texture, grain size, shape preferred orientation). Textures (crystallographic preferred orientations) have been extensively correlated to the interpretation of deformation mechanisms. For example the strength of textures can be measured either from the orientation distribution function (e.g. the J-index (Bunge, 1983) or texture entropy (Hielscher et al., 2007) or via the intensity of polefigures. However, there are various ways to identify a representative volume, to measure, to process the data and to calculate an odf and texture descriptors, which restricts their use as a comparative and diagnostic measurement. Microstructural parameters such as grain size, grain shape descriptors and fabric descriptors are similarly used to deduce and quantify deformation mechanisms. However there is very little consensus on how to measure and calculate some of these very important parameters, e.g. grain size which makes comparison of a vast amount of precious data in the literature very difficult. We propose establishing a community database of a standard set of such measurements, made using typical samples of different types of quartz rocks through standard methods of microstructural and texture quantification. We invite suggestions and discussion from the community about the worth of proposed parameters, methodology and usefulness and willingness to contribute to a database with free access of the community. We further invite institutions to participate on a benchmark analysis of a set of 'standard' thin sections. Bunge, H.J. 1983, Texture Analysis in Materials Science: mathematical methods. Butterworth-Heinemann, 593pp. Hielscher, R., Schaeben, H., Chateigner, D., 2007, On the entropy to texture index relationship in quantitative texture analysis: Journal of Applied Crystallography 40, 371-375.

Ultrasound scatter in heterogeneous 3D microstructures: Parameters affecting multiple scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engle, B. J.; Roberts, R. A.; Grandin, R. J.

2018-04-01

This paper reports on a computational study of ultrasound propagation in heterogeneous metal microstructures. Random spatial fluctuations in elastic properties over a range of length scales relative to ultrasound wavelength can give rise to scatter-induced attenuation, backscatter noise, and phase front aberration. It is of interest to quantify the dependence of these phenomena on the microstructure parameters, for the purpose of quantifying deleterious consequences on flaw detectability, and for the purpose of material characterization. Valuable tools for estimation of microstructure parameters (e.g. grain size) through analysis of ultrasound backscatter have been developed based on approximate weak-scattering models. While useful, it is understood that these tools display inherent inaccuracy when multiple scattering phenomena significantly contribute to the measurement. It is the goal of this work to supplement weak scattering model predictions with corrections derived through application of an exact computational scattering model to explicitly prescribed microstructures. The scattering problem is formulated as a volume integral equation (VIE) displaying a convolutional Green-function-derived kernel. The VIE is solved iteratively employing FFT-based con-volution. Realizations of random microstructures are specified on the micron scale using statistical property descriptions (e.g. grain size and orientation distributions), which are then spatially filtered to provide rigorously equivalent scattering media on a length scale relevant to ultrasound propagation. Scattering responses from ensembles of media representations are averaged to obtain mean and variance of quantities such as attenuation and backscatter noise levels, as a function of microstructure descriptors. The computational approach will be summarized, and examples of application will be presented.

Microstructural Parameters in 8 MeV Electron-Irradiated BOMBYX MORI Silk Fibers by Wide-ANGLE X-Ray Scattering Studies (waxs)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sangappa, Asha, S.; Sanjeev, Ganesh; Subramanya, G.; Parameswara, P.; Somashekar, R.

2010-01-01

The present work looks into the microstructural modification in electron irradiated Bombyx mori P31 silk fibers. The irradiation process was performed in air at room temperature using 8 MeV electron accelerator at different doses: 0, 25, 50 and 100 kGy. Irradiation of polymer is used to cross-link or degrade the desired component or to fix the polymer morphology. The changes in microstructural parameters in these natural polymer fibers have been computed using wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) data and employing line profile analysis (LPA) using Fourier transform technique of Warren. Exponential, Lognormal and Reinhold functions for the column length distributions have been used for the determination of crystal size, lattice strain and enthalpy parameters.

Light Weight Biomorphous Cellular Ceramics from Cellulose Templates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Mrityunjay; Yee, Bo-Moon; Gray, Hugh R. (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

Bimorphous ceramics are a new class of materials that can be fabricated from the cellulose templates derived from natural biopolymers. These biopolymers are abundantly available in nature and are produced by the photosynthesis process. The wood cellulose derived carbon templates have three- dimensional interconnectivity. A wide variety of non-oxide and oxide based ceramics have been fabricated by template conversion using infiltration and reaction-based processes. The cellular anatomy of the cellulose templates plays a key role in determining the processing parameters (pyrolysis, infiltration conditions, etc.) and resulting ceramic materials. The processing approach, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the biomorphous cellular ceramics (silicon carbide and oxide based) have been discussed.

Effect of Microstructural Parameters on the Relative Densities of Metal Foams

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raj, S. V.; Kerr, Jacob A.

2010-01-01

A detailed quantitative microstructural analyses of primarily open cell FeCrAlY and 314 stainless steel metal foams with different relative densities and pores per inch (p.p.i.) were undertaken in the present investigation to determine the effect of microstructural parameters on the relative densities of metal foams. Several elements of the microstructure, such as longitudinal and transverse cell sizes, cell areas and perimeters, ligament dimensions, cell shapes and volume fractions of closed and open cells, were measured. The cross-sections of the foam ligaments showed a large number of shrinkage cavities, and their circularity factors and average sizes were determined. The volume fractions of closed cells increased linearly with increasing relative density. In contrast, the volume fractions of the open cells and ligaments decreased with increasing relative density. The relative densities and p.p.i. were not significantly dependent on cell size, cell perimeter and ligament dimensions within the limits of experimental scatter. A phenomenological model is proposed to rationalize the present microstructural observations.

The effect of microstructure on the tensile and fatigue behavior of Ti-22Al-23Nb in air and vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luetjering, Stephanie

Titanium aluminide alloys containing the ordered orthorhombic (O) phase, based on Ti2AlNb, exhibit high specific strengths at elevated temperature along with good room temperature tensile ductility and fracture toughness values. They are thus considered as potential materials for aerospace applications both in their monolithic form and as matrices in metal matrix composites. Microstructure/property relationships have been studied to a great extend with regard to tensile and creep properties. However, only little is known in the key areas of fatigue crack initiation, fatigue crack propagation and fatigue life. The main objective of this work therefore is to get a comprehensive understanding of the effects of microstructural parameters (such as volume fraction of the individual phases, their size and distribution) on the cyclic properties of O-based titanium aluminides. Furthermore, the performance of these alloys in aggressive environments, a critical issue for this alloy class, is being addressed. Tensile, isothermal fatigue, and fatigue crack growth (FCG) tests were conducted at 20°C and 540°C both in lab air and vacuum (pressure ≤ 1 x 10-6 torr) on three microstructural conditions of a representative O-based titanium alloy, Ti-22Al-23Nb. Results indicate a strong effect of microstructure on tensile and FCG properties, whereas only a slight influence of microstructure on the fatigue life is evident. The O phase contributes mainly to the material's yield stress. The tensile elongation is predominantly influenced by the beta phase volume fraction. The observed effect of microstructure on the FCG behavior is attributed to crack closure, crack front geometry and crystallographic texture. Environmental effects on the fatigue life are pronounced at elevated temperature and high applied stress amplitudes only. These conditions lead to premature crack initiation at the specimen's surface for testing in air, whereas testing in vacuum results in subsurface crack nucleation and an extended fatigue life of about two orders of magnitude. The FCG behavior is influenced by the environment at both 20°C and 540°C, proposing fatigue crack growth mechanisms enhanced by hydrogen embrittlement.

Effects of the accumulated annealing parameter on the corrosion characteristics of a Zr-0.5Nb-1.0Sn-0.5Fe-0.25Cr alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baek, Jong Hyuk; Jeong, Yong Hwan; Kim, In Sup

2000-07-01

Corrosion behavior, hydrogen pickup, oxide microstructure, and precipitate characterization have been studied in order to investigate the effect of the accumulated annealing parameter on the corrosion characteristics in a Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe-Cr alloy. An autoclave corrosion test was carried out in 400°C steam for 300 days on the Zr-0.5Nb-1.0Sn-0.5Fe-0.25Cr alloy, which had been given 18 different accumulated annealing parameters. The corrosion rate increased with increasing the accumulated annealing parameter. To investigate the crystal structure of oxide layer, the corroded specimens were prepared to have an equal oxide thickness (˜1.6 μm) by controlling exposure time. The relative fraction of tetragonal ZrO 2 also decreased gradually with increasing accumulated annealing parameter. From the hydrogen analysis of the corroded samples for 300 days, it was observed that, with increasing the size of precipitates, the hydrogen pickup was enhanced. It was revealed from transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation of the oxide that the larger precipitates still remained to be oxidized in the oxide layer and had undergone a reduction of Fe/Cr ratio from 2.1 to 1.5. The oxidation of the precipitates in the oxide gave rise to a volume expansion at the precipitate-oxide interface. This volume change could lead to the transformation in the oxide phase from tetragonal ZrO 2 to monoclinic ZrO 2 and in oxide structure from columnar grain to equiaxed grain. The precipitate in a Zr-0.5Nb-1.0Sn-0.5Fe-0.25Cr alloy is composed of Nb, Fe, and Cr and the Nb content in the precipitate increase with increasing accumulated annealing parameter. Thus, it can be thought that Nb within precipitates plays a key role in the microstructural change of oxide.

Detecting the Extent of Cellular Decomposition after Sub-Eutectoid Annealing in Rolled UMo Foils

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kautz, Elizabeth J.; Jana, Saumyadeep; Devaraj, Arun

2017-07-31

This report presents an automated image processing approach to quantifying microstructure image data, specifically the extent of eutectoid (cellular) decomposition in rolled U-10Mo foils. An image processing approach is used here to be able to quantitatively describe microstructure image data in order to relate microstructure to processing parameters (time, temperature, deformation).

Self-assembled flower-like antimony trioxide microstructures with high infrared reflectance performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ge, Shengsong, E-mail: geshengsong@126.com; Yang, Xiaokun; Shao, Qian

A simple hydrothermal process was adopted to self-assembly prepare high infrared reflective antimony trioxide with three-dimensional flower-like microstructures. The morphologies of antimony trioxide microstructures were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) respectively. It is also found that experimental parameters, such as NaOH concentration, surfactant concentration and volume ratio of ethanol–water played crucial roles in controlling the morphologies of Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} microstructures. A possible growth mechanism of flower-like Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} microstructure was proposed based on the experimental data. UV–vis–NIR spectra verified that the near infraredmore » reflectivity of the obtained flower-like microstructures could averagely achieve as 92% with maximum reflectivity of 98%, obviously higher than that of other different morphologies of antimony trioxide microstructures. It is expected that the flower-like Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanostructures have some applications in optical materials and heat insulation coatings. - Graphical abstract: Flower-like Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} microstructures that composed of nanosheets with thickness of ca. 100 nm exhibit high reflectivity under UV–vis–NIR spectra. Highlights: ► Uniform flower-like microstructures were synthesized via simple hydrothermal reaction. ► The flower-like Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} microstructures exhibited higher reflectivity than other morphologies under the UV–vis–NIR light. ► Influencing parameters on the Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} morphologies have been discussed in detail. ► Possible mechanism leading to flower-like microstructures was proposed.« less

The effects of laser welding parameters on the microstructure of ferritic and duplex stainless steels welds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pekkarinen, J.; Kujanpää, V.

This study is focused to determine empirically, which microstructural changes occur in ferritic and duplex stainless steels when heat input is controlled by welding parameters. Test welds were done autogenously bead-on-plate without shielding gas using 5 kW fiber laser. For comparison, some gas tungsten arc welds were made. Used test material were 1.4016 (AISI 430) and 1.4003 (low-carbon ferritic) type steels in ferritic steels group and 1.4162 (low-alloyed duplex, LDX2101) and 1.4462 (AISI 2205) type steels in duplex steels group. Microstructural changes in welds were identified and examined using optical metallographic methods.

Design and analysis of the trapeziform and flat acoustic cloaks with controllable invisibility performance in a quasi-space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jian; Chen, Tianning; Liang, Qingxuan; Wang, Xiaopeng; Xiong, Jie; Jiang, Ping

2015-07-01

We present the design, implementation and detailed performance analysis for a class of trapeziform and flat acoustic cloaks. An effective large invisible area is obtained compared with the traditional carpet cloak. The cloaks are realized with homogeneous metamaterials which are made of periodic arrangements of subwavelength unit cells composed of steel embedded in air. The microstructures and its effective parameters of the cloaks are determined quickly and precisely in a broadband frequency range by using the effective medium theory and the proposed parameters optimization method. The invisibility capability of the cloaks can be controlled by the variation of the key design parameters and scale factor which are proved to have more influence on the performance in the near field than that in the far field. Different designs are suitable for different application situations. Good cloaking performance demonstrates that such a device can be physically realized with natural materials which will greatly promote the real applications of invisibility cloak.

Imaging brain tumour microstructure.

PubMed

Nilsson, Markus; Englund, Elisabet; Szczepankiewicz, Filip; van Westen, Danielle; Sundgren, Pia C

2018-05-08

Imaging is an indispensable tool for brain tumour diagnosis, surgical planning, and follow-up. Definite diagnosis, however, often demands histopathological analysis of microscopic features of tissue samples, which have to be obtained by invasive means. A non-invasive alternative may be to probe corresponding microscopic tissue characteristics by MRI, or so called 'microstructure imaging'. The promise of microstructure imaging is one of 'virtual biopsy' with the goal to offset the need for invasive procedures in favour of imaging that can guide pre-surgical planning and can be repeated longitudinally to monitor and predict treatment response. The exploration of such methods is motivated by the striking link between parameters from MRI and tumour histology, for example the correlation between the apparent diffusion coefficient and cellularity. Recent microstructure imaging techniques probe even more subtle and specific features, providing parameters associated to cell shape, size, permeability, and volume distributions. However, the range of scenarios in which these techniques provide reliable imaging biomarkers that can be used to test medical hypotheses or support clinical decisions is yet unknown. Accurate microstructure imaging may moreover require acquisitions that go beyond conventional data acquisition strategies. This review covers a wide range of candidate microstructure imaging methods based on diffusion MRI and relaxometry, and explores advantages, challenges, and potential pitfalls in brain tumour microstructure imaging. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Compositional Effects on Nickel-Base Superalloy Single Crystal Microstructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

MacKay, Rebecca A.; Gabb, Timothy P.; Garg,Anita; Rogers, Richard B.; Nathal, Michael V.

2012-01-01

Fourteen nickel-base superalloy single crystals containing 0 to 5 wt% chromium (Cr), 0 to 11 wt% cobalt (Co), 6 to 12 wt% molybdenum (Mo), 0 to 4 wt% rhenium (Re), and fixed amounts of aluminum (Al) and tantalum (Ta) were examined to determine the effect of bulk composition on basic microstructural parameters, including gamma' solvus, gamma' volume fraction, volume fraction of topologically close-packed (TCP) phases, phase chemistries, and gamma - gamma'. lattice mismatch. Regression models were developed to describe the influence of bulk alloy composition on the microstructural parameters and were compared to predictions by a commercially available software tool that used computational thermodynamics. Co produced the largest change in gamma' solvus over the wide compositional range used in this study, and Mo produced the largest effect on the gamma lattice parameter and the gamma - gamma' lattice mismatch over its compositional range, although Re had a very potent influence on all microstructural parameters investigated. Changing the Cr, Co, Mo, and Re contents in the bulk alloy had a significant impact on their concentrations in the gamma matrix and, to a smaller extent, in the gamma' phase. The gamma phase chemistries exhibited strong temperature dependencies that were influenced by the gamma and gamma' volume fractions. A computational thermodynamic modeling tool significantly underpredicted gamma' solvus temperatures and grossly overpredicted the amount of TCP phase at 982 C. Furthermore, the predictions by the software tool for the gamma - gamma' lattice mismatch were typically of the wrong sign and magnitude, but predictions could be improved if TCP formation was suspended within the software program. However, the statistical regression models provided excellent estimations of the microstructural parameters based on bulk alloy composition, thereby demonstrating their usefulness.

Impact of planetary ball milling parameters on the microstructure and pinning properties of polycrystalline superconductor Y3Ba5Cu8Oy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slimani, Y.; Hannachi, E.; Azzouz, F. Ben; Salem, M. Ben

2018-06-01

We have reported the influence of planetary high energy ball milling parameters on morphology, microstructure and flux pinning capability of polycrystalline Y3Ba5Cu8Oy. Samples were prepared through the standard solid-state reaction by using two different milling methods, ball milling in a planetary crusher and hand grinding in a mortar. Phase analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, microstructural examination by scanning electron microscope (SEM), electrical resistivity, the global and intra-granular critical current densities measurements are done to characterize the samples. The processing parameters of the planetary milling have a considerable impact on the final product properties. SEM observations show the presence of nanoscale entities submerged within the Y3Ba5Cu8Oy crystallites. The results show that the fine grain microstructure of the Y3Ba5Cu8Oy bulk induced by ball milling process contributes to critical currents density enhancement in the magnetic field and promotes an optimized flux pinning ability.

Stochastic Analysis and Design of Heterogeneous Microstructural Materials System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hongyi

Advanced materials system refers to new materials that are comprised of multiple traditional constituents but complex microstructure morphologies, which lead to superior properties over the conventional materials. To accelerate the development of new advanced materials system, the objective of this dissertation is to develop a computational design framework and the associated techniques for design automation of microstructure materials systems, with an emphasis on addressing the uncertainties associated with the heterogeneity of microstructural materials. Five key research tasks are identified: design representation, design evaluation, design synthesis, material informatics and uncertainty quantification. Design representation of microstructure includes statistical characterization and stochastic reconstruction. This dissertation develops a new descriptor-based methodology, which characterizes 2D microstructures using descriptors of composition, dispersion and geometry. Statistics of 3D descriptors are predicted based on 2D information to enable 2D-to-3D reconstruction. An efficient sequential reconstruction algorithm is developed to reconstruct statistically equivalent random 3D digital microstructures. In design evaluation, a stochastic decomposition and reassembly strategy is developed to deal with the high computational costs and uncertainties induced by material heterogeneity. The properties of Representative Volume Elements (RVE) are predicted by stochastically reassembling SVE elements with stochastic properties into a coarse representation of the RVE. In design synthesis, a new descriptor-based design framework is developed, which integrates computational methods of microstructure characterization and reconstruction, sensitivity analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), metamodeling and optimization the enable parametric optimization of the microstructure for achieving the desired material properties. Material informatics is studied to efficiently reduce the dimension of microstructure design space. This dissertation develops a machine learning-based methodology to identify the key microstructure descriptors that highly impact properties of interest. In uncertainty quantification, a comparative study on data-driven random process models is conducted to provide guidance for choosing the most accurate model in statistical uncertainty quantification. Two new goodness-of-fit metrics are developed to provide quantitative measurements of random process models' accuracy. The benefits of the proposed methods are demonstrated by the example of designing the microstructure of polymer nanocomposites. This dissertation provides material-generic, intelligent modeling/design methodologies and techniques to accelerate the process of analyzing and designing new microstructural materials system.

Microstructure-failure mode correlations in braided composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Filatovs, G. J.; Sadler, Robert L.; El-Shiekh, Aly

1992-01-01

Explication of the fracture processes of braided composites is needed for modeling their behavior. Described is a systematic exploration of the relationship between microstructure, loading mode, and micro-failure mechanisms in carbon/epoxy braided composites. The study involved compression and fracture toughness tests and optical and scanning electron fractography, including dynamic in-situ testing. Principal failure mechanisms of low sliding, buckling, and unstable crack growth are correlated to microstructural parameters and loading modes; these are used for defining those microstructural conditions which are strength limiting.

Influence of SMAT Parameters on Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Al-Mg-Si Alloy AA 6061

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anand Kumar, S.; Satish Kumar, P.; Ganesh Sundara Raman, S.; Sankara Narayanan, T. S. N.

2017-04-01

In the present work, the influence of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) parameters on the microstructural and mechanical properties of an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy AA 6061 was studied using design of experiment technique. Balls of three different diameters were used, and SMAT was done for three different durations. The microstructural features of the surface layer fabricated by SMAT were characterized by cross-sectional scanning electron microscopic observations, x-ray diffraction technique and transmission electron microscopy. The microindentation hardness, nanoindentation hardness and surface roughness were determined. Due to SMAT, nanocrystallites formed on the surface and near-surface regions, and hardness and surface roughness increased. The ball diameter was the most influencing SMAT parameter compared to the treatment duration. However, interaction between ball diameter and treatment duration could not be ignored. Regression equations were developed relating the process parameters to the surface properties. The ball diameter and treatment duration could thus be properly selected as per the required values of roughness and/or the hardness.

The Evolution of Dendrite Morphology during Isothermal Coarsening

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alkemper, Jens; Mendoza, Roberto; Kammer, Dimitris; Voorhees, Peter W.

2003-01-01

Dendrite coarsening is a common phenomenon in casting processes. From the time dendrites are formed until the inter-dendritic liquid is completely solidified dendrites are changing shape driven by variations in interfacial curvature along the dendrite and resulting in a reduction of total interfacial area. During this process the typical length-scale of the dendrite can change by orders of magnitude and the final microstructure is in large part determined by the coarsening parameters. Dendrite coarsening is thus crucial in setting the materials parameters of ingots and of great commercial interest. This coarsening process is being studied in the Pb-Sn system with Sn-dendrites undergoing isothermal coarsening in a Pb-Sn liquid. Results are presented for samples of approximately 60% dendritic phase, which have been coarsened for different lengths of times. Presented are three-dimensional microstructures obtained by serial-sectioning and an analysis of these microstructures with regard to interface orientation and interfacial curvatures. These graphs reflect the evolution of not only the microstructure itself, but also of the underlying driving forces of the coarsening process. As a visualization of the link between the microstructure and the driving forces a three-dimensional microstructure with the interfaces colored according to the local interfacial mean curvature is shown.

Hot-crack test for aluminium alloys welds using TIG process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niel, A.; Deschaux-Beaume, F.; Bordreuil, C.; Fras, G.

2010-06-01

Hot cracking is a critical defect frequently observed during welding of aluminium alloys. In order to better understand the interaction between cracking phenomenon, process parameters, mechanical factors and microstructures resulting from solidification after welding, an original hot-cracking test during welding is developed. According to in-situ observations and post mortem analyses, hot cracking mechanisms are investigated, taking into account the interaction between microstructural parameters, depending on the thermal cycles, and mechanical parameters, depending on geometry and clamping conditions of the samples and on the thermal field on the sample. Finally, a process map indicating the limit between cracking and non-cracking zones according to welding parameters is presented.

Optimal Er:YAG laser irradiation parameters for debridement of microstructured fixture surfaces of titanium dental implants.

PubMed

Taniguchi, Yoichi; Aoki, Akira; Mizutani, Koji; Takeuchi, Yasuo; Ichinose, Shizuko; Takasaki, Aristeo Atsushi; Schwarz, Frank; Izumi, Yuichi

2013-07-01

Er:YAG laser (ErL) irradiation has been reported to be effective for treating peri-implant disease. The present study seeks to evaluate morphological and elemental changes induced on microstructured surfaces of dental endosseous implants by high-pulse-repetition-rate ErL irradiation and to determine the optimal irradiation conditions for debriding contaminated microstructured surfaces. In experiment 1, dual acid-etched microstructured implants were irradiated by ErL (pulse energy, 30-50 mJ/pulse; repetition rate, 30 Hz) with and without water spray and for used and unused contact tips. Experiment 2 compared the ErL treatment with conventional mechanical treatments (metal/plastic curettes and ultrasonic scalers). In experiment 3, five commercially available microstructures were irradiated by ErL light (pulse energy, 30-50 mJ/pulse; pulse repetition rate, 30 Hz) while spraying water. In experiment 4, contaminated microstructured surfaces of three failed implants were debrided by ErL irradiation. After the experiments, all treated surfaces were assessed by stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and/or energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The stereomicroscopy, SEM, and EDS results demonstrate that, unlike mechanical treatments, ErL irradiation at 30 mJ/pulse and 30 Hz with water spray induced no color or morphological changes to the microstructures except for the anodized implant surface, which was easily damaged. The optimized irradiation parameters effectively removed calcified deposits from contaminated titanium microstructures without causing substantial thermal damage. ErL irradiation at pulse energies below 30 mJ/pulse (10.6 J/cm(2)/pulse) and 30 Hz with water spray in near-contact mode seems to cause no damage and to be effective for debriding microstructured surfaces (except for anodized microstructures).

Effect of Microstructure on Time Dependent Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior In a P/M Turbine Disk Alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Telesman, Ignacy J.; Gabb, T. P.; Bonacuse, P.; Gayda, J.

2008-01-01

A study was conducted to determine the processes which govern hold time crack growth behavior in the LSHR disk P/M superalloy. Nineteen different heat treatments of this alloy were evaluated by systematically controlling the cooling rate from the supersolvus solutioning step and applying various single and double step aging treatments. The resulting hold time crack growth rates varied by more than two orders of magnitude. It was shown that the associated stress relaxation behavior for these heat treatments was closely correlated with the crack growth behavior. As stress relaxation increased, the hold time crack growth resistance was also increased. The size of the tertiary gamma' in the general microstructure was found to be the key microstructural variable controlling both the hold time crack growth behavior and stress relaxation. No relationship between the presence of grain boundary M23C6 carbides and hold time crack growth was identified which further brings into question the importance of the grain boundary phases in determining hold time crack growth behavior. The linear elastic fracture mechanics parameter, Kmax, is unable to account for visco-plastic redistribution of the crack tip stress field during hold times and thus is inadequate for correlating time dependent crack growth data. A novel methodology was developed which captures the intrinsic crack driving force and was able to collapse hold time crack growth data onto a single curve.

Tailorable Burning Behavior of Ti14 Alloy by Controlling Semi-Solid Forging Temperature.

PubMed

Chen, Yongnan; Yang, Wenqing; Zhan, Haifei; Zhang, Fengying; Huo, Yazhou; Zhao, Yongqing; Song, Xuding; Gu, Yuantong

2016-08-16

Semi-solid processing (SSP) is a popular near-net-shape forming technology for metals, while its application is still limited in titanium alloy mainly due to its low formability. Recent works showed that SSP could effectively enhance the formability and mechanical properties of titanium alloys. The processing parameters such as temperature and forging rate/ratio, are directly correlated with the microstructure, which endow the alloy with different chemical and physical properties. Specifically, as a key structural material for the advanced aero-engine, the burn resistant performance is a crucial requirement for the burn resistant titanium alloy. Thus, this work aims to assess the burning behavior of Ti14, a kind of burn resistant alloy, as forged at different semi-solid forging temperatures. The burning characteristics of the alloy are analyzed by a series of burning tests with different burning durations, velocities, and microstructures of burned sample. The results showed that the burning process is highly dependent on the forging temperature, due to the fact that higher temperatures would result in more Ti₂Cu precipitate within grain and along grain boundaries. Such a microstructure hinders the transport of oxygen in the stable burning stage through the formation of a kind of oxygen isolation Cu-enriched layer under the burn product zone. This work suggests that the burning resistance of the alloy can be effectively tuned by controlling the temperature during the semi-solid forging process.

Characterisation of pore structures of pharmaceutical tablets: A review.

PubMed

Markl, Daniel; Strobel, Alexa; Schlossnikl, Rüdiger; Bøtker, Johan; Bawuah, Prince; Ridgway, Cathy; Rantanen, Jukka; Rades, Thomas; Gane, Patrick; Peiponen, Kai-Erik; Zeitler, J Axel

2018-03-01

Traditionally, the development of a new solid dosage form is formulation-driven and less focus is put on the design of a specific microstructure for the drug delivery system. However, the compaction process particularly impacts the microstructure, or more precisely, the pore architecture in a pharmaceutical tablet. Besides the formulation, the pore structure is a major contributor to the overall performance of oral solid dosage forms as it directly affects the liquid uptake rate, which is the very first step of the dissolution process. In future, additive manufacturing is a potential game changer to design the inner structures and realise a tailor-made pore structure. In pharmaceutical development the pore structure is most commonly only described by the total porosity of the tablet matrix. Yet it is of great importance to consider other parameters to fully resolve the interplay between microstructure and dosage form performance. Specifically, tortuosity, connectivity, as well as pore shape, size and orientation all impact the flow paths and play an important role in describing the fluid flow in a pharmaceutical tablet. This review presents the key properties of the pore structures in solid dosage forms and it discusses how to measure these properties. In particular, the principles, advantages and limitations of helium pycnometry, mercury porosimetry, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray computed microtomography are discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Magnetic field control of microstructural development in melt-spun Pr2Co14 B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuire, Michael A.; Rios, Orlando; Conner, Ben S.; Carter, William G.; Huang, Mianliang; Sun, Kewei; Palasyuk, Olena; Jensen, Brandt; Zhou, Lin; Dennis, Kevin; Nlebedim, Ikenna C.; Kramer, Matthew J.

2017-05-01

In the processing of commercial rare earth permanent magnets, use of external magnetic fields is limited mainly to the alignment of anisotropic particles and the polarization of the finished magnets. Here we explore the effects of high magnetic fields on earlier stages of magnet synthesis, including the crystallization and chemical phase transformations that produce the 2:14:1 phase in the Pr-Co-B system. Pr2Co14 B alloys produced by melt-spinning were annealed in the presence of strong applied magnetic fields (H=90 kOe). The resulting materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetization measurements. We find that magnetic fields suppress the nucleation and growth of crystalline phases, resulting in significantly smaller particle sizes. In addition, magnetic fields applied during processing strongly affects chemical phase selection, suppressing the formation of Pr2Co14 B and α-Co in favor of Pr2Co17 . The results demonstrate that increased control over key microstructural properties is achievable by including a strong magnetic field as a processing parameter for rare-earth magnet materials.

A nonlinear dynamical system approach for the yielding behaviour of a viscoplastic material.

PubMed

Burghelea, Teodor; Moyers-Gonzalez, Miguel; Sainudiin, Raazesh

2017-03-08

A nonlinear dynamical system model that approximates a microscopic Gibbs field model for the yielding of a viscoplastic material subjected to varying external stresses recently reported in R. Sainudiin, M. Moyers-Gonzalez and T. Burghelea, Soft Matter, 2015, 11(27), 5531-5545 is presented. The predictions of the model are in fair agreement with microscopic simulations and are in very good agreement with the micro-structural semi-empirical model reported in A. M. V. Putz and T. I. Burghelea, Rheol. Acta, 2009, 48, 673-689. With only two internal parameters, the nonlinear dynamical system model captures several key features of the solid-fluid transition observed in experiments: the effect of the interactions between microscopic constituents on the yield point, the abruptness of solid-fluid transition and the emergence of a hysteresis of the micro-structural states upon increasing/decreasing external forces. The scaling behaviour of the magnitude of the hysteresis with the degree of the steadiness of the flow is consistent with previous experimental observations. Finally, the practical usefulness of the approach is demonstrated by fitting a rheological data set measured with an elasto-viscoplastic material.

Electromagnetic nondestructive evaluation of tempering process in AISI D2 tool steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kahrobaee, Saeed; Kashefi, Mehrdad

2015-05-01

The present paper investigates the potential of using eddy current technique as a reliable nondestructive tool to detect microstructural changes during the different stages of tempering treatment in AISI D2 tool steel. Five stages occur in tempering of the steel: precipitation of ɛ carbides, formation of cementite, retained austenite decomposition, secondary hardening effect and spheroidization of carbides. These stages were characterized by destructive methods, including dilatometry, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopic observations, and hardness measurements. The microstructural changes alter the electrical resistivity/magnetic saturation, which, in turn, influence the eddy current signals. Two EC parameters, induced voltage sensed by pickup coil and impedance point detected by excitation coil, were evaluated as a function of tempering temperature to characterize the microstructural features, nondestructively. The study revealed that a good correlation exists between the EC parameters and the microstructural changes.

Using electric current to surpass the microstructure breakup limit

PubMed Central

Qin, Rongshan

2017-01-01

The elongated droplets and grains can break up into smaller ones. This process is driven by the interfacial free energy minimization, which gives rise to a breakup limit. We demonstrated in this work that the breakup limit can be overpassed drastically by using electric current to interfere. Electric current free energy is dependent on the microstructure configuration. The breakup causes the electric current free energy to reduce in some cases. This compensates the increment of interfacial free energy during breaking up and enables the processing to achieve finer microstructure. With engineering practical electric current parameters, our calculation revealed a significant increment of the obtainable number of particles, showing electric current a powerful microstructure refinement technology. The calculation is validated by our experiments on the breakup of Fe3C-plates in Fe matrix. Furthermore, there is a parameter range that electric current can drive spherical particles to split into smaller ones. PMID:28120919

Quantitatively characterizing microstructural variations of skin tissues during ultraviolet radiation damaging process based on Mueller matrix polarimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheng, Wei; He, Honghui; Dong, Yang; Ma, Hui

2018-02-01

As one of the most fundamental features of light, polarization can be used to develop imaging techniques which can provide insight into the optical and structural properties of tissues. Especially, the Mueller matrix polarimetry is suitable to detect the changes in collagen and elastic fibres, which are the main compositions of skin tissue. Here we demonstrate a novel quantitative, non-contact and in situ technique to monitor the microstructural variations of skin tissue during ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induced photoaging based on Mueller matrix polarimetry. Specifically, we measure the twodimensional (2D) backscattering Mueller matrices of nude mouse skin samples, then calculate and analyze the Mueller matrix derived parameters during the skin photoaging and self-repairing processes. To induce three-day skin photoaging, the back skin of each mouse is irradiated with UVR (0.05J/cm2) for five minutes per day. After UVR, the microstructures of the nude mouse skin are damaged. During the process of UV damage, we measure the backscattering Mueller matrices of the mouse skin samples and examine the relationship between the Mueller matrix parameters and the microstructural variations of skin tissue quantitatively. The comparisons between the UVR damaged groups with and without sunscreens show that the Mueller matrix derived parameters are potential indicators for fibrous microstructure variation in skin tissue. The pathological examinations and Monte Carlo simulations confirm the relationship between the values of Mueller matrix parameters and the changes of fibrous structures. Combined with smart phones or wearable devices, this technique may have a good application prospect in the fields of cosmetics and dermatological health.

Incorporating physically-based microstructures in materials modeling: Bridging phase field and crystal plasticity frameworks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lim, Hojun; Abdeljawad, Fadi; Owen, Steven J.

Here, the mechanical properties of materials systems are highly influenced by various features at the microstructural level. The ability to capture these heterogeneities and incorporate them into continuum-scale frameworks of the deformation behavior is considered a key step in the development of complex non-local models of failure. In this study, we present a modeling framework that incorporates physically-based realizations of polycrystalline aggregates from a phase field (PF) model into a crystal plasticity finite element (CP-FE) framework. Simulated annealing via the PF model yields ensembles of materials microstructures with various grain sizes and shapes. With the aid of a novel FEmore » meshing technique, FE discretizations of these microstructures are generated, where several key features, such as conformity to interfaces, and triple junction angles, are preserved. The discretizations are then used in the CP-FE framework to simulate the mechanical response of polycrystalline α-iron. It is shown that the conformal discretization across interfaces reduces artificial stress localization commonly observed in non-conformal FE discretizations. The work presented herein is a first step towards incorporating physically-based microstructures in lieu of the overly simplified representations that are commonly used. In broader terms, the proposed framework provides future avenues to explore bridging models of materials processes, e.g. additive manufacturing and microstructure evolution of multi-phase multi-component systems, into continuum-scale frameworks of the mechanical properties.« less

Incorporating physically-based microstructures in materials modeling: Bridging phase field and crystal plasticity frameworks

DOE PAGES

Lim, Hojun; Abdeljawad, Fadi; Owen, Steven J.; ...

2016-04-25

Here, the mechanical properties of materials systems are highly influenced by various features at the microstructural level. The ability to capture these heterogeneities and incorporate them into continuum-scale frameworks of the deformation behavior is considered a key step in the development of complex non-local models of failure. In this study, we present a modeling framework that incorporates physically-based realizations of polycrystalline aggregates from a phase field (PF) model into a crystal plasticity finite element (CP-FE) framework. Simulated annealing via the PF model yields ensembles of materials microstructures with various grain sizes and shapes. With the aid of a novel FEmore » meshing technique, FE discretizations of these microstructures are generated, where several key features, such as conformity to interfaces, and triple junction angles, are preserved. The discretizations are then used in the CP-FE framework to simulate the mechanical response of polycrystalline α-iron. It is shown that the conformal discretization across interfaces reduces artificial stress localization commonly observed in non-conformal FE discretizations. The work presented herein is a first step towards incorporating physically-based microstructures in lieu of the overly simplified representations that are commonly used. In broader terms, the proposed framework provides future avenues to explore bridging models of materials processes, e.g. additive manufacturing and microstructure evolution of multi-phase multi-component systems, into continuum-scale frameworks of the mechanical properties.« less

A study on micro-structural and optical parameters of InxSe1-x thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, P. B.; Desai, H. N.; Dhimmar, J. M.; Modi, B. P.

2018-04-01

Thin film of Indium Selenide (InSe) has been deposited by thermal evaporation technique onto pre cleaned glass substrate under high vacuum condition. The micro-structural and optical properties of InxSe1-x (x = 0.6, 1-x = 0.4) thin film have been characterized by X-ray diffractrometer (XRD) and UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The XRD spectra showed that InSe thin film has single phase hexagonal structure with preferred orientation along (1 1 0) direction. The micro-structural parameters (crystallite size, lattice strain, dislocation density, domain population) for InSe thin film have been calculated using XRD spectra. The optical parameters (absorption, transmittance, reflectance, energy band gap, Urbach energy) of InSe thin film have been evaluated from absorption spectra. The direct energy band gap and Urbach energy of InSe thin film is found to be 1.90 eV and 235 meV respectively.

Probing microstructural information of anisotropic scattering media using rotation-independent polarization parameters.

PubMed

Sun, Minghao; He, Honghui; Zeng, Nan; Du, E; Guo, Yihong; Peng, Cheng; He, Yonghong; Ma, Hui

2014-05-10

Polarization parameters contain rich information on the micro- and macro-structure of scattering media. However, many of these parameters are sensitive to the spatial orientation of anisotropic media, and may not effectively reveal the microstructural information. In this paper, we take polarization images of different textile samples at different azimuth angles. The results demonstrate that the rotation insensitive polarization parameters from rotating linear polarization imaging and Mueller matrix transformation methods can be used to distinguish the characteristic features of different textile samples. Further examinations using both experiments and Monte Carlo simulations reveal that the residue rotation dependence in these polarization parameters is due to the oblique incidence illumination. This study shows that such rotation independent parameters are potentially capable of quantitatively classifying anisotropic samples, such as textiles or biological tissues.

Multiscale Analysis of Structurally-Graded Microstructures Using Molecular Dynamics, Discrete Dislocation Dynamics and Continuum Crystal Plasticity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saether, Erik; Hochhalter, Jacob D.; Glaessgen, Edward H.; Mishin, Yuri

2014-01-01

A multiscale modeling methodology is developed for structurally-graded material microstructures. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations are performed at the nanoscale to determine fundamental failure mechanisms and quantify material constitutive parameters. These parameters are used to calibrate material processes at the mesoscale using discrete dislocation dynamics (DD). Different grain boundary interactions with dislocations are analyzed using DD to predict grain-size dependent stress-strain behavior. These relationships are mapped into crystal plasticity (CP) parameters to develop a computationally efficient finite element-based DD/CP model for continuum-level simulations and complete the multiscale analysis by predicting the behavior of macroscopic physical specimens. The present analysis is focused on simulating the behavior of a graded microstructure in which grain sizes are on the order of nanometers in the exterior region and transition to larger, multi-micron size in the interior domain. This microstructural configuration has been shown to offer improved mechanical properties over homogeneous coarse-grained materials by increasing yield stress while maintaining ductility. Various mesoscopic polycrystal models of structurally-graded microstructures are generated, analyzed and used as a benchmark for comparison between multiscale DD/CP model and DD predictions. A final series of simulations utilize the DD/CP analysis method exclusively to study macroscopic models that cannot be analyzed by MD or DD methods alone due to the model size.

Fabrication of a bionic microstructure on a C/SiC brake lining surface: Positive applications of surface defects for surface wetting control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, M. L.; Ren, C. Z.; Xu, H. Z.; Zhou, C. L.

2018-05-01

The material removal processes generate interesting surface topographies, unfortunately, that was usually considered to be surface defects. To date, little attention has been devoted to the positive applications of these interesting surface defects resulted from laser ablation to improve C/SiC surface wettability. In this study, the formation mechanism behind surface defects (residual particles) is discussed first. The results showed that the residual particles with various diameters experienced regeneration and migration, causing them to accumulate repeatedly. The effective accumulation of these residual particles with various diameters provides a new method about fabricating bionic microstructures for surface wetting control. The negligible influence of ablation processes on the chemical component of the subsurface was studied by comparing the C-O-Si weight percentage at the C/SiC subsurface. A group of microstructures were fabricated under different laser trace and different laser parameters. Surface wettability experimental results for different types of microstructures were compared. The results showed that the surface wettability increased as the laser scanning speed decreased. The surface wettability increased with the density of the laser scanning trace. We also demonstrated the application of optimized combination of laser parameters and laser trace to simulate a lotus leaf's microstructure on C/SiC surfaces. The parameter selection depends on the specific material properties.

Microstructural characterisation of proton irradiated niobium using X-ray diffraction technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Argha; Gayathri, N.; Neogy, S.; Mukherjee, P.

2018-04-01

The microstructural parameters in pure Nb, irradiated with 5 MeV proton beam have been evaluated as a function of dose using X-ray diffraction line profile analysis. In order to assess the microstructural changes in the homogeneous region and in the peak damage region of the damage energy deposition profile, X-ray diffraction patterns have been collected using two different geometries (Bragg-Brentano and parallel beam geometries). Different X-ray line profile analysis like Williamson-Hall (W-H) analysis, modified W-H analysis, double-Voigt analysis, modified Rietveld technique and convolutional multiple whole profile fitting have been employed to extract the microstructural parameters like coherent domain size, microstrain within the domain, dislocation density and arrangement of dislocations. The coherent domain size decreases drastically along with increase in microstrain and dislocation density in the first dose for both the geometries. With increasing dose, a decreasing trend in microstrain associated with decrease in dislocation density is observed for both the geometries. This is attributed to the formation of defect clusters due to irradiation which with increasing dose collapse to dislocation loops to minimise the strain in the matrix. This is corroborated with the observation of black dots and loops in the TEM images. No significant difference is observed in the trend of microstructural parameters between the homogeneous and peak damage region of the damage profile.

On the role of magnetic field intensity for better micro-structural characterization during Barkhausen Noise analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusufzai, Mohd Zaheer Khan; Vashista, M.

2018-04-01

Barkhausen Noise analysis is a popular and preferred technique for micro-structural characterization. The root mean square value and peak value of Barkhausen Noise burst are important parameters to assess the micro-hardness and residual stress. Barkhausen Noise burst can be enveloped using a curve known as Barkhausen Noise profile. Peak position of profile changes with change in micro-structure. In the present work, raw signal of Barkhausen Noise burst was obtained from Ni based sample at various magnetic field intensity to observe the effect of variation in field intensity on Barkhausen Noise burst. Raw signal was opened using MATLAB to further process for microstructure analysis. Barkhausen Noise analysis parameters such as magnetizing frequency, number of burst, high pass and low pass filter frequency were kept constant and magnetizing field was varied in wide range between 200 Oe to 1200 Oe. The processed profiles of Barkhausen Noise burst obtained at various magnetizing field intensity clearly reveals requirement of optimum magnetic field strength for better characterization of micro-structure.

What lies beneath? Diffusion EAP-based study of brain tissue microstructure.

PubMed

Zucchelli, Mauro; Brusini, Lorenza; Andrés Méndez, C; Daducci, Alessandro; Granziera, Cristina; Menegaz, Gloria

2016-08-01

Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance signals convey information about tissue microstructure and cytoarchitecture. In the last years, many models have been proposed for recovering the diffusion signal and extracting information to constitute new families of numerical indices. Two main categories of reconstruction models can be identified in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (DMRI): ensemble average propagator (EAP) models and compartmental models. From both, descriptors can be derived for elucidating the underlying microstructural architecture. While compartmental models indices directly quantify the fraction of different cell compartments in each voxel, EAP-derived indices are only a derivative measure and the effect of the different microstructural configurations on the indices is still unclear. In this paper, we analyze three EAP indices calculated using the 3D Simple Harmonic Oscillator based Reconstruction and Estimation (3D-SHORE) model and estimate their changes with respect to the principal microstructural configurations. We take advantage of the state of the art simulations to quantify the variations of the indices with the simulation parameters. Analysis of in-vivo data correlates the EAP indices with the microstructural parameters obtained from the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) model as a pseudo ground truth for brain data. Results show that the EAP derived indices convey information on the tissue microstructure and that their combined values directly reflect the configuration of the different compartments in each voxel. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Trabecular bone microstructure is impaired in the proximal femur of human immunodeficiency virus-infected men with normal bone mineral density.

PubMed

Kazakia, Galateia J; Carballido-Gamio, Julio; Lai, Andrew; Nardo, Lorenzo; Facchetti, Luca; Pasco, Courtney; Zhang, Chiyuan A; Han, Misung; Parrott, Amanda Hutton; Tien, Phyllis; Krug, Roland

2018-02-01

There is evidence that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are independent risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture which is not solely explained by changes in bone mineral density. Thus, we hypothesized that the assessment of trabecular microstructure might play an important role for bone quality in this population and might explain the increased fracture risk. In this study, we have assessed bone microstructure in the proximal femur using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as in the extremities using high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in HIV-infected men and healthy controls and compared these findings to those based on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) derived from dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) which is the standard clinical parameter for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Eight HIV-infected men and 11 healthy age-matched controls were recruited and informed consent was obtained before each scan. High-resolution MRI of the proximal femur was performed using fully balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) on a 3T system. Three volumes of interest at corresponding anatomic locations across all subjects were defined based on registrations of a common template. Four MR-based trabecular microstructural parameters were analyzed at each region: fuzzy bone volume fraction (f-BVF), trabecular number (Tb.N), thickness (Tb.Th), and spacing (Tb.Sp). In addition, the distal radius and distal tibia were imaged with HR-pQCT. Four HR-pQCT-based microstructural parameters were analyzed: trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), Tb.N, Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp. Total hip and spine aBMD were determined from DXA. Microstructural bone parameters derived from MRI at the proximal femur and from HR-pQCT at the distal tibia showed significantly lower bone quality in HIV-infected patients compared to healthy controls. In contrast, DXA aBMD data showed no significant differences between HIV-infected patients and healthy controls. Our results suggest that high-resolution imaging is a powerful tool to assess trabecular bone microstructure and can be used to assess bone health in HIV-infected men who show no differences to healthy males by DXA aBMD. Advances in MRI technology have made microstructural imaging at the proximal femur possible. Further studies in larger patient cohorts are clearly warranted.

Formation of Foam-like Microstructural Carbon Material by Carbonization of Porous Coordination Polymers through a Ligand-Assisted Foaming Process.

PubMed

Kongpatpanich, Kanokwan; Horike, Satoshi; Fujiwara, Yu-Ichi; Ogiwara, Naoki; Nishihara, Hirotomo; Kitagawa, Susumu

2015-09-14

Porous carbon material with a foam-like microstructure has been synthesized by direct carbonization of porous coordination polymer (PCP). In situ generation of foaming agents by chemical reactions of ligands in PCP during carbonization provides a simple way to create lightweight carbon material with a foam-like microstructure. Among several substituents investigated, the nitro group has been shown to be the key to obtain the unique foam-like microstructure, which is due to the fast kinetics of gas evolution during carbonization. Foam-like microstructural carbon materials showed higher pore volume and specific capacitance compared to a microporous carbon. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The use of a directional solidification technique to investigate the interrelationship of thermal parameters, microstructure and microhardness of Bi–Ag solder alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Spinelli, José Eduardo, E-mail: spinelli@ufscar.br; Silva, Bismarck Luiz; Cheung, Noé

2014-10-15

Bi–Ag alloys have been stressed as possible alternatives to replace Pb-based solder alloys. Although acceptable melting temperatures and suitable mechanical properties may characterize such alloys, as referenced in literature, there is a lack of comprehension regarding their microstructures (morphologies and sizes of the phases) considering a composition range from 1.5 to 4.0 wt.%Ag. In order to better comprehend such aspects and their correlations with solidification thermal parameters (growth rate, v and cooling rate, T-dot), directional solidification experiments were carried out under transient heat flow conditions. The effects of Ag content on both cooling rate and growth rate during solidification aremore » examined. Microstructure parameters such as eutectic/dendritic spacing, interphase spacing and diameter of the Ag-rich phase were determined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The competition between eutectic cells and dendrites in the range from 1.5 to 4.0 wt.%Ag is explained by the coupled zone concept. Microhardness was determined for different microstructures and alloy Ag contents with a view to permitting correlations with microstructure parameters to be established. Hardness is shown to be directly affected by both solute macrosegregation and morphologies of the phases forming the Bi–Ag alloys, with higher hardness being associated with the cellular morphology of the Bi-2.5 and 4.0 wt.%Ag alloys. - Highlights: • Asymmetric zone of coupled growth for Bi–Ag is demonstrated. • Faceted Bi-rich dendrites have been characterized for Bi–1.5 wt.%Ag alloy. • Eutectic cells were shown for the Bi-2.5 and 4.0 wt.%Ag solder alloys. • Interphase spacing relations with G × v are able to represent the experimental scatters. • Hall-Petch type equations are proposed relating microstructural spacings to hardness.« less

Serial sectioning of grain microstructures under junction control: An old problem in a new guise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zöllner, D.; Streitenberger, P.

2015-04-01

In the present work the importance of 3D and 4D microstructure analyses are shown. To that aim, we study polycrystalline grain microstructures obtained by grain growth under grain boundary, triple line and quadruple point control. The microstructures themselves are obtained by mesoscopic computer simulations, which enjoy a far greater control over the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters affecting grain growth than can be realized experimentally. In extensive simulation studies we find by 3D respectively 4D microstructure analyses that metrical and topological properties of the microstructures depend strongly on the microstructural feature controlling the growth kinetics. However, the differences between the growth kinetics vanish when we look at classical 2D sections of the 3D ensembles making a differentiation of the controlling grain feature near impossible.

Monitoring temporal microstructural variations of skeletal muscle tissues by multispectral Mueller matrix polarimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; He, Chao; Ma, Hui

2017-02-01

Mueller matrix polarimetry is a powerful tool for detecting microscopic structures, therefore can be used to monitor physiological changes of tissue samples. Meanwhile, spectral features of scattered light can also provide abundant microstructural information of tissues. In this paper, we take the 2D multispectral backscattering Mueller matrix images of bovine skeletal muscle tissues, and analyze their temporal variation behavior using multispectral Mueller matrix parameters. The 2D images of the Mueller matrix elements are reduced to the multispectral frequency distribution histograms (mFDHs) to reveal the dominant structural features of the muscle samples more clearly. For quantitative analysis, the multispectral Mueller matrix transformation (MMT) parameters are calculated to characterize the microstructural variations during the rigor mortis and proteolysis processes of the skeletal muscle tissue samples. The experimental results indicate that the multispectral MMT parameters can be used to judge different physiological stages for bovine skeletal muscle tissues in 24 hours, and combining with the multispectral technique, the Mueller matrix polarimetry and FDH analysis can monitor the microstructural variation features of skeletal muscle samples. The techniques may be used for quick assessment and quantitative monitoring of meat qualities in food industry.

Summary of Prior Work on Joining of Oxide Dispersion-Strengthened Alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wright, Ian G; Tatlock, Gordon J; Badairy, H.

2009-08-01

There is a range of joining techniques available for use with ODS alloys, but care should be exercised in matching the technique to the final duty requirements of the joint. The goal for joining ODS alloys is a joint with no local disruption of the distribution of the oxide dispersion, and no significant change in the size and orientation of the alloy microstructure. Not surprisingly, the fusion welding processes typically employed with wrought alloys produce the least satisfactory results with ODS alloys, but some versions, such as fusion spot welding, and the laser and electron-beam welding technologies, have demonstrated potentialmore » for producing sound joints. Welds made using solid-state spot welding reportedly have exhibited parent metal properties. Thus, it is possible to employ processes that result in significant disruption of the alloy microstructure, as long as the processing parameters are adjustment to minimize the extent of or influence of the changes in the alloy microstructure. Selection among these joining approaches largely depends on the particular application and component configuration, and an understanding of the relationships among processing, alloy microstructure, and final properties is key. Recent developments have resulted in friction welding evolving to be a prime method for joining ODS sheet products, and variants of brazing/diffusion bonding have shown excellent promise for use with tubes and pipes. The techniques that come closest to the goal defined above involve solid-state diffusion bonding and, in particular, it has been found that secondary recrystallization of joints made by pulsed plasma-assisted diffusion can produce the desired, continuous, large alloy grain structure through the joint. Such joints have exhibited creep rupture failure at >82% of the load needed to fail the monolithic parent alloy at 1000 C.« less

Multiphysics phase field modeling of hydrogen diffusion and delta-hydride precipitation in alpha-zirconium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jokisaari, Andrea M.

Hydride precipitation in zirconium is a significant factor limiting the lifetime of nuclear fuel cladding, because hydride microstructures play a key role in the degradation of fuel cladding. However, the behavior of hydrogen in zirconium has typically been modeled using mean field approaches, which do not consider microstructural evolution. This thesis describes a quantitative microstructural evolution model for the alpha-zirconium/delta-hydride system and the associated numerical methods and algorithms that were developed. The multiphysics, phase field-based model incorporates CALPHAD free energy descriptions, linear elastic solid mechanics, and classical nucleation theory. A flexible simulation software implementing the model, Hyrax, is built on the Multiphysics Object Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE) finite element framework. Hyrax is open-source and freely available; moreover, the numerical methods and algorithms that have been developed are generalizable to other systems. The algorithms are described in detail, and verification studies for each are discussed. In addition, analyses of the sensitivity of the simulation results to the choice of numerical parameters are presented. For example, threshold values for the CALPHAD free energy algorithm and the use of mesh and time adaptivity when employing the nucleation algorithm are studied. Furthermore, preliminary insights into the nucleation behavior of delta-hydrides are described. These include a) the sensitivities of the nucleation rate to temperature, interfacial energy, composition and elastic energy, b) the spatial variation of the nucleation rate around a single precipitate, and c) the effect of interfacial energy and nucleation rate on the precipitate microstructure. Finally, several avenues for future work are discussed. Topics encompass the terminal solid solubility hysteresis of hydrogen in zirconium and the effects of the alpha/delta interfacial energy, as well as thermodiffusion, plasticity, and irradiation, which are not yet accounted for in the model.

Effect of micromorphology of cortical bone tissue on crack propagation under dynamic loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Mayao; Gao, Xing; Abdel-Wahab, Adel; Li, Simin; Zimmermann, Elizabeth A.; Riedel, Christoph; Busse, Björn; Silberschmidt, Vadim V.

2015-09-01

Structural integrity of bone tissue plays an important role in daily activities of humans. However, traumatic incidents such as sports injuries, collisions and falls can cause bone fracture, servere pain and mobility loss. In addition, ageing and degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis can increase the risk of fracture [1]. As a composite-like material, a cortical bone tissue is capable of tolerating moderate fracture/cracks without complete failure. The key to this is its heterogeneously distributed microstructural constituents providing both intrinsic and extrinsic toughening mechanisms. At micro-scale level, cortical bone can be considered as a four-phase composite material consisting of osteons, Haversian canals, cement lines and interstitial matrix. These microstructural constituents can directly affect local distributions of stresses and strains, and, hence, crack initiation and propagation. Therefore, understanding the effect of micromorphology of cortical bone on crack initiation and propagation, especially under dynamic loading regimes is of great importance for fracture risk evaluation. In this study, random microstructures of a cortical bone tissue were modelled with finite elements for four groups: healthy (control), young age, osteoporosis and bisphosphonate-treated, based on osteonal morphometric parameters measured from microscopic images for these groups. The developed models were loaded under the same dynamic loading conditions, representing a direct impact incident, resulting in progressive crack propagation. An extended finite-element method (X-FEM) was implemented to realize solution-dependent crack propagation within the microstructured cortical bone tissues. The obtained simulation results demonstrate significant differences due to micromorphology of cortical bone, in terms of crack propagation characteristics for different groups, with the young group showing highest fracture resistance and the senior group the lowest.

Effects of Pulse Parameters on Weld Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extra Pulse Current Aided Laser Welded 2219 Aluminum Alloy Joints.

PubMed

Zhang, Xinge; Li, Liqun; Chen, Yanbin; Yang, Zhaojun; Chen, Yanli; Guo, Xinjian

2017-09-15

In order to expand the application range of laser welding and improve weld quality, an extra pulse current was used to aid laser-welded 2219 aluminum alloy, and the effects of pulse current parameters on the weld microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current interactions with the weld pool were evaluated. The results indicated that the coarse dendritic structure in the weld zone changed to a fine equiaxed structure using an extra pulse current, and the pulse parameters, including medium peak current, relatively high pulse frequency, and low pulse duty ratio benefited to improving the weld structure. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current were mainly ascribed to the magnetic pinch effect, thermal effect, and electromigration effect caused by the pulse current. The effect of the pulse parameters on the mechanical properties of welded joints were consistent with that of the weld microstructure. The tensile strength and elongation of the optimal pulse current-aided laser-welded joint increased by 16.4% and 105%, respectively, compared with autogenous laser welding.

Effects of Pulse Parameters on Weld Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extra Pulse Current Aided Laser Welded 2219 Aluminum Alloy Joints

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xinge; Li, Liqun; Chen, Yanbin; Yang, Zhaojun; Chen, Yanli; Guo, Xinjian

2017-01-01

In order to expand the application range of laser welding and improve weld quality, an extra pulse current was used to aid laser-welded 2219 aluminum alloy, and the effects of pulse current parameters on the weld microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current interactions with the weld pool were evaluated. The results indicated that the coarse dendritic structure in the weld zone changed to a fine equiaxed structure using an extra pulse current, and the pulse parameters, including medium peak current, relatively high pulse frequency, and low pulse duty ratio benefited to improving the weld structure. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current were mainly ascribed to the magnetic pinch effect, thermal effect, and electromigration effect caused by the pulse current. The effect of the pulse parameters on the mechanical properties of welded joints were consistent with that of the weld microstructure. The tensile strength and elongation of the optimal pulse current-aided laser-welded joint increased by 16.4% and 105%, respectively, compared with autogenous laser welding. PMID:28914825

SiC layer microstructure in AGR-1 and AGR-2 TRISO fuel particles and the influence of its variation on the effective diffusion of key fission products

DOE PAGES

Gerczak, Tyler J.; Hunn, John D.; Lowden, Richard A.; ...

2016-08-15

Tristructural isotropic (TRISO) coated particle fuel is a promising fuel form for advanced reactor concepts such as high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR) and is being developed domestically under the US Department of Energy’s Nuclear Reactor Technologies Initiative in support of Advanced Reactor Technologies. The fuel development and qualification plan includes a series of fuel irradiations to demonstrate fuel performance from the laboratory to commercial scale. The first irradiation campaign, AGR-1, included four separate TRISO fuel variants composed of multiple, laboratory-scale coater batches. The second irradiation campaign, AGR-2, included TRISO fuel particles fabricated by BWX Technologies with a larger coater representativemore » of an industrial-scale system. The SiC layers of as-fabricated particles from the AGR-1 and AGR-2 irradiation campaigns have been investigated by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to provide key information about the microstructural features relevant to fuel performance. The results of a comprehensive study of multiple particles from all constituent batches are reported. The observations indicate that there were microstructural differences between variants and among constituent batches in a single variant. Finally, insights on the influence of microstructure on the effective diffusivity of key fission products in the SiC layer are also discussed.« less

A semi-phenomenological model to predict the acoustic behavior of fully and partially reticulated polyurethane foams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doutres, Olivier; Atalla, Noureddine; Dong, Kevin

2013-02-01

This paper proposes simple semi-phenomenological models to predict the sound absorption efficiency of highly porous polyurethane foams from microstructure characterization. In a previous paper [J. Appl. Phys. 110, 064901 (2011)], the authors presented a 3-parameter semi-phenomenological model linking the microstructure properties of fully and partially reticulated isotropic polyurethane foams (i.e., strut length l, strut thickness t, and reticulation rate Rw) to the macroscopic non-acoustic parameters involved in the classical Johnson-Champoux-Allard model (i.e., porosity ϕ, airflow resistivity σ, tortuosity α∝, viscous Λ, and thermal Λ' characteristic lengths). The model was based on existing scaling laws, validated for fully reticulated polyurethane foams, and improved using both geometrical and empirical approaches to account for the presence of membrane closing the pores. This 3-parameter model is applied to six polyurethane foams in this paper and is found highly sensitive to the microstructure characterization; particularly to strut's dimensions. A simplified micro-/macro model is then presented. It is based on the cell size Cs and reticulation rate Rw only, assuming that the geometric ratio between strut length l and strut thickness t is known. This simplified model, called the 2-parameter model, considerably simplifies the microstructure characterization procedure. A comparison of the two proposed semi-phenomenological models is presented using six polyurethane foams being either fully or partially reticulated, isotropic or anisotropic. It is shown that the 2-parameter model is less sensitive to measurement uncertainties compared to the original model and allows a better estimation of polyurethane foams sound absorption behavior.

Method for Correction of Consequences of Radiation-Induced Heart Disease using Low-Intensity Electromagnetic Emission under Experimental Conditions.

PubMed

Bavrina, A P; Monich, V A; Malinovskaya, S L; Yakovleva, E I; Bugrova, M L; Lazukin, V F

2015-05-01

Effects of successive exposure to ionizing irradiation and low-intensity broadband red light on electrical activity of the heart and myocardium microstructure were studied in rats. Lowintensity red light corrected some ECG parameters, in particular, it normalized QT and QTc intervals and voltage of R and T waves. Changes in ECG parameters were followed by alterations in microstructure of muscle fi laments in the myocardium of treatment group animals comparing to control group.

Quantification of Changes in Mulberry Silk Fabrics due to Different Laundering: Using WAXS Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parameswara, P.; Nivedita, S.; Somashekar, R.

2011-07-01

Loom finished mulberry silk fabrics (Taffeta) were machine laundered and hand laundered several times. X-ray diffractograms of pure and laundered fabrics were used to calculate microstructural parameters like average crystallite size (D) and lattice strain (Vegr) employing Williamson-Hall plot. Microstructural parameters were compared with measured mechanical properties like breaking load, tenacity, and elongation of warp yarns unraveled from fabrics. Surface morphology and texture of silk fabrics changed upon washing is evident from SEM images.

Advanced Metals and Ceramics for Armor and Anti-Armor Applications. High-Fidelity Design and Processing of Advanced Armor Ceramics

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

microstructures through advanced powder processing , (7) nondestructive evaluation of ceramic armor, (8) investigation of the relation between quasi-static...of a green microstructure of a compact prepared by this process using Superior Graphite 490 powder that had been twice beneficiated by settling and...create a dense, uniform microstructure of highly oriented grains • Determined the relationship between processing parameters, such as shear and solids

A Constitutive Relationship between Fatigue Limit and Microstructure in Nanostructured Bainitic Steels

PubMed Central

Mueller, Inga; Rementeria, Rosalia; Caballero, Francisca G.; Kuntz, Matthias; Sourmail, Thomas; Kerscher, Eberhard

2016-01-01

The recently developed nanobainitic steels show high strength as well as high ductility. Although this combination seems to be promising for fatigue design, fatigue properties of nanostructured bainitic steels are often surprisingly low. To improve the fatigue behavior, an understanding of the correlation between the nanobainitic microstructure and the fatigue limit is fundamental. Therefore, our hypothesis to predict the fatigue limit was that the main function of the microstructure is not necessarily totally avoiding the initiation of a fatigue crack, but the microstructure has to increase the ability to decelerate or to stop a growing fatigue crack. Thus, the key to understanding the fatigue behavior of nanostructured bainite is to understand the role of the microstructural features that could act as barriers for growing fatigue cracks. To prove this hypothesis, we carried out fatigue tests, crack growth experiments, and correlated these results to the size of microstructural features gained from microstructural analysis by light optical microscope and EBSD-measurements. Finally, we were able to identify microstructural features that influence the fatigue crack growth and the fatigue limit of nanostructured bainitic steels. PMID:28773953

Strengthening Mechanisms in Thermomechanically Processed NbTi-Microalloyed Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostryzhev, Andrii G.; Marenych, Olexandra O.; Killmore, Chris R.; Pereloma, Elena V.

2015-08-01

The effect of deformation temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated for thermomechanically processed NbTi-microalloyed steel with ferrite-pearlite microstructure. With a decrease in the finish deformation temperature at 1348 K to 1098 K (1075 °C to 825 °C) temperature range, the ambient temperature yield stress did not vary significantly, work hardening rate decreased, ultimate tensile strength decreased, and elongation to failure increased. These variations in mechanical properties were correlated to the variations in microstructural parameters (such as ferrite grain size, solid solution concentrations, precipitate number density and dislocation density). Calculations based on the measured microstructural parameters suggested the grain refinement, solid solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening, and work hardening contributed up to 32 pct, up to 48 pct, up to 25 pct, and less than 3 pct to the yield stress, respectively. With a decrease in the finish deformation temperature, both the grain size strengthening and solid solution strengthening increased, the precipitation strengthening decreased, and the work hardening contribution did not vary significantly.

Control of the kerf size and microstructure in Inconel 738 superalloy by femtosecond laser beam cutting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, J.; Ye, Y.; Sun, Z.; Liu, L.; Zou, G.

2016-05-01

Femtosecond laser beam cutting is becoming widely used to meet demands for increasing accuracy in micro-machining. In this paper, the effects of processing parameters in femtosecond laser beam cutting on the kerf size and microstructure in Inconel 738 have been investigated. The defocus, pulse width and scanning speed were selected to study the controllability of the cutting process. Adjusting and matching the processing parameters was a basic enhancement method to acquire well defined kerf size and the high-quality ablation of microstructures, which has contributed to the intensity clamping effect. The morphology and chemical compositions of these microstructures on the cut surface have been characterized by a scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally, the material removal mechanism and oxidation mechanism on the Inconel 738 cut surface have also been discussed on the basis of the femtosecond laser induced normal vaporization or phase explosion, and trapping effect of the dangling bonds.

Undistorted 3D microstructures in SU8 formed through two-photon polymerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohlinger, Kris; Lin, Yuankun; Poole, Zsolt; Chen, Kevin P.

2011-09-01

This paper presents the wavelength dependence of two-photon polymerization in SU-8 between 720-780 nm. The study is performed by microstructuring SU-8 through a single-shot exposure of SU-8 to 140 fs tunable laser pulses with 80 MHz repetition rate, or by laser direct writing. Two-photon absorption is closely related to one-photon absorption in pristine SU-8. By careful design of the neighboring micro-structures, or by varying wet-processing parameters during development, undistorted and unbended 3D micro-structures have been fabricated through direct laser writing.

Robust and fast nonlinear optimization of diffusion MRI microstructure models.

PubMed

Harms, R L; Fritz, F J; Tobisch, A; Goebel, R; Roebroeck, A

2017-07-15

Advances in biophysical multi-compartment modeling for diffusion MRI (dMRI) have gained popularity because of greater specificity than DTI in relating the dMRI signal to underlying cellular microstructure. A large range of these diffusion microstructure models have been developed and each of the popular models comes with its own, often different, optimization algorithm, noise model and initialization strategy to estimate its parameter maps. Since data fit, accuracy and precision is hard to verify, this creates additional challenges to comparability and generalization of results from diffusion microstructure models. In addition, non-linear optimization is computationally expensive leading to very long run times, which can be prohibitive in large group or population studies. In this technical note we investigate the performance of several optimization algorithms and initialization strategies over a few of the most popular diffusion microstructure models, including NODDI and CHARMED. We evaluate whether a single well performing optimization approach exists that could be applied to many models and would equate both run time and fit aspects. All models, algorithms and strategies were implemented on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to remove run time constraints, with which we achieve whole brain dataset fits in seconds to minutes. We then evaluated fit, accuracy, precision and run time for different models of differing complexity against three common optimization algorithms and three parameter initialization strategies. Variability of the achieved quality of fit in actual data was evaluated on ten subjects of each of two population studies with a different acquisition protocol. We find that optimization algorithms and multi-step optimization approaches have a considerable influence on performance and stability over subjects and over acquisition protocols. The gradient-free Powell conjugate-direction algorithm was found to outperform other common algorithms in terms of run time, fit, accuracy and precision. Parameter initialization approaches were found to be relevant especially for more complex models, such as those involving several fiber orientations per voxel. For these, a fitting cascade initializing or fixing parameter values in a later optimization step from simpler models in an earlier optimization step further improved run time, fit, accuracy and precision compared to a single step fit. This establishes and makes available standards by which robust fit and accuracy can be achieved in shorter run times. This is especially relevant for the use of diffusion microstructure modeling in large group or population studies and in combining microstructure parameter maps with tractography results. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of Ar9+ irradiation on Zr-1Nb-1Sn-0.1Fe alloy characterized by Grazing Incidence X-ray diffraction technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Argha; Das, Kalipada; Gayathri, N.; Menon, Ranjini; Nabhiraj, P. Y.; Mukherjee, Paramita

2018-03-01

The microstructural parameters such as domain size and microstrain have been estimated from Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) data for Ar9+ irradiated Zr-1Nb-1Sn-0.1Fe sample as a function of dpa (dose). Detail studies using X-ray Diffraction Line Profile Analysis (XRDLPA) from GIXRD data has been carried out to characterize the microstructural parameters like domain size and microstrain. The reorientation of the grains due to effect of irradiation at high dpa (dose) has been qualitatively assessed by the texture parameter P(hkl).

Reducing the orientation influence of Mueller matrix measurements for anisotropic scattering media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Minghao; He, Honghui; Zeng, Nan; Du, E.; He, Yonghong; Ma, Hui

2014-09-01

Mueller matrix polarimetry techniques contain rich micro-structural information of samples, such as the sizes and refractive indices of scatterers. Recently, Mueller matrix imaging methods have shown great potentials as powerful tools for biomedical diagnosis. However, the orientations of anisotropic fibrous structures in tissues have prominent influence on Mueller matrix measurements, resulting in difficulties for extracting micro-structural information effectively. In this paper, we apply the backscattering Mueller matrix imaging technique to biological samples with different microstructures, such as chicken heart muscle, bovine skeletal muscle, porcine liver and fat tissues. Experimental results show that the directions of the muscle fibers have prominent influence on the Mueller matrix elements. In order to reduce the orientation influence, we adopt the rotation-independent MMT and RLPI parameters, which were proposed in our previous studies, to the tissue samples. Preliminary results in this paper show that the orientation-independent parameters and their statistic features are helpful for analyzing the tissues to obtain their micro-structural properties. Since the micro-structure variations are often related to the pathological changes, the method can be applied to microscope imaging techniques and used to detect abnormal tissues such as cancer and other lesions for diagnosis purposes.

Predicting the constitutive behavior of semi-solids via a direct finite element simulation: application to AA5182

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phillion, A. B.; Cockcroft, S. L.; Lee, P. D.

2009-07-01

The methodology of direct finite element (FE) simulation was used to predict the semi-solid constitutive behavior of an industrially important aluminum-magnesium alloy, AA5182. Model microstructures were generated that detail key features of the as-cast semi-solid: equiaxed-globular grains of random size and shape, interconnected liquid films, and pores at the triple-junctions. Based on the results of over fifty different simulations, a model-based constitutive relationship which includes the effects of the key microstructure features—fraction solid, grain size and fraction porosity—was derived using regression analysis. This novel constitutive equation was then validated via comparison with both the FE simulations and experimental stress/strain data. Such an equation can now be used to incorporate the effects of microstructure on the bulk semi-solid flow stress within a macro- scale process model.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Hot-Rolled Extra High-Yield-Strength Steel Plates for Offshore Structure and Shipbuilding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dongsheng; Li, Qingliang; Emi, Toshihiko

2011-05-01

Key parameters for a thermomechanically controlled processing and accelerated cooling process (TMCP-AcC) were determined for integrated mass production to produce extra high-yield-strength microalloyed low carbon SiMnCrNiCu steel plates for offshore structure and bulk shipbuilding. Confocal scanning microscopy was used to make in-situ observations on the austenite grain growth during reheating. A Gleeble 3800 thermomechanical simulator was employed to investigate the flow stress behavior, static recrystallization (SRX) of austenite, and decomposition behavior of the TMCP conditioned austenite during continuous cooling. The Kocks-Mecking model was employed to describe the constitutive behavior, while the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) approach was used to predict the SRX kinetics. The effects of hot rolling schedule and AcC on microstructure and properties were investigated by test-scale rolling trials. The bridging between the laboratory observations and the process parameter determination to optimize the mass production was made by integrated industrial production trials on a set of a 5-m heavy plate mill equipped with an accelerated cooling system. Successful production of 60- and 50-mm-thick plates with yield strength in excess of 460 MPa and excellent toughness at low temperature (213 K (-60 °C)) in the parent metal and the simulated coarse-grained heat affected zone (CGHAZ) provides a useful integrated database for developing advanced high-strength steel plates via TMCP-AcC.

Selective laser melting of high-performance pure tungsten: parameter design, densification behavior and mechanical properties

PubMed Central

Zhou, Kesong; Ma, Wenyou; Attard, Bonnie; Zhang, Panpan; Kuang, Tongchun

2018-01-01

Abstract Selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing of pure tungsten encounters nearly all intractable difficulties of SLM metals fields due to its intrinsic properties. The key factors, including powder characteristics, layer thickness, and laser parameters of SLM high density tungsten are elucidated and discussed in detail. The main parameters were designed from theoretical calculations prior to the SLM process and experimentally optimized. Pure tungsten products with a density of 19.01 g/cm3 (98.50% theoretical density) were produced using SLM with the optimized processing parameters. A high density microstructure is formed without significant balling or macrocracks. The formation mechanisms for pores and the densification behaviors are systematically elucidated. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis confirms that the columnar grains stretch across several layers and parallel to the maximum temperature gradient, which can ensure good bonding between the layers. The mechanical properties of the SLM-produced tungsten are comparable to that produced by the conventional fabrication methods, with hardness values exceeding 460 HV0.05 and an ultimate compressive strength of about 1 GPa. This finding offers new potential applications of refractory metals in additive manufacturing. PMID:29707073

Selective laser melting of high-performance pure tungsten: parameter design, densification behavior and mechanical properties.

PubMed

Tan, Chaolin; Zhou, Kesong; Ma, Wenyou; Attard, Bonnie; Zhang, Panpan; Kuang, Tongchun

2018-01-01

Selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing of pure tungsten encounters nearly all intractable difficulties of SLM metals fields due to its intrinsic properties. The key factors, including powder characteristics, layer thickness, and laser parameters of SLM high density tungsten are elucidated and discussed in detail. The main parameters were designed from theoretical calculations prior to the SLM process and experimentally optimized. Pure tungsten products with a density of 19.01 g/cm 3 (98.50% theoretical density) were produced using SLM with the optimized processing parameters. A high density microstructure is formed without significant balling or macrocracks. The formation mechanisms for pores and the densification behaviors are systematically elucidated. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis confirms that the columnar grains stretch across several layers and parallel to the maximum temperature gradient, which can ensure good bonding between the layers. The mechanical properties of the SLM-produced tungsten are comparable to that produced by the conventional fabrication methods, with hardness values exceeding 460 HV 0.05 and an ultimate compressive strength of about 1 GPa. This finding offers new potential applications of refractory metals in additive manufacturing.

Effective Parameters in Axial Injection Suspension Plasma Spray Process of Alumina-Zirconia Ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarasi, F.; Medraj, M.; Dolatabadi, A.; Oberste-Berghaus, J.; Moreau, C.

2008-12-01

Suspension plasma spray (SPS) is a novel process for producing nano-structured coatings with metastable phases using significantly smaller particles as compared to conventional thermal spraying. Considering the complexity of the system there is an extensive need to better understand the relationship between plasma spray conditions and resulting coating microstructure and defects. In this study, an alumina/8 wt.% yttria-stabilized zirconia was deposited by axial injection SPS process. The effects of principal deposition parameters on the microstructural features are evaluated using the Taguchi design of experiment. The microstructural features include microcracks, porosities, and deposition rate. To better understand the role of the spray parameters, in-flight particle characteristics, i.e., temperature and velocity were also measured. The role of the porosity in this multicomponent structure is studied as well. The results indicate that thermal diffusivity of the coatings, an important property for potential thermal barrier applications, is barely affected by the changes in porosity content.

Laser Cladding of Ti-6Al-4 V Powder on Ti-6Al-4 V Substrate: Effect of Laser Cladding Parameters on Microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cottam, Ryan; Brandt, Milan

The laser cladding of Ti-6Al-4 V powder on Ti-6Al-4 V substrate has been investigated to determine laser parameters that could be used as a repair technology for Ti-6Al-4 V components. The parameters chosen for the investigation were developed by an analytical laser cladding model. Holding clad height and melt pool depth constant, the traversing speed was varied between 300 mm/min and 1500 mm/min, an associated power for the given speed was calculated by the model. Two different melt pool depths were used in the calculation of laser power for a given process velocity. The resulting microstructures in the clad zone varied from a relatively thin martensitic structure to a dendritic/thick martensitic structure. The heat affected zone (HAZ) showed a refinement of the Widmanstatten microstructure with a decreasing laser traversing speed and a coarser martensitic structure for the sample prepared with a deeper melt pool.

Tailorable Burning Behavior of Ti14 Alloy by Controlling Semi-Solid Forging Temperature

PubMed Central

Chen, Yongnan; Yang, Wenqing; Zhan, Haifei; Zhang, Fengying; Huo, Yazhou; Zhao, Yongqing; Song, Xuding; Gu, Yuantong

2016-01-01

Semi-solid processing (SSP) is a popular near-net-shape forming technology for metals, while its application is still limited in titanium alloy mainly due to its low formability. Recent works showed that SSP could effectively enhance the formability and mechanical properties of titanium alloys. The processing parameters such as temperature and forging rate/ratio, are directly correlated with the microstructure, which endow the alloy with different chemical and physical properties. Specifically, as a key structural material for the advanced aero-engine, the burn resistant performance is a crucial requirement for the burn resistant titanium alloy. Thus, this work aims to assess the burning behavior of Ti14, a kind of burn resistant alloy, as forged at different semi-solid forging temperatures. The burning characteristics of the alloy are analyzed by a series of burning tests with different burning durations, velocities, and microstructures of burned sample. The results showed that the burning process is highly dependent on the forging temperature, due to the fact that higher temperatures would result in more Ti2Cu precipitate within grain and along grain boundaries. Such a microstructure hinders the transport of oxygen in the stable burning stage through the formation of a kind of oxygen isolation Cu-enriched layer under the burn product zone. This work suggests that the burning resistance of the alloy can be effectively tuned by controlling the temperature during the semi-solid forging process. PMID:28773820

Effects of Variations in Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of ASTM A710 Grade A Class 3 Steel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-05-01

CLASS 3 STEEL - by G. E. Hitcho *L. C. Smith S. Singhal R. J. Fields U.S. Department of Commerce National Bureau of Standards Fracture and Deformation...IN HEAT TREATMENT ON THE Research & Development MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF ASTM A710 GRADE A CLASS 3 STEEL 4. PERFORMING ORGM REPORT...NOTES SIS 1IS. KEY MaR05 (C~ueus ee m. .E If .eum Edalr br Slek ami.) Age hardening steel Microstructure Cleavage fracture Precipitate Ductile

Effect of microstructural parameters on the mechanical behavior of TiAlNb(Cr,Mo) alloys with γ+σ microstructure at ambient temperature

DOE PAGES

Kesler, Michael S.; Goyel, Sonalika; Ebrahimi, Fereshteh; ...

2016-11-15

The mechanical properties of novel alloys with two-phase γ-TiAl + σ-Nb 2Al microstructures were evaluated under compression at room temperature. Microstructures of varying scales were developed through solutionizing and aging heat treatments and the volume fraction of phases were varied with changes in composition. Ultra-fine, aged γ+σ microstructures were achieved for the alloys which affectively retained high volume fractions of the parent β-phase upon quenching from the solutionizing temperature. The yield strength and compressive strain to failure of these alloys show a strong dependence on the relative scale and volume fraction of phases. Surprisingly, the hard brittle σ-phase particles weremore » not found to control fracture in the refined microstructures.« less

A quantitative and non-contact technique to characterise microstructural variations of skin tissues during photo-damaging process based on Mueller matrix polarimetry.

PubMed

Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; Sheng, Wei; Wu, Jian; Ma, Hui

2017-10-31

Skin tissue consists of collagen and elastic fibres, which are highly susceptible to damage when exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), leading to skin aging and cancer. However, a lack of non-invasive detection methods makes determining the degree of UVR damage to skin in real time difficult. As one of the fundamental features of light, polarization can be used to develop imaging techniques capable of providing structural information about tissues. In particular, Mueller matrix polarimetry is suitable for detecting changes in collagen and elastic fibres. Here, we demonstrate a novel, quantitative, non-contact and in situ technique based on Mueller matrix polarimetry for monitoring the microstructural changes of skin tissues during UVR-induced photo-damaging. We measured the Mueller matrices of nude mouse skin samples, then analysed the transformed parameters to characterise microstructural changes during the skin photo-damaging and self-repairing processes. Comparisons between samples with and without the application of a sunscreen showed that the Mueller matrix-derived parameters are potential indicators for fibrous microstructure in skin tissues. Histological examination and Monte Carlo simulations confirmed the relationship between the Mueller matrix parameters and changes to fibrous structures. This technique paves the way for non-contact evaluation of skin structure in cosmetics and dermatological health.

Friction Stir Welding in Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys: Weld Quality Evaluation and Effects of Processing Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yi; Lados, Diana A.

2017-04-01

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state process widely used for joining similar and dissimilar materials for critical applications in the transportation sector. Understanding the effects of the process on microstructure and mechanical properties is critical in design for structural integrity. In this study, four aluminum alloy systems (wrought 6061-T651 and cast A356, 319, and A390) were processed in both as-fabricated and pre-weld heat-treated (T6) conditions using various processing parameters. The effects of processing and heat treatment on the resulting microstructures, macro-/micro-hardness, and tensile properties were systematically investigated and mechanistically correlated to changes in grain size, characteristic phases, and strengthening precipitates. Tensile tests were performed at room temperature both along and across the welding zones. A new method able to evaluate weld quality (using a weld quality index) was developed based on the stress concentration calculated under tensile loading. Optimum processing parameter domains that provide both defect-free welds and good mechanical properties were determined for each alloy and associated with the thermal history of the process. These results were further related to characteristic microstructural features, which can be used for component design and materials/process optimization.

Microstructure based simulations for prediction of flow curves and selection of process parameters for inter-critical annealing in DP steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deepu, M. J.; Farivar, H.; Prahl, U.; Phanikumar, G.

2017-04-01

Dual phase steels are versatile advanced high strength steels that are being used for sheet metal applications in automotive industry. It also has the potential for application in bulk components like gear. The inter-critical annealing in dual phase steels is one of the crucial steps that determine the mechanical properties of the material. Selection of the process parameters for inter-critical annealing, in particular, the inter-critical annealing temperature and time is important as it plays a major role in determining the volume fractions of ferrite and martensite, which in turn determines the mechanical properties. Selection of these process parameters to obtain a particular required mechanical property requires large number of experimental trials. Simulation of microstructure evolution and virtual compression/tensile testing can help in reducing the number of such experimental trials. In the present work, phase field modeling implemented in the commercial software Micress® is used to predict the microstructure evolution during inter-critical annealing. Virtual compression tests are performed on the simulated microstructure using finite element method implemented in the commercial software, to obtain the effective flow curve of the macroscopic material. The flow curves obtained by simulation are experimentally validated with physical simulation in Gleeble® and compared with that obtained using linear rule of mixture. The methodology could be used in determining the inter-critical annealing process parameters required for achieving a particular flow curve.

Influence of Manufacturing Parameters on Microstructure and Hydrogen Sorption Behavior of Electron Beam Melted Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

PubMed Central

Pushilina, Natalia; Syrtanov, Maxim; Murashkina, Tatyana; Kudiiarov, Viktor; Lider, Andrey; Koptyug, Andrey

2018-01-01

Influence of manufacturing parameters (beam current from 13 to 17 mA, speed function 98 and 85) on microstructure and hydrogen sorption behavior of electron beam melted (EBM) Ti-6Al-4V parts was investigated. Optical and scanning electron microscopies as well as X-ray diffraction were used to investigate the microstructure and phase composition of EBM Ti-6Al-4V parts. The average α lath width decreases with the increase of the speed function at the fixed beam current (17 mA). Finer microstructure was formed at the beam current 17 mA and speed function 98. The hydrogenation of EBM Ti-6Al-4V parts was performed at the temperatures 500 and 650 °С at the constant pressure of 1 atm up to 0.3 wt %. The correlation between the microstructure and hydrogen sorption kinetics by EBM Ti-6Al-4V parts was demonstrated. Lower average hydrogen sorption rate at 500 °C was in the sample with coarser microstructure manufactured at the beam current 17 mA and speed function 85. The difference of hydrogen sorption kinetics between the manufactured samples at 650 °C was insignificant. The shape of the kinetics curves of hydrogen sorption indicates the phase transition αH + βH→βH. PMID:29747471

Effect of process parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wanare, S. P.; Kalyankar, V. D.

2018-04-01

Friction stir welding is emerging as a promising technique for joining of lighter metal alloys due to its several advantages over conventional fusion welding processes such as low thermal distortion, good mechanical properties, fine weld joint microstructure, etc. This review article mainly focuses on analysis of microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints. Various microstructure characterization techniques used by previous researchers such as optical microscopes, x-ray diffraction, electron probe microscope, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopes with electron back scattered diffraction, electron dispersive microscopy, etc. are thoroughly overviewed and their results are discussed. The effects of friction stir welding process parameters such as tool rotational speed, welding speed, tool plunge depth, axial force, tool shoulder diameter to tool pin diameter ratio, tool geometry etc. on microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints are studied and critical observations are noted down. The microstructure examination carried out by previous researchers on various zones of welded joints such as weld zone, heat affected zone and base metal are studied and critical remarks have been presented. Mechanical performances of friction stir welded joints based on tensile test, micro-hardness test, etc. are discussed. This article includes exhaustive literature review of standard research articles which may become ready information for subsequent researchers to establish their line of action.

Influence of Manufacturing Parameters on Microstructure and Hydrogen Sorption Behavior of Electron Beam Melted Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Alloy.

PubMed

Pushilina, Natalia; Syrtanov, Maxim; Kashkarov, Egor; Murashkina, Tatyana; Kudiiarov, Viktor; Laptev, Roman; Lider, Andrey; Koptyug, Andrey

2018-05-10

Influence of manufacturing parameters (beam current from 13 to 17 mA, speed function 98 and 85) on microstructure and hydrogen sorption behavior of electron beam melted (EBM) Ti-6Al-4V parts was investigated. Optical and scanning electron microscopies as well as X-ray diffraction were used to investigate the microstructure and phase composition of EBM Ti-6Al-4V parts. The average α lath width decreases with the increase of the speed function at the fixed beam current (17 mA). Finer microstructure was formed at the beam current 17 mA and speed function 98. The hydrogenation of EBM Ti-6Al-4V parts was performed at the temperatures 500 and 650 °С at the constant pressure of 1 atm up to 0.3 wt %. The correlation between the microstructure and hydrogen sorption kinetics by EBM Ti-6Al-4V parts was demonstrated. Lower average hydrogen sorption rate at 500 °C was in the sample with coarser microstructure manufactured at the beam current 17 mA and speed function 85. The difference of hydrogen sorption kinetics between the manufactured samples at 650 °C was insignificant. The shape of the kinetics curves of hydrogen sorption indicates the phase transition α H + β H →β H .

Accelerated Microstructure Imaging via Convex Optimization (AMICO) from diffusion MRI data.

PubMed

Daducci, Alessandro; Canales-Rodríguez, Erick J; Zhang, Hui; Dyrby, Tim B; Alexander, Daniel C; Thiran, Jean-Philippe

2015-01-15

Microstructure imaging from diffusion magnetic resonance (MR) data represents an invaluable tool to study non-invasively the morphology of tissues and to provide a biological insight into their microstructural organization. In recent years, a variety of biophysical models have been proposed to associate particular patterns observed in the measured signal with specific microstructural properties of the neuronal tissue, such as axon diameter and fiber density. Despite very appealing results showing that the estimated microstructure indices agree very well with histological examinations, existing techniques require computationally very expensive non-linear procedures to fit the models to the data which, in practice, demand the use of powerful computer clusters for large-scale applications. In this work, we present a general framework for Accelerated Microstructure Imaging via Convex Optimization (AMICO) and show how to re-formulate this class of techniques as convenient linear systems which, then, can be efficiently solved using very fast algorithms. We demonstrate this linearization of the fitting problem for two specific models, i.e. ActiveAx and NODDI, providing a very attractive alternative for parameter estimation in those techniques; however, the AMICO framework is general and flexible enough to work also for the wider space of microstructure imaging methods. Results demonstrate that AMICO represents an effective means to accelerate the fit of existing techniques drastically (up to four orders of magnitude faster) while preserving accuracy and precision in the estimated model parameters (correlation above 0.9). We believe that the availability of such ultrafast algorithms will help to accelerate the spread of microstructure imaging to larger cohorts of patients and to study a wider spectrum of neurological disorders. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of microstructure on the elasto-viscoplastic deformation of dual phase titanium structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozturk, Tugce; Rollett, Anthony D.

2018-02-01

The present study is devoted to the creation of a process-structure-property database for dual phase titanium alloys, through a synthetic microstructure generation method and a mesh-free fast Fourier transform based micromechanical model that operates on a discretized image of the microstructure. A sensitivity analysis is performed as a precursor to determine the statistically representative volume element size for creating 3D synthetic microstructures based on additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V characteristics, which are further modified to expand the database for features of interest, e.g., lath thickness. Sets of titanium hardening parameters are extracted from literature, and The relative effect of the chosen microstructural features is quantified through comparisons of average and local field distributions.

Clinical feasibility of using mean apparent propagator (MAP) MRI to characterize brain tissue microstructure.

PubMed

Avram, Alexandru V; Sarlls, Joelle E; Barnett, Alan S; Özarslan, Evren; Thomas, Cibu; Irfanoglu, M Okan; Hutchinson, Elizabeth; Pierpaoli, Carlo; Basser, Peter J

2016-02-15

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is the most widely used method for characterizing noninvasively structural and architectural features of brain tissues. However, the assumption of a Gaussian spin displacement distribution intrinsic to DTI weakens its ability to describe intricate tissue microanatomy. Consequently, the biological interpretation of microstructural parameters, such as fractional anisotropy or mean diffusivity, is often equivocal. We evaluate the clinical feasibility of assessing brain tissue microstructure with mean apparent propagator (MAP) MRI, a powerful analytical framework that efficiently measures the probability density function (PDF) of spin displacements and quantifies useful metrics of this PDF indicative of diffusion in complex microstructure (e.g., restrictions, multiple compartments). Rotation invariant and scalar parameters computed from the MAP show consistent variation across neuroanatomical brain regions and increased ability to differentiate tissues with distinct structural and architectural features compared with DTI-derived parameters. The return-to-origin probability (RTOP) appears to reflect cellularity and restrictions better than MD, while the non-Gaussianity (NG) measures diffusion heterogeneity by comprehensively quantifying the deviation between the spin displacement PDF and its Gaussian approximation. Both RTOP and NG can be decomposed in the local anatomical frame for reference determined by the orientation of the diffusion tensor and reveal additional information complementary to DTI. The propagator anisotropy (PA) shows high tissue contrast even in deep brain nuclei and cortical gray matter and is more uniform in white matter than the FA, which drops significantly in regions containing crossing fibers. Orientational profiles of the propagator computed analytically from the MAP MRI series coefficients allow separation of different fiber populations in regions of crossing white matter pathways, which in turn improves our ability to perform whole-brain fiber tractography. Reconstructions from subsampled data sets suggest that MAP MRI parameters can be computed from a relatively small number of DWIs acquired with high b-value and good signal-to-noise ratio in clinically achievable scan durations of less than 10min. The neuroanatomical consistency across healthy subjects and reproducibility in test-retest experiments of MAP MRI microstructural parameters further substantiate the robustness and clinical feasibility of this technique. The MAP MRI metrics could potentially provide more sensitive clinical biomarkers with increased pathophysiological specificity compared to microstructural measures derived using conventional diffusion MRI techniques. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Magnetic field control of microstructural development in melt-spun Pr 2 Co 14 B

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGuire, Michael A.; Rios, Orlando; Conner, Ben S.

In the processing of commercial rare earth permanent magnets, use of external magnetic fields is limited mainly to the alignment of anisotropic particles and the polarization of the finished magnets. Here we explore the effects of high magnetic fields on earlier stages of magnet synthesis, including the crystallization and chemical phase transformations that produce the 2:14:1 phase in the Pr-Co-B system. Pr 2Co 14B alloys produced by melt-spinning were annealed in the presence of strong applied magnetic fields (H=90 kOe). The resulting materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetization measurements. We find that magnetic fields suppress themore » nucleation and growth of crystalline phases, resulting in significantly smaller particle sizes. In addition, magnetic fields applied during processing strongly affects chemical phase selection, suppressing the formation of Pr 2Co 14B and α-Co in favor of Pr 2Co 17. Here, the results demonstrate that increased control over key microstructural properties is achievable by including a strong magnetic field as a processing parameter for rare-earth magnet materials.« less

Magnetic field control of microstructural development in melt-spun Pr 2 Co 14 B

DOE PAGES

McGuire, Michael A.; Rios, Orlando; Conner, Ben S.; ...

2017-01-27

In the processing of commercial rare earth permanent magnets, use of external magnetic fields is limited mainly to the alignment of anisotropic particles and the polarization of the finished magnets. Here we explore the effects of high magnetic fields on earlier stages of magnet synthesis, including the crystallization and chemical phase transformations that produce the 2:14:1 phase in the Pr-Co-B system. Pr 2Co 14B alloys produced by melt-spinning were annealed in the presence of strong applied magnetic fields (H=90 kOe). The resulting materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetization measurements. We find that magnetic fields suppress themore » nucleation and growth of crystalline phases, resulting in significantly smaller particle sizes. In addition, magnetic fields applied during processing strongly affects chemical phase selection, suppressing the formation of Pr 2Co 14B and α-Co in favor of Pr 2Co 17. Here, the results demonstrate that increased control over key microstructural properties is achievable by including a strong magnetic field as a processing parameter for rare-earth magnet materials.« less

Modeling of Processing-Induced Pore Morphology in an Additively-Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

PubMed Central

Kabir, Mohammad Rizviul; Richter, Henning

2017-01-01

A selective laser melting (SLM)-based, additively-manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloy is prone to the accumulation of undesirable defects during layer-by-layer material build-up. Defects in the form of complex-shaped pores are one of the critical issues that need to be considered during the processing of this alloy. Depending on the process parameters, pores with concave or convex boundaries may occur. To exploit the full potential of additively-manufactured Ti-6Al-4V, the interdependency between the process parameters, pore morphology, and resultant mechanical properties, needs to be understood. By incorporating morphological details into numerical models for micromechanical analyses, an in-depth understanding of how these pores interact with the Ti-6Al-4V microstructure can be gained. However, available models for pore analysis lack a realistic description of both the Ti-6Al-4V grain microstructure, and the pore geometry. To overcome this, we propose a comprehensive approach for modeling and discretizing pores with complex geometry, situated in a polycrystalline microstructure. In this approach, the polycrystalline microstructure is modeled by means of Voronoi tessellations, and the complex pore geometry is approximated by strategically combining overlapping spheres of varied sizes. The proposed approach provides an elegant way to model the microstructure of SLM-processed Ti-6Al-4V containing pores or crack-like voids, and makes it possible to investigate the relationship between process parameters, pore morphology, and resultant mechanical properties in a finite-element-based simulation framework. PMID:28772504

Modeling of Processing-Induced Pore Morphology in an Additively-Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Alloy.

PubMed

Kabir, Mohammad Rizviul; Richter, Henning

2017-02-08

A selective laser melting (SLM)-based, additively-manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloy is prone to the accumulation of undesirable defects during layer-by-layer material build-up. Defects in the form of complex-shaped pores are one of the critical issues that need to be considered during the processing of this alloy. Depending on the process parameters, pores with concave or convex boundaries may occur. To exploit the full potential of additively-manufactured Ti-6Al-4V, the interdependency between the process parameters, pore morphology, and resultant mechanical properties, needs to be understood. By incorporating morphological details into numerical models for micromechanical analyses, an in-depth understanding of how these pores interact with the Ti-6Al-4V microstructure can be gained. However, available models for pore analysis lack a realistic description of both the Ti-6Al-4V grain microstructure, and the pore geometry. To overcome this, we propose a comprehensive approach for modeling and discretizing pores with complex geometry, situated in a polycrystalline microstructure. In this approach, the polycrystalline microstructure is modeled by means of Voronoi tessellations, and the complex pore geometry is approximated by strategically combining overlapping spheres of varied sizes. The proposed approach provides an elegant way to model the microstructure of SLM-processed Ti-6Al-4V containing pores or crack-like voids, and makes it possible to investigate the relationship between process parameters, pore morphology, and resultant mechanical properties in a finite-element-based simulation framework.

Dissecting the mechanism of martensitic transformation via atomic-scale observations.

PubMed

Yang, Xu-Sheng; Sun, Sheng; Wu, Xiao-Lei; Ma, Evan; Zhang, Tong-Yi

2014-08-21

Martensitic transformation plays a pivotal role in the microstructural evolution and plasticity of many engineering materials. However, so far the underlying atomic processes that accomplish the displacive transformation have been obscured by the difficulty in directly observing key microstructural signatures on atomic scale. To resolve this long-standing problem, here we examine an AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel that has a strain/microstructure-gradient induced by surface mechanical attrition, which allowed us to capture in one sample all the key interphase regions generated during the γ(fcc) → ε(hcp) → α'(bcc) transition, a prototypical case of deformation induced martensitic transformation (DIMT). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations confirm the crucial role of partial dislocations, and reveal tell-tale features including the lattice rotation of the α' martensite inclusion, the transition lattices at the ε/α' interfaces that cater the shears, and the excess reverse shear-shuffling induced γ necks in the ε martensite plates. These direct observations verify for the first time the 50-year-old Bogers-Burgers-Olson-Cohen (BBOC) model, and enrich our understanding of DIMT mechanisms. Our findings have implications for improved microstructural control in metals and alloys.

Dissecting the Mechanism of Martensitic Transformation via Atomic-Scale Observations

PubMed Central

Yang, Xu-Sheng; Sun, Sheng; Wu, Xiao-Lei; Ma, Evan; Zhang, Tong-Yi

2014-01-01

Martensitic transformation plays a pivotal role in the microstructural evolution and plasticity of many engineering materials. However, so far the underlying atomic processes that accomplish the displacive transformation have been obscured by the difficulty in directly observing key microstructural signatures on atomic scale. To resolve this long-standing problem, here we examine an AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel that has a strain/microstructure-gradient induced by surface mechanical attrition, which allowed us to capture in one sample all the key interphase regions generated during the γ(fcc) → ε(hcp) → α′(bcc) transition, a prototypical case of deformation induced martensitic transformation (DIMT). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations confirm the crucial role of partial dislocations, and reveal tell-tale features including the lattice rotation of the α′ martensite inclusion, the transition lattices at the ε/α′ interfaces that cater the shears, and the excess reverse shear-shuffling induced γ necks in the ε martensite plates. These direct observations verify for the first time the 50-year-old Bogers-Burgers-Olson-Cohen (BBOC) model, and enrich our understanding of DIMT mechanisms. Our findings have implications for improved microstructural control in metals and alloys. PMID:25142283

Finite element analysis of the upsetting of a 5056 aluminum alloy sample with consideration of its microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voronin, S. V.; Chaplygin, K. K.

2017-12-01

Computer simulation of upsetting the finite element models (FEMs) of an isotropic 5056 aluminum alloy sample and a 5056 aluminum alloy sample with consideration of microstructure is carried out. The stress and strain distribution patterns at different process stages are obtained. The strain required for the deformation of the FEMs of 5056 alloy samples is determined. The influence of the material microstructure on the stress-strain behavior and technological parameters are demonstrated.

MaRIE: Probing Dynamic Processes in Soft Materials Using Advanced Light Sources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sykora, Milan; Kober, Edward Martin

Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a concept for a new research facility, MaRIE: Matter-Radiation Interactions in Extremes. The key motivation for MaRIE is to develop new experimental capabilities needed to fill the existing gaps in our fundamental understanding of materials important for key National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) goals. MaRIE will bring two major new capabilities: (a) the ability to characterize the meso- and microstructure of materials in bulk as well as local dynamic response characteristics, and (b) the ability to characterize how this microstructure evolves under NNSA-relevant conditions and impacts the material’s performance in this regime.

High-Resolution Characterization of UMo Alloy Microstructure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Devaraj, Arun; Kovarik, Libor; Joshi, Vineet V.

2016-11-30

This report highlights the capabilities and procedure for high-resolution characterization of UMo fuels in PNNL. Uranium-molybdenum (UMo) fuel processing steps, from casting to forming final fuel, directly affect the microstructure of the fuel, which in turn dictates the in-reactor performance of the fuel under irradiation. In order to understand the influence of processing on UMo microstructure, microstructure characterization techniques are necessary. Higher-resolution characterization techniques like transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) are needed to interrogate the details of the microstructure. The findings from TEM and APT are also directly beneficial for developing predictive multiscale modeling tools thatmore » can predict the microstructure as a function of process parameters. This report provides background on focused-ion-beam–based TEM and APT sample preparation, TEM and APT analysis procedures, and the unique information achievable through such advanced characterization capabilities for UMo fuels, from a fuel fabrication capability viewpoint.« less

Effect of electrochemical corrosion on the subsurface microstructure evolution of a CoCrMo alloy in albumin containing environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhongwei; Yan, Yu; Su, Yanjing; Qiao, Lijie

2017-06-01

The subsurface microstructures of metallic implants play a key role in bio-tribocorrosion. Due to wear or change of local environment, the implant surface can have inhomogeneous electrochemical corrosion properties. In this work, the effect of electrochemical corrosion conditions on the subsurface microstructure evolution of CoCrMo alloys for artificial joints was investigated. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was employed to observe the subsurface microstructures of worn areas at different applied potentials in a simulated physiological solution. The results showed that applied potentials could affect the severity of the subsurface deformation not only by changing the surface passivation but also affecting the adsorption of protein on the alloy surface.

A Bottom-Up Optimization Approach for Friction Stir Welding Parameters of Dissimilar AA2024-T351 and AA7075-T651 Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anil Kumar, K. S.; Murigendrappa, S. M.; Kumar, Hemantha

2017-07-01

In the present study, optimum friction stir weld parameters such as plunge depth, tool rotation speed and traverse speed for butt weld of dissimilar aluminum alloy plates, typically 2024-T351 and 7075-T651, are investigated using a bottom-up approach. In the approach, optimum FSW parameters are achieved by varying any one parameter for every trial while remaining parameters are kept constant. The specimens are extracted from the friction stir-welded plates for studying the tensile, hardness and microstructure properties. Optimum friction stir weld individual parameters are selected based on the highest ultimate tensile strength of the friction stir-welded butt joint specimens produced by varying in each case one parameter and keeping the other two constant. The microstructure samples were investigated for presence of defects, grain refinement at the weld nugget (WN), bonding between the two materials and interface of WN, TMAZ (thermomechanically affected zone) of both advancing and retreating sides of the dissimilar joints using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses. In the experimental investigations, the optimum FSW parameters such as plunge depth, 6.2 mm, rotation speed, 650 rpm and traverse speed of 150 mm/min result in ultimate tensile strength, 435 MPa, yield strength, 290 MPa, weld joint efficiency, 92% and maximum elongation, 13%. The microstructure of optimized sample in the WN region revealed alternate lamellae material flow pattern with better metallurgical properties, defect free and very fine equiaxed grain size of about 3-5 µm.

Microstructural Quantification, Property Prediction, and Stochastic Reconstruction of Heterogeneous Materials Using Limited X-Ray Tomography Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hechao

An accurate knowledge of the complex microstructure of a heterogeneous material is crucial for quantitative structure-property relations establishment and its performance prediction and optimization. X-ray tomography has provided a non-destructive means for microstructure characterization in both 3D and 4D (i.e., structural evolution over time). Traditional reconstruction algorithms like filtered-back-projection (FBP) method or algebraic reconstruction techniques (ART) require huge number of tomographic projections and segmentation process before conducting microstructural quantification. This can be quite time consuming and computationally intensive. In this thesis, a novel procedure is first presented that allows one to directly extract key structural information in forms of spatial correlation functions from limited x-ray tomography data. The key component of the procedure is the computation of a "probability map", which provides the probability of an arbitrary point in the material system belonging to specific phase. The correlation functions of interest are then readily computed from the probability map. Using effective medium theory, accurate predictions of physical properties (e.g., elastic moduli) can be obtained. Secondly, a stochastic optimization procedure that enables one to accurately reconstruct material microstructure from a small number of x-ray tomographic projections (e.g., 20 - 40) is presented. Moreover, a stochastic procedure for multi-modal data fusion is proposed, where both X-ray projections and correlation functions computed from limited 2D optical images are fused to accurately reconstruct complex heterogeneous materials in 3D. This multi-modal reconstruction algorithm is proved to be able to integrate the complementary data to perform an excellent optimization procedure, which indicates its high efficiency in using limited structural information. Finally, the accuracy of the stochastic reconstruction procedure using limited X-ray projection data is ascertained by analyzing the microstructural degeneracy and the roughness of energy landscape associated with different number of projections. Ground-state degeneracy of a microstructure is found to decrease with increasing number of projections, which indicates a higher probability that the reconstructed configurations match the actual microstructure. The roughness of energy landscape can also provide information about the complexity and convergence behavior of the reconstruction for given microstructures and projection number.

Projection par plasma de depots de dioxyde de titane: Contribution a l'etude de leurs microstructures et proprietes electriques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Branland, Nadege

2002-04-01

The aim of this PhD work is, thanks to particle parameters (velocity and temperature) characterization, to try to understand the influence of plasma spray parameters on titania coating microstructures and the influence of the latter one on their electrical resistivity, for the same substrate conditions. The experimental approach has consisted in using two plasma spraying processes (Arc plasma spraying and Inductive plasma spraying) which have permitted to obtain a broad range of particle velocities and temperatures leading to coatings with specific microstructures. Despite the stoichiometry of the starting powder, all coatings obtained were grey, the oxygen loss increasing with the particle temperature. Isolating the stoichiometry influence has permitted to show that the decrease of the coatings electrical resistivity is especially due to the decrease of the number of bad interlamellar contacts.

Nonlinear acoustics experimental characterization of microstructure evolution in Inconel 617

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Xiaochu; Liu, Yang; Lissenden, Cliff J.

2014-02-01

Inconel 617 is a candidate material for the intermediate heat exchanger in a very high temperature reactor for the next generation nuclear power plant. This application will require the material to withstand fatigue-ratcheting interaction at temperatures up to 950°C. Therefore nondestructive evaluation and structural health monitoring are important capabilities. Acoustic nonlinearity (which is quantified in terms of a material parameter, the acoustic nonlinearity parameter, β) has been proven to be sensitive to microstructural changes in material. This research develops a robust experimental procedure to track the evolution of damage precursors in laboratory tested Inconel 617 specimens using ultrasonic bulk waves. The results from the acoustic non-linear tests are compared with stereoscope surface damage results. Therefore, the relationship between acoustic nonlinearity and microstructural evaluation can be clearly demonstrated for the specimens tested.

No differences in brain microstructure between young KIBRA-C carriers and non-carriers.

PubMed

Hu, Li; Xu, Qunxing; Li, Jizhen; Wang, Feifei; Xu, Xinghua; Sun, Zhiyuan; Ma, Xiangxing; Liu, Yong; Wang, Qing; Wang, Dawei

2018-01-02

KIBRA rs17070145 polymorphism is associated with variations in memory function and the microstructure of related brain areas. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) as an extension of diffusion tensor imaging that can provide more information about changes in microstructure, based on the idea that water diffusion in biological tissues is heterogeneous due to structural hindrance and restriction. We used DKI to explore the relationship between KIBRA gene polymorphism and brain microstructure in young adults. We recruited 100 healthy young volunteers, including 53 TT carriers and 47 C allele carriers. No differences were detected between the TT homozygotes and C-allele carriers for any diffusion and kurtosis parameter. These results indicate KIBRA rs17070145 polymorphism likely has little or no effect on brain microstructure in young adults.

Modelling of Microstructure Changes in Hot Deformed Materials Using Cellular Automata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuc, Dariusz; Gawąd, Jerzy

2011-01-01

The paper is focused on application of multi-scale 2D method. Model approach consists of Cellular Automata (CA) model of microstructure development and the finite element code to solve thermo-mechanical problem. Dynamic recrystallization phenomenon is taken into account in 2D CA model which takes advantage of explicit representation of microstructure, including individual grains and grain boundaries. Flow stress is the main material parameter in mechanical part of FE and is calculated on the basis of average dislocation density obtained from CA model. The results attained from the model were validated with the experimental data. In the present study, austenitic steel X3CrNi18-10 was investigated. The examination of microstructure for the initial and final microstructures was carried out, using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

A Design of Experiments Approach Defining the Relationships Between Processing and Microstructure for Ti-6Al-4V

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallace, Terryl A.; Bey, Kim S.; Taminger, Karen M. B.; Hafley, Robert A.

2004-01-01

A study was conducted to evaluate the relative significance of input parameters on Ti- 6Al-4V deposits produced by an electron beam free form fabrication process under development at the NASA Langley Research Center. Five input parameters where chosen (beam voltage, beam current, translation speed, wire feed rate, and beam focus), and a design of experiments (DOE) approach was used to develop a set of 16 experiments to evaluate the relative importance of these parameters on the resulting deposits. Both single-bead and multi-bead stacks were fabricated using 16 combinations, and the resulting heights and widths of the stack deposits were measured. The resulting microstructures were also characterized to determine the impact of these parameters on the size of the melt pool and heat affected zone. The relative importance of each input parameter on the height and width of the multi-bead stacks will be discussed. .

Multi-length scale tomography for the determination and optimization of the effective microstructural properties in novel hierarchical solid oxide fuel cell anodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xuekun; Taiwo, Oluwadamilola O.; Bertei, Antonio; Li, Tao; Li, Kang; Brett, Dan J. L.; Shearing, Paul R.

2017-11-01

Effective microstructural properties are critical in determining the electrochemical performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), particularly when operating at high current densities. A novel tubular SOFC anode with a hierarchical microstructure, composed of self-organized micro-channels and sponge-like regions, has been fabricated by a phase inversion technique to mitigate concentration losses. However, since pore sizes span over two orders of magnitude, the determination of the effective transport parameters using image-based techniques remains challenging. Pioneering steps are made in this study to characterize and optimize the microstructure by coupling multi-length scale 3D tomography and modeling. The results conclusively show that embedding finger-like micro-channels into the tubular anode can improve the mass transport by 250% and the permeability by 2-3 orders of magnitude. Our parametric study shows that increasing the porosity in the spongy layer beyond 10% enhances the effective transport parameters of the spongy layer at an exponential rate, but linearly for the full anode. For the first time, local and global mass transport properties are correlated to the microstructure, which is of wide interest for rationalizing the design optimization of SOFC electrodes and more generally for hierarchical materials in batteries and membranes.

Additive Manufacturing of Metastable Beta Titanium Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yannetta, Christopher J.

Additive manufacturing processes of many alloys are known to develop texture during the deposition process due to the rapid reheating and the directionality of the dissipation of heat. Titanium alloys and with respect to this study beta titanium alloys are especially susceptible to these effects. This work examines Ti-20wt%V and Ti-12wt%Mo deposited under normal additive manufacturing process parameters to examine the texture of these beta-stabilized alloys. Both microstructures contained columnar prior beta grains 1-2 mm in length beginning at the substrate with no visible equiaxed grains. This microstructure remained constant in the vanadium system throughout the build. The microstructure of the alloy containing molybdenum changed from a columnar to an equiaxed structure as the build height increased. Eighteen additional samples of the Ti-Mo system were created under different processing parameters to identify what role laser power and travel speed have on the microstructure. There appears to be a correlation in alpha lath size and power density. The two binary alloys were again deposited under the same conditions with the addition of 0.5wt% boron to investigate the effects an insoluble interstitial alloying element would have on the microstructure. The size of the prior beta grains in these two alloys were reduced with the addition of boron by approximately 50 (V) and 100 (Mo) times.

Representation of microstructural features and magnetic anisotropy of electrical steels in an energy-based vector hysteresis model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacques, Kevin; Steentjes, Simon; Henrotte, François; Geuzaine, Christophe; Hameyer, Kay

2018-04-01

This paper demonstrates how the statistical distribution of pinning fields in a ferromagnetic material can be identified systematically from standard magnetic measurements, Epstein frame or Single Sheet Tester (SST). The correlation between the pinning field distribution and microstructural parameters of the material is then analyzed.

Prediction of Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams for Dual-Phase Steels from the Intercritical Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colla, V.; Desanctis, M.; Dimatteo, A.; Lovicu, G.; Valentini, R.

2011-09-01

The purpose of the present work is the implementation and validation of a model able to predict the microstructure changes and the mechanical properties in the modern high-strength dual-phase steels after the continuous annealing process line (CAPL) and galvanizing (Galv) process. Experimental continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams for 13 differently alloying dual-phase steels were measured by dilatometry from the intercritical range and were used to tune the parameters of the microstructural prediction module of the model. Mechanical properties and microstructural features were measured for more than 400 dual-phase steels simulating the CAPL and Galv industrial process, and the results were used to construct the mechanical model that predicts mechanical properties from microstructural features, chemistry, and process parameters. The model was validated and proved its efficiency in reproducing the transformation kinetic and mechanical properties of dual-phase steels produced by typical industrial process. Although it is limited to the dual-phase grades and chemical compositions explored, this model will constitute a useful tool for the steel industry.

A Microstructurally Inspired Damage Model for Early Venous Thrombus

PubMed Central

Rausch, Manuel K.; Humphrey, Jay D.

2015-01-01

Accumulative damage may be an important contributor to many cases of thrombotic disease progression. Thus, a complete understanding of the pathological role of thrombus requires an understanding of its mechanics and in particular mechanical consequences of damage. In the current study, we introduce a novel microstructurally inspired constitutive model for thrombus that considers a non-uniform distribution of microstructural fibers at various crimp levels and employs one of the distribution parameters to incorporate stretch-driven damage on the microscopic level. To demonstrate its ability to represent the mechanical behavior of thrombus, including a recently reported Mullins type damage phenomenon, we fit our model to uniaxial tensile test data of early venous thrombus. Our model shows an agreement with these data comparable to previous models for damage in elastomers with the added advantages of a microstructural basis and fewer model parameters. We submit that our novel approach marks another important step toward modeling the evolving mechanics of intraluminal thrombus, specifically its damage, and hope it will aid in the study of physiological and pathological thrombotic events. PMID:26523784

Microstructural characterization, petrophysics and upscaling - from porous media to fractural media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, J.; Liu, K.; Regenauer-Lieb, K.

2017-12-01

We present an integrated study for the characterization of complex geometry, fluid transport features and mechanical deformation at micro-scale and the upscaling of properties using microtomographic data: We show how to integrate microstructural characterization by the volume fraction, specific surface area, connectivity (percolation), shape and orientation of microstructures with identification of individual fractures from a 3D fractural network. In a first step we use stochastic analyses of microstructures to determine the geometric RVE (representative volume element) of samples. We proceed by determining the size of a thermodynamic RVE by computing upper/lower bounds of entropy production through Finite Element (FE) analyses on a series of models with increasing sizes. The minimum size for thermodynamic RVE's is identified on the basis of the convergence criteria of the FE simulations. Petrophysical properties (permeability and mechanical parameters, including plastic strength) are then computed numerically if thermodynamic convergence criteria are fulfilled. Upscaling of properties is performed by means of percolation theory. The percolation threshold is detected by using a shrinking/expanding algorithm on static micro-CT images of rocks. Parameters of the scaling laws can be extracted from quantitative analyses and/or numerical simulations on a series of models with similar structures but different porosities close to the percolation threshold. Different rock samples are analyzed. Characterizing parameters of porous/fractural rocks are obtained. Synthetic derivative models of the microstructure are used to estimate the relationships between porosity and mechanical properties. Results obtained from synthetic sandstones show that yield stress, cohesion and the angle of friction are linearly proportional to porosity. Our integrated study shows that digital rock technology can provide meaningful parameters for effective upscaling if thermodynamic volume averaging satisfies the convergence criteria. For strongly heterogeneous rocks, however, thermodynamic convergence criteria may not meet; a continuum approach cannot be justified in this case.

The Effects of Bismuth Oxide on Microstructures and Magnetic Properties of Mn-Mg-Al Ferrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nekouee, Kh. A.; Rahimi, A. H.; Haghighi, M. Alineghad; Ehsani, N.

2018-04-01

In the present paper, the effects of bismuth oxide as an additive on microstructure and magnetic properties of Mg0.9Mn0.1Al0.4Fe1.6O4 were investigated. Mg-Mn-Al ferrite powders were prepared by the conventional solid state synthesis method. Two different amounts of bismuth oxide (2.5 wt.% and 5 wt.%) were utilized as the sintering aid and their microstructure and physical properties were compared to those of the sample without additives. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that crystal lattice distortion due to the microstructural constraints as the result from incorporation of bismuth oxide into the microstructure was developed by adding bismuth oxide. XRD Rietveld refinement was used to define the cation distribution and to refine the lattice parameter and oxygen parameter for the sample without bismuth oxide as (Mg0.16Mn0.02Al0.15Fe0.77)A(Mg0.74Mn0.08Al0.25Fe0.83)BO4 and 8.3308 Å and 0.2542, respectively. Microstructure studies show that a bismuth rich liquid phase forms during the sintering at 1250°C, which enhances the densification of sintered bodies up to 13% (a relative density of 93%). Magnetization of sintered samples were increased from 21.1 emu/g to 26.2 emu/g upon addition of 2.5 wt.% bismuth oxide and then decreased to 24.9 emu/g when 5 wt.% bismuth oxide was added.

Experimental and model based investigation of the links between snow bidirectional reflectance and snow microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumont, M.; Flin, F.; Malinka, A.; Brissaud, O.; Hagenmuller, P.; Dufour, A.; Lapalus, P.; Lesaffre, B.; Calonne, N.; Rolland du Roscoat, S.; Ando, E.

2017-12-01

Snow optical properties are unique among Earth surface and crucial for a wide range of applications. The bi-directional reflectance, hereafter BRDF, of snow is sensible to snow microstructure. However the complex interplays between different parameters of snow microstructure namely size parameters and shape parameters on reflectance are challenging to disentangle both theoretically and experimentally. An accurate understanding and modelling of snow BRDF is required to correctly process satellite data. BRDF measurements might also provide means of characterizing snow morphology. This study presents one of the very few dataset that combined bi-directional reflectance measurements over 500-2500 nm and X-ray tomography of the snow microstructure for three different snow samples and two snow types. The dataset is used to evaluate the approach from Malinka, 2014 that relates snow optical properties to the chord length distribution in the snow microstructure. For low and medium absorption, the model accurately reproduces the measurements but tends to slightly overestimate the anisotropy of the reflectance. The model indicates that the deviation of the ice chord length distribution from an exponential distribution, that can be understood as a characterization of snow types, does not impact the reflectance for such absorptions. The simulations are also impacted by the uncertainties in the ice refractive index values. At high absorption and high viewing/incident zenith angle, the simulations and the measurements disagree indicating that some of the assumptions made in the model are not met anymore. The study also indicates that crystal habits might play a significant role for the reflectance under such geometries and wavelengths. However quantitative relationship between crystal habits and reflectance alongside with potential optical methodologies to classify snow morphology would require an extended dataset over more snow types. This extended dataset can likely be obtained thanks to the use of ray tracing models on tomography images of the snow microstructure.

Nano-Sized Grain Refinement Using Friction Stir Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

friction stir weld is a very fine grain microstructure produced as a result of dynamic recrystallization. The friction stir ... Friction Stir Processing, Magnesium, Nano-size grains Abstract A key characteristic of a friction stir weld is a very fine grain microstructure...state process developed on the basis of the friction stir welding (FSW) technique invented by The Welding Institute (TWI) in 1991 [2]. During

Effect of Hypoeutectic Boron Additions on the Grain Size and Mechanical Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Manufactured with Powder Bed Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahbooba, Zaynab; West, Harvey; Harrysson, Ola; Wojcieszynski, Andrzej; Dehoff, Ryan; Nandwana, Peeyush; Horn, Timothy

2017-03-01

In additive manufacturing, microstructural control is feasible via processing parameter alteration. However, the window for parameter variation for certain materials, such as Ti-6Al-4V, is limited, and alternative methods must be employed to customize microstructures. Grain refinement and homogenization in cast titanium alloys has been demonstrated through the addition of hypoeutectic concentrations of boron. This work explores the influence of 0.00 wt.%, 0.25 wt.%, 0.50 wt.%, and 1.0 wt.% boron additions on the microstructure and bulk mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V samples fabricated in an Arcam A2 electron beam melting (EBM) system with commercial processing parameters for Ti-6Al-4V. Analyses of EBM fabricated Ti-6Al-4V + B indicate that the addition of 0.25-1.0 wt.% boron progressively refines the grain structure, and it improves hardness and elastic modulus. Despite a reduction in size, the β grain structure remained columnar as a result of directional heat transfer during EBM fabrication.

Effect of processing parameters on reaction bonding of silicon nitride

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richman, M. H.; Gregory, O. J.; Magida, M. B.

1980-01-01

Reaction bonded silicon nitride was developed. The relationship between the various processing parameters and the resulting microstructures was to design and synthesize reaction bonded materials with improved room temperature mechanical properties.

How far are rheological parameters from amplitude sweep tests predictable using common physicochemical soil properties?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stoppe, N.; Horn, R.

2017-01-01

A basic understanding of soil behavior on the mesoscale resp. macroscale (i.e. soil aggregates resp. bulk soil) requires knowledge of the processes at the microscale (i.e. particle scale), therefore rheological investigations of natural soils receive growing attention. In the present research homogenized and sieved (< 2 mm) samples from Marshland soils of the riparian zone of the River Elbe (North Germany) were analyzed with a modular compact rheometer MCR 300 (Anton Paar, Ostfildern, Germany) with a profiled parallel-plate measuring system. Amplitude sweep tests (AST) with controlled shear deformation were conducted to investigate the viscoelastic properties of the studied soils under oszillatory stress. The gradual depletion of microstructural stiffness during AST cannot only be characterized by the well-known rheological parameters G, G″ and tan δ but also by the dimensionless area parameter integral z, which quantifies the elasticity of microstructure. To discover the physicochemical parameters, which influences the microstructural stiffness, statistical tests were used taking the combined effects of these parameters into account. Although the influence of the individual factors varies depending on soil texture, the physicochemical features significantly affecting soil micro structure were identified. Based on the determined statistical relationships between rheological and physicochemical parameters, pedotransfer functions (PTF) have been developed, which allow a mathematical estimation of the rheological target value integral z. Thus, stabilizing factors are: soil organic matter, concentration of Ca2+, content of CaCO3 and pedogenic iron oxides; whereas the concentration of Na+ and water content represent structurally unfavorable factors.

Multi-scale modeling of microstructure dependent intergranular brittle fracture using a quantitative phase-field based method

DOE PAGES

Chakraborty, Pritam; Zhang, Yongfeng; Tonks, Michael R.

2015-12-07

In this study, the fracture behavior of brittle materials is strongly influenced by their underlying microstructure that needs explicit consideration for accurate prediction of fracture properties and the associated scatter. In this work, a hierarchical multi-scale approach is pursued to model microstructure sensitive brittle fracture. A quantitative phase-field based fracture model is utilized to capture the complex crack growth behavior in the microstructure and the related parameters are calibrated from lower length scale atomistic simulations instead of engineering scale experimental data. The workability of this approach is demonstrated by performing porosity dependent intergranular fracture simulations in UO 2 and comparingmore » the predictions with experiments.« less

Microstructures and properties of rapidly solidified alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shechtman, D.; Horowitz, E.

1984-01-01

The microstructure and properties of rapidly solidified aluminum alloys were researched. The effects of powder and flake chemistry and morphology and alternative consolidation processing parameters are being conducted. Samples of the powders being utilized were obtained for comprehensive metallurgical characterization. Seven aluminum alloys in the form of thin foils were studied by a variety of techniques including optical metallography, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. Details of the microstructural characteristics are presented along with a discussion of the solidification process. A better understanding of the microstructure of the rapidly solidified aluminum alloys prepared by a variety of techniques such as roller quenching, the vacuum atomized procedure, ultrasonically atomized in inert atmospheres, and atomized in flue gas was provided.

Multi-scale modeling of microstructure dependent intergranular brittle fracture using a quantitative phase-field based method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chakraborty, Pritam; Zhang, Yongfeng; Tonks, Michael R.

In this study, the fracture behavior of brittle materials is strongly influenced by their underlying microstructure that needs explicit consideration for accurate prediction of fracture properties and the associated scatter. In this work, a hierarchical multi-scale approach is pursued to model microstructure sensitive brittle fracture. A quantitative phase-field based fracture model is utilized to capture the complex crack growth behavior in the microstructure and the related parameters are calibrated from lower length scale atomistic simulations instead of engineering scale experimental data. The workability of this approach is demonstrated by performing porosity dependent intergranular fracture simulations in UO 2 and comparingmore » the predictions with experiments.« less

Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Graphene-Based Nanoarchitectures for Sustainability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bay, Hamed Hosseini

The unique structure and properties of graphene initiated broad fundamental and technological research in recent years, and highlighted graphene as an alternative for various applications such as energy storage and nanoelectronics. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of graphene on copper is believed to be the most promising method for large-scale synthesis of continuous sheets. The exceptional properties of graphene however, are governed by its microstructure. The size of graphene grains and the grain boundaries affect the carrier mobility. Therefore understanding the formation mechanism of graphene is critical to control the microstructure and physical properties. We implemented Fluorescence Quenching Microscopy (FQM) in conjunction with other methods to understand a trend which is pertinent in large-scale. In order to investigate the nucleation and growth mechanism of graphene on copper and its subsequent microstructure, effect of key parameters such as density of defects in copper foils and growth pressure in the CVD chamber have been altered. Results point out that microstructure of copper regulates the structure and properties of graphene and heat treatment and electropolishing of the foil substrates as well as controlling the saturation pressure of the carbon precursor yield to large graphene domains. Water decontamination and oil/water separation are principal motives in the surge to develop novel means for sustainability. In this prospect, supplying clean water for the ecosystems is as important as the recovery of the oil spills since the supplies are scarce. Inspired to design an engineering material which not only serves this purpose, but can also be altered for other applications to preserve natural resources, a facile template-free process is suggested to fabricate a superporous, superhydrophobic graphene-based sponge. Moreover, the process is designed to be inexpensive and scalable. The fabricated sponge can be used to clean up different types of oil, organic solvents, toxic and corrosive contaminants. This versatile microstructure can retain its functionality even when pulverized. The sponge is applicable for targeted sorption and collection due to its ferromagnetic properties. We hope that such cost-effective process can be embraced and implemented widely.

The influence of build parameters on the microstructure during electron beam melting of Titanium6Aluminum4Vanadium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puebla, Karina

With the demand of devices to replace or improve areas, such as: electronic, biomedical and aerospace industries. Improvements in these areas of engineering have been in need due to the customer's needs for product properties requirements. The design of components must exhibit better material properties (mechanical or biocompatible) close to those of any given product. Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies that were originally designed to build prototypes may now be required to build functional end-use products. To carry out the transition, from RP to rapid manufacturing (RM), the available materials utilized in RP must provide the performance required for RM. The specific technology being used should be capable of producing reliable parts in regards to their mechanical properties. The research presented in this work investigated the effects of building parameters (build orientation and melt scan rate) on microstructure and the mechanical properties of test specimens fabricated via Electron Beam Melting (EBM) using Ti6Al4V. EBM, a rapid prototyping technology, has the potential to manufacture complex 3-dimensional end-use products layer-by-layer. In this work, a design of experiments approach was performed to determine the effects of build orientation and melt scan rate on both the microstructure and mechanical properties of test samples fabricated using EBM. Two randomized setups were designed to build two batches of 18 specimens. The experimental designs were carried out to determine the effect of different build parameters (build orientation and melt scan rate) in the mechanical properties of the fabricated specimens. The results demonstrated that EBM manufactured specimens built with different melt scan rates and build orientations have different microstructures and mechanical properties. Different melt scans produced variations in particle sintering resulting in dissimilar porosities and in mechanical properties (hardness and tensile testing). The mechanical properties decreased as the porosity increased for tensile testing and Rockwell C-scale (HR C), while Vickers hardness (HV) measurements increased and are related to the microstructure. The different build orientations of the specimens produced different mechanical properties since the orientation of the fabricated specimens impact the local heat transfer flow. This influenced the microstructure where the specimens oriented horizontally cooled more rapidly than those built vertically. Statistically significant differences in mechanical properties were found as an effect of melt scan rate. The statistical analyses that were done can help identify and classify fabrication parameters on mechanical properties for EBM-fabricated products. Optical images demonstrated the presence of alpha and beta phases, and alpha'-martensite with slight differences in microstructure. Dislocation substructures were observed in acicular alpha-plates from TEM images and alpha, beta, and alpha'-phase features. Mechanical and thermal treatment on Ti6Al4V can generate different microstructures promoting Ti6Al4V as an evolutionary alloy. Tailored mechanical properties of complex 3-dimensional end-use products can be achieved by modifying the building parameters of the EBM system. The EBM system can facilitate the process of manufacturing components by varying build parameters in order to obtain desirable physical and mechanical properties. Once the desired properties for Ti6Al4V are established, the fabrication process will lead to more successful end-use products.

X-ray and optical crystallographic parameters investigations of high frequency induction melted Al-(alpha-Al(2)O(3)) alloys.

PubMed

Bourbia, A; Draissia, M; Bedboudi, H; Boulkhessaim, S; Debili, M Y

2010-01-01

This article deals with the microstructural strengthening mechanisms of aluminium by means of hard alpha-Al(2)O(3) alumina fine particles. A broad of understanding views covering materials preparations, elaboration process, characterization techniques and associated microstructural characteristic parameters measurements is given. In order to investigate the microstructural characteristic parameters and the mechanical strengthening mechanisms of pure aluminium by hard fine particles, a set of Al-(alpha-Al(2)O(3)) alloys samples were made under vacuum by high fusion temperature melting, the high frequency (HF) process, and rapidly solidified under ambient temperature from a mixture of cold-compacted high-pure fine Al and alpha-Al(2)O(3) powders. The as-solidified Al-(alpha-Al(2)O(3)) alloys were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, optical microscopy observations and Vickers microhardness tests in both brut and heat-treated states. It was found that the as-solidified HF Al-(alpha-Al(2)O(3)) alloys with compositions below 4 wt.% (alpha-Al(2)O(3)) are single-phase microstructures of the solid solution FCC Al phase and over two-phase microstructures of the solid solution FCC Al and the Rhombohedral alpha-Al(2)O(3) phases. The optical micrographs reveal the presence of a grain size refinement in these alloys. Vickers microhardness of the as-solidified Al-(alpha-Al(2)O(3)) is increased by means of pure fine alpha-Al(2)O(3) alumina particles. These combined effects of strengthening and grain size refinement observed in the as-solidified Al-(alpha-Al(2)O(3)) alloys are essentially due to a strengthening of Al by the alpha-Al(2)O(3) alumina particles insertion in the (HF) melted and rapidly solidified alloys.

The effect of microstructure on 650 C fatigue crack growth in P/M Astroloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gayda, J.; Miner, R. V.

1983-01-01

The effect of microstructure on fatigue crack propagation at 650 C has been studied in a P/M nickel-base superalloy, Astroloy. Crack propagation data were obtained in air and vacuum at 20 cpm with a modified compact tension specimen. The rate of crack growth, da/dn, was correlated with the stress intensity range. Key microstructural variables examined were grain size and the distribution and size of the strengthening gamma prime phase. A fine grain size less than 20 microns always promoted rapid, intergranular failure, while a large grain size promoted slower, transgranular failure which decreased as the size and volume fraction of aging gamma prime was manipulated so as to increase alloy strength. The rapid, intergranular mode of failure of the fine grain microstructures was suppressed in vacuum.

Microstructure of cotton fibrous assemblies based on computed tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, Hui; Yu, Weidong

2017-12-01

This paper describes for the first time the analysis of inner microstructure of cotton fibrous assemblies using computed tomography. Microstructure parameters such as packing density, fractal dimension as well as porosity including open porosity, closed porosity and total porosity are calculated based on 2D data from computed tomography. Values of packing density and fractal dimension are stable in random oriented fibrous assemblies, and there exists a satisfactory approximate linear relationship between them. Moreover, poles analysis indicates that porosity represents the tightness of fibrous assemblies and open poles are main existence.

Textural analysis of optical coherence tomography skin images: quantitative differentiation between healthy and cancerous tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adabi, Saba; Conforto, Silvia; Hosseinzadeh, Matin; Noe, Shahryar; Daveluy, Steven; Mehregan, Darius; Nasiriavanaki, Mohammadreza

2017-02-01

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) offers real-time high-resolution three-dimensional images of tissue microstructures. In this study, we used OCT skin images acquired from ten volunteers, neither of whom had any skin conditions addressing the features of their anatomic location. OCT segmented images are analyzed based on their optical properties (attenuation coefficient) and textural image features e.g., contrast, correlation, homogeneity, energy, entropy, etc. Utilizing the information and referring to their clinical insight, we aim to make a comprehensive computational model for the healthy skin. The derived parameters represent the OCT microstructural morphology and might provide biological information for generating an atlas of normal skin from different anatomic sites of human skin and may allow for identification of cell microstructural changes in cancer patients. We then compared the parameters of healthy samples with those of abnormal skin and classified them using a linear Support Vector Machines (SVM) with 82% accuracy.

On flaw tolerance of nacre: a theoretical study

PubMed Central

Shao, Yue; Zhao, Hong-Ping; Feng, Xi-Qiao

2014-01-01

As a natural composite, nacre has an elegant staggered ‘brick-and-mortar’ microstructure consisting of mineral platelets glued by organic macromolecules, which endows the material with superior mechanical properties to achieve its biological functions. In this paper, a microstructure-based crack-bridging model is employed to investigate how the strength of nacre is affected by pre-existing structural defects. Our analysis demonstrates that owing to its special microstructure and the toughening effect of platelets, nacre has a superior flaw-tolerance feature. The maximal crack size that does not evidently reduce the tensile strength of nacre is up to tens of micrometres, about three orders higher than that of pure aragonite. Through dimensional analysis, a non-dimensional parameter is proposed to quantify the flaw-tolerance ability of nacreous materials in a wide range of structural parameters. This study provides us some inspirations for optimal design of advanced biomimetic composites. PMID:24402917

Understanding self ion damage in FCC Ni-Cr-Fe based alloy using X-ray diffraction techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halder Banerjee, R.; Sengupta, P.; Chatterjee, A.; Mishra, S. C.; Bhukta, A.; Satyam, P. V.; Samajdar, I.; Dey, G. K.

2018-04-01

Using X-ray diffraction line profile analysis (XRDLPA) approach the radiation response of FCC Ni-Cr-Fe based alloy 690 to 1.5 and 3 MeV Ni2+ ion damage was quantified in terms of its microstructural parameters. These microstructural parameters viz. average domain size, microstrain and dislocation density were found to vary anisotropically with fluence. The anisotropic behaviour is mainly attributable to presence of twins in pre-irradiated microstructure. After irradiation, surface roughness increases as a function of fluence attributable to change in surface and sub-surface morphology caused by displacement cascade, defects and sputtered atoms created by incident energetic ion. The radiation hardening in case of 1.5 MeV Ni2+ irradiated specimens too is a consequence of the increase in dislocation density formed by interaction of radiation induced defects with pre-existing dislocations. At highest fluence there is an initiation of saturation.

Correlating the internal length in strain gradient plasticity theory with the microstructure of material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jianfeng; Zhang, Xu; Konstantinidis, Avraam A.; Kang, Guozheng

2015-06-01

The internal length is the governing parameter in strain gradient theories which among other things have been used successfully to interpret size effects at the microscale. Physically, the internal length is supposed to be related with the microstructure of the material and evolves during the deformation. Based on Taylor hardening law, we propose a power-law relationship to describe the evolution of the variable internal length with strain. Then, the classical Fleck-Hutchinson strain gradient theory is extended with a strain-dependent internal length, and the generalized Fleck-Hutchinson theory is confirmed here, by comparing our model predictions to recent experimental data on tension and torsion of thin wires with varying diameter and grain size. Our work suggests that the internal length is a configuration-dependent parameter, closely related to dislocation characteristics and grain size, as well as sample geometry when this affects either the underlying microstructure or the ductility of the material.

White Matter Microstructure Predicts Autistic Traits in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooper, Miriam; Thapar, Anita; Jones, Derek K.

2014-01-01

Traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have previously been found to index clinical severity. This study examined the association of ASD traits with diffusion parameters in adolescent males with ADHD (n = 17), and also compared WM microstructure relative to controls (n = 17).…

Correlation between the physical parameters of the i-nc-Si absorber layer grown by 27.12 MHz plasma with the nc-Si solar cell parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Debajyoti; Mondal, Praloy

2017-09-01

Growth of highly conducting nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) thin films of optimum crystalline volume fraction, involving dominant <220> crystallographic preferred orientation with simultaneous low fraction of microstructures at a low substrate temperature and high growth rate, is a challenging task for its promising utilization in nc-Si solar cells. Utilizing enhanced electron density and superior ion flux densities of the high frequency (∼27.12 MHz) SiH4 plasma, improved nc-Si films have been produced by simple optimization of H2-dilution, controlling the ion damage and enhancing supply of atomic-hydrogen onto the growing surface. Single junction nc-Si p-i-n solar cells have been prepared with i-nc-Si absorber layer and optimized. The physical parameters of the absorber layer have been systematically correlated to variations of the solar cell parameters. The preferred <220> alignment of crystallites, its contribution to the low recombination losses for conduction of charge carriers along the vertical direction, its spectroscopic correlation with the dominant growth of ultra-nanocrystalline silicon (unc-Si) component and corresponding longer wavelength absorption, especially in the neighborhood of i/n-interface region recognize scientific and technological key issues that pave the ground for imminent advancement of multi-junction silicon solar cells.

Modeling of the Coupling of Microstructure and Macrosegregation in a Direct Chill Cast Al-Cu Billet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heyvaert, Laurent; Bedel, Marie; Založnik, Miha; Combeau, Hervé

2017-10-01

The macroscopic multiphase flow and the growth of the solidification microstructures in the mushy zone of a direct chill (DC) casting are closely coupled. These couplings are the key to the understanding of the formation of the macrosegregation and of the non-uniform microstructure of the casting. In the present paper we use a multiphase and multiscale model to provide a fully coupled picture of the links between macrosegregation and microstructure in a DC cast billet. The model describes nucleation from inoculant particles and growth of dendritic and globular equiaxed crystal grains, fully coupled with macroscopic transport phenomena: fluid flow induced by natural convection and solidification shrinkage, heat, mass, and solute mass transport, motion of free-floating equiaxed grains, and of grain refiner particles. We compare our simulations to experiments on grain-refined and non-grain-refined industrial size billets from literature. We show that a transition between dendritic and globular grain morphology triggered by the grain refinement is the key to the explanation of the differences between the macrosegregation patterns in the two billets. We further show that the grain size and morphology are strongly affected by the macroscopic transport of free-floating equiaxed grains and of grain refiner particles.

Microstructure of Tablet-Pharmaceutical Significance, Assessment, and Engineering.

PubMed

Sun, Changquan Calvin

2017-05-01

To summarize the microstructure - property relationship of pharmaceutical tablets and approaches to improve tablet properties through tablet microstructure engineering. The main topics reviewed here include: 1) influence of material properties and manufacturing process parameters on the evolution of tablet microstructure; 2) impact of tablet structure on tablet properties; 3) assessment of tablet microstructure; 4) development and engineering of tablet microstructure. Microstructure plays a decisive role on important pharmaceutical properties of a tablet, such as disintegration, drug release, and mechanical strength. Useful information on mechanical properties of a powder can be obtained from analyzing tablet porosity-pressure data. When helium pycnometry fails to accurately measure true density of a water-containing powder, non-linear regression of tablet density-pressure data is a useful alternative method. A component that is more uniformly distributed in a tablet generally exerts more influence on the overall tablet properties. During formulation development, it is highly recommended to examine the relationship between any property of interest and tablet porosity when possible. Tablet microstructure can be engineered by judicious selection of formulation composition, including the use of the optimum solid form of the drug and appropriate type and amount of excipients, and controlling manufacturing process.

Experimental study of grain interactions on rolling texture development in face-centered cubic metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar Ray, Atish

There exists considerable debate in the texture community about whether grain interactions are a necessary factor to explain the development of deformation textures in polycrystalline metals. Computer simulations indicate that grain interactions play a significant role, while experimental evidence shows that the material type and starting orientation are more important in the development of texture and microstructure. A balanced review of the literature on face-centered cubic metals shows that the opposing viewpoints have developed due to the lack of any complete experimental study which considers both the intrinsic (material type and starting orientation) and extrinsic (grain interaction) factors. In this study, a novel method was developed to assemble ideally orientated crystalline aggregates in 99.99% aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu) to experimentally evaluate the effect of grain interactions on room temperature deformation texture. Ideal orientations relevant to face-centered cubic rolling textures, Cube {100} <001>, Goss {110} <001>, Brass {110} <11¯2> and Copper {112} <111¯> were paired in different combinations and deformed by plane strain compression to moderate strain levels of 1.0 to 1.5. Orientation dependent mechanical behavior was distinguishable from that of the neighbor-influenced behavior. In interacting crystals the constraint on the rolling direction shear strains (gammaXY , gammaXZ) was found to be most critical to show the effect of interactions via the evolution of local microstructure and microtexture. Interacting crystals with increasing deformations were observed to gradually rotate towards the S-component, {123} <634>. Apart from the average lattice reorientations, the interacting crystals also developed strong long-range orientation gradients inside the bulk of the crystal, which were identified as accumulating misorientations across the deformation boundaries. Based on a statistical procedure using quaternions, the orientation and interaction related heterogeneous deformations were characterized by three principal component vectors and their respective eigenvalues for both the orientation and misorientation distributions. For the case of a medium stacking fault energy metal like Cu, the texture and microstructure development depends wholly on the starting orientations. Microstructural instabilities in Cu are explained through a local slip clustering process, and the possible role of grain interactions on such instabilities is proposed. In contrast, the texture and microstructure development in a high stacking fault energy metal like Al is found to be dependent on the grain interactions. In general, orientation, grain interaction and material type were found to be key factors in the development of rolling textures in face-centered cubic metals and alloys. Moreso, in the texture development not any single parameter can be held responsible, rather, the interdependency of each of the three parameters must be considered. In this frame-work polycrystalline grains can be classified into four types according to their stability and susceptibility during deformation.

Mapping the coupled role of structure and materials in mechanics of platelet-matrix composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farzanian, Shafee; Shahsavari, Rouzbeh

2018-03-01

Despite significant progresses on understanding and mimicking the delicate nano/microstructure of biomaterials such as nacre, decoding the indistinguishable merger of materials and structures in controlling the tradeoff in mechanical properties has been long an engineering pursuit. Herein, we focus on an archetype platelet-matrix composite and perform ∼400 nonlinear finite element simulations to decode the complex interplay between various structural features and material characteristics in conferring the balance of mechanical properties. We study various combinatorial models expressed by four key dimensionless parameters, i.e. characteristic platelet length, matrix plasticity, platelet dissimilarity, and overlap offset, whose effects are all condensed in a new unifying parameter, defined as the multiplication of strength, toughness, and stiffness over composite volume. This parameter, which maximizes at a critical characteristic length, controls the transition from intrinsic toughening (matrix plasticity driven without crack growths) to extrinsic toughening phenomena involving progressive crack propagations. This finding, combined with various abstract volumetric and radar plots, will not only shed light on decoupling the complex role of structure and materials on mechanical performance and their trends, but provides important guidelines for designing lightweight staggered platelet-matrix composites while ensuring the best (balance) of their mechanical properties.

Longitudinal development of thalamic and internal capsule microstructure in autism spectrum disorder.

PubMed

McLaughlin, Kristine; Travers, Brittany G; Dadalko, Olga I; Dean, Douglas C; Tromp, Do; Adluru, Nagesh; Destiche, Daniel; Freeman, Abigail; Prigge, Molly D; Froehlich, Alyson; Duffield, Tyler C; Zielinski, Brandon A; Bigler, Erin D; Lange, Nicholas; Anderson, Jeff S; Alexander, Andrew L; Lainhart, Janet E

2018-03-01

The thalamus is a key sensorimotor relay area that is implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unknown how the thalamus and white-matter structures that contain thalamo-cortical fiber connections (e.g., the internal capsule) develop from childhood into adulthood and whether this microstructure relates to basic motor challenges in ASD. We used diffusion weighted imaging in a cohort-sequential design to assess longitudinal development of the thalamus, and posterior- and anterior-limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC and ALIC, respectively) in 89 males with ASD and 56 males with typical development (3-41 years; all verbal). Our results showed that the group with ASD exhibited different developmental trajectories of microstructure in all regions, demonstrating childhood group differences that appeared to approach and, in some cases, surpass the typically developing group in adolescence and adulthood. The PLIC (but not ALIC nor thalamus) mediated the relation between age and finger-tapping speed in both groups. Yet, the gap in finger-tapping speed appeared to widen at the same time that the between-group gap in the PLIC appeared to narrow. Overall, these results suggest that childhood group differences in microstructure of the thalamus and PLIC become less robust in adolescence and adulthood. Further, finger-tapping speed appears to be mediated by the PLIC in both groups, but group differences in motor speed that widen during adolescence and adulthood suggest that factors beyond the microstructure of the thalamus and internal capsule may contribute to atypical motor profiles in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 450-462. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microstructure of the thalamus, a key sensory and motor brain area, appears to develop differently in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Microstructure is important because it informs us of the density and organization of different brain tissues. During childhood, thalamic microstructure was distinct in the ASD group compared to the typically developing group. However, these group differences appeared to narrow with age, suggesting that the thalamus continues to dynamically change in ASD into adulthood. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Microstructure based hygromechanical modelling of deformation of fruit tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abera, M. K.; Wang, Z.; Verboven, P.; Nicolai, B.

2017-10-01

Quality parameters such as firmness and susceptibility to mechanical damage are affected by the mechanical properties of fruit tissue. Fruit tissue is composed of turgid cells that keep cell walls under tension, and intercellular gas spaces where cell walls of neighboring cells have separated. How the structure and properties of these complex microstructures are affecting tissue mechanics is difficult to unravel experimentally. In this contribution, a modelling methodology is presented to calculate the deformation of apple fruit tissue affected by differences in structure and properties of cells and cell walls. The model can be used to perform compression experiments in silico using a hygromechanical model that computes the stress development and water loss during tissue deformation, much like in an actual compression test. The advantage of the model is that properties and structure can be changed to test the influence on the mechanical deformation process. The effect of microstructure, turgor pressure, cell membrane permeability, wall thickness and damping) on the compressibility of the tissue was simulated. Increasing the turgor pressure and thickness of the cell walls results in increased compression resistance of apple tissue increases, as do decreasing cell size and porosity. Geometric variability of the microstructure of tissues plays a major role, affecting results more than other model parameters. Different fruit cultivars were compared, and it was demonstrated, that microstructure variations within a cultivar are so large that interpretation of cultivar-specific effects is difficult.

Kinetics of bacterial phospholipase C activity at micellar interfaces: effect of substrate aggregate microstructure and a model for the kinetic parameters.

PubMed

Singh, Jasmeet; Ranganathan, Radha; Hajdu, Joseph

2008-12-25

Activity at micellar interfaces of bacterial phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus on phospholipids solubilized in micelles was investigated with the goal of elucidating the role of the interface microstructure and developing further an existing kinetic model. Enzyme kinetics and physicochemical characterization of model substrate aggregates were combined, thus enabling the interpretation of kinetics in the context of the interface. Substrates were diacylphosphatidylcholine of different acyl chain lengths in the form of mixed micelles with dodecyldimethylammoniopropanesulfonate. An early kinetic model, reformulated to reflect the interfacial nature of the kinetics, was applied to the kinetic data. A better method of data treatment is proposed, use of which makes the presence of microstructure effects quite transparent. Models for enzyme-micelle binding and enzyme-lipid binding are developed, and expressions incorporating the microstructural properties are derived for the enzyme-micelle dissociation constant K(s) and the interface Michaelis-Menten constant, K(M). Use of these expressions in the interface kinetic model brings excellent agreement between the kinetic data and the model. Numerical values for the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters are determined. Enzyme-lipid binding is found to be an activated process with an acyl chain length dependent free energy of activation that decreases with micelle lipid molar fraction with a coefficient of about -15RT and correlates with the tightness of molecular packing in the substrate aggregate. Thus, the physical insight obtained includes a model for the kinetic parameters that shows that these parameters depend on the substrate concentration and acyl chain length of the lipid. Enzyme-micelle binding is indicated to be hydrophobic and solvent mediated with a dissociation constant of 1.2 mM.

Determination of Microstructural Parameters of Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite Prepared by Mechanical Alloying Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joughehdoust, Sedigheh; Manafi, Sahebali

2011-12-01

Hydroxyapatite [HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] is chemically similar to the mineral component of bones and hard tissues. HA can support bone ingrowth and osseointegration when used in orthopaedic, dental and maxillofacial applications. In this research, HA nanostructure was synthesized by mechanical alloying method. Phase development, particle size and morphology of HA were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, zetasizer instrument, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. XRD pattern has been used to determination of the microstructural parameters (crystallite size, lattice parameters and crystallinity percent) by Williamson-Hall equation, Nelson-Riley method and calculating the areas under the peaks, respectively. The crystallite size and particle size of HA powders were in nanometric scales. SEM images showed that some parts of HA particles have agglomerates. The ratio of lattice parameters of synthetic hydroxyapatite (c/a = 0.73) was determined in this study is the same as natural hydroxyapatite structure.

Study of the Effect of Modes of Electroerosion Treatment on the Microstructure and Accuracy of Precision Sizes of Small Parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korobova, N. V.; Aksenenko, A. Yu.; Bashevskaya, O. S.; Nikitin, A. A.

2016-01-01

Results of a study of the effect of the parameters of electroerosion treatment in a GF Agie Charmilles CUT 1000 OilTech wire-cutting bench on the size accuracy, the quality of the surface layer of cuts, and the microstructure of the surface of the treated parts are presented.

In-depth quantitative analysis of the microstructures produced by Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samih, Y., E-mail: youssef.samih@univ-lorraine.fr; Université de Lorraine, Laboratory of Excellence on Design of Alloy Metals for low-mAss Structures; Beausir, B.

2013-09-15

Electron BackScattered Diffraction (EBSD) maps are used to characterize quantitatively the graded microstructure formed by Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) and applied here to the 316L stainless steel. In particular, the analysis of GNDs – coupled with relevant and reliable criteria – was used to depict the thickness of each zone identified in the SMAT-affected layers: (i) the “ultrafine grain” (UFG) zone present at the extreme top surface, (ii), the “transition zone” where grains were fragmented under the heavy plastic deformation and, finally, (iii) the “deformed zone” where initial grains are simply deformed. The interest of this procedure is illustratedmore » through the comparative analysis of the effect of some SMAT processing parameters (amplitude of vibration and treatment duration). The UFG and transition zones are more significantly modified than the overall affected thickness under our tested conditions. - Highlights: • EBSD maps are used to characterize quantitatively the microstructure of SMAT treated samples. • Calculation of the GND density to quantify strain gradients • A new method to depict the different zone thicknesses in the SMAT affected layer • Effects of SMAT processing parameters on the surface microstructure evolution.« less

Parameters of glucose metabolism and the aging brain: a magnetization transfer imaging study of brain macro- and micro-structure in older adults without diabetes.

PubMed

Akintola, Abimbola A; van den Berg, Annette; Altmann-Schneider, Irmhild; Jansen, Steffy W; van Buchem, Mark A; Slagboom, P Eline; Westendorp, Rudi G; van Heemst, Diana; van der Grond, Jeroen

2015-08-01

Given the concurrent, escalating epidemic of diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases, two age-related disorders, we aimed to understand the relation between parameters of glucose metabolism and indices of pathology in the aging brain. From the Leiden Longevity Study, 132 participants (mean age 66 years) underwent a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test to assess glucose tolerance (fasted and area under the curve (AUC) glucose), insulin sensitivity (fasted and AUC insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS)) and insulin secretion (insulinogenic index). 3-T brain MRI was used to detect macro-structural damage (atrophy, white matter hyper-intensities, infarcts and/or micro-bleeds) and magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) to detect loss of micro-structural homogeneity that remains otherwise invisible on conventional MRI. Macro-structurally, higher fasted glucose was significantly associated with white matter atrophy (P = 0.028). Micro-structurally, decreased magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) peak height in gray matter was associated with higher fasted insulin (P = 0.010), AUCinsulin (P = 0.001), insulinogenic index (P = 0.008) and lower HOMA-IS index (P < 0.001). Similar significant associations were found for white matter. Thus, while higher glucose was associated with macro-structural damage, impaired insulin action was associated more strongly with reduced micro-structural brain parenchymal homogeneity. These findings offer some insight into the association between different parameters of glucose metabolism (impairment of which is characteristic of diabetes mellitus) and brain aging.

Material and morphology parameter sensitivity analysis in particulate composite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiaoyu; Oskay, Caglar

2017-12-01

This manuscript presents a novel parameter sensitivity analysis framework for damage and failure modeling of particulate composite materials subjected to dynamic loading. The proposed framework employs global sensitivity analysis to study the variance in the failure response as a function of model parameters. In view of the computational complexity of performing thousands of detailed microstructural simulations to characterize sensitivities, Gaussian process (GP) surrogate modeling is incorporated into the framework. In order to capture the discontinuity in response surfaces, the GP models are integrated with a support vector machine classification algorithm that identifies the discontinuities within response surfaces. The proposed framework is employed to quantify variability and sensitivities in the failure response of polymer bonded particulate energetic materials under dynamic loads to material properties and morphological parameters that define the material microstructure. Particular emphasis is placed on the identification of sensitivity to interfaces between the polymer binder and the energetic particles. The proposed framework has been demonstrated to identify the most consequential material and morphological parameters under vibrational and impact loads.

Analysis conditions of an industrial Al-Mg-Si alloy by conventional and 3D atom probes.

PubMed

Danoix, F; Miller, M K; Bigot, A

2001-10-01

Industrial 6016 Al-Mg-Si(Cu) alloys are presently regarded as attractive candidates for heat treatable sheet materials. Their mechanical properties can be adjusted for a given application by age hardening of the alloys. The resulting microstructural evolution takes place at the nanometer scale, making the atom probe a well suited instrument to study it. Accuracy of atom probe analysis of these aluminium alloys is a key point for the understanding of the fine scale microstructural evolution. It is known to be strongly dependent on the analysis conditions (such as specimen temperature and pulse fraction) which have been widely studied for ID atom probes. The development of the 3D instruments, as well as the increase of the evaporation pulse repetition rate have led to different analysis conditions, in particular evaporation and detection rates. The influence of various experimental parameters on the accuracy of atom probe data, in particular with regard to hydride formation sensitivity, has been reinvestigated. It is shown that hydrogen contamination is strongly dependent on the electric field at the specimen surface, and that high evaporation rates are beneficial. Conversely, detection rate must be limited to smaller than 0.02 atoms/pulse in order to prevent drastic pile-up effect.

TiO2/bone composite materials for the separation of heavy metal impurities from waste water solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dakroury, G.; Labib, Sh.; Abou El-Nour, F. H.

2012-09-01

Pure bone material obtained from cow meat, as apatite-rich material, and TiO2-bone composite materials are prepared and studied to be used for heavy metal ions separation from waste water solutions. Meat wastes are chemically and thermally treated to control their microstructure in order to prepare the composite materials that fulfill all the requirements to be used as selective membranes with high performance, stability and mechanical strength. The prepared materials are analyzed using Hg-porosimetry for surface characterization, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) for elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for chemical composition investigation. Structural studies are performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructural properties are studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specific surface area studies are performed using Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) method. XRD studies show that multiphase structures are obtained as a result of 1h sintering at 700-1200 °C for both pure bone and TiO2-bone composite materials. The factors affecting the transport of different heavy metal ions through the selected membranes are determined from permeation flux measurements. It is found that membrane pore size, membrane surface roughness and membrane surface charge are the key parameters that control the transport or rejection of heavy metal ions through the selected membranes.

Wide-field high spatial frequency domain imaging of tissue microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Weihao; Zeng, Bixin; Cao, Zili; Zhu, Danfeng; Xu, M.

2018-02-01

Wide-field tissue imaging is usually not capable of resolving tissue microstructure. We present High Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (HSFDI) - a noncontact imaging modality that spatially maps the tissue microscopic scattering structures over a large field of view. Based on an analytical reflectance model of sub-diffusive light from forward-peaked highly scattering media, HSFDI quantifies the spatially-resolved parameters of the light scattering phase function from the reflectance of structured light modulated at high spatial frequencies. We have demonstrated with ex vivo cancerous tissue to validate the robustness of HSFDI in significant contrast and differentiation of the microstructutral parameters between different types and disease states of tissue.

Effect of hypoeutectic boron additions on the grain size and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V manufactured with powder bed electron beam additive manufacturing

DOE PAGES

Mahbooba, Zaynab; West, Harvey; Harrysson, Ola; ...

2016-12-02

In additive manufacturing, microstructural control is feasible via processing parameter alteration. However, the window for parameter variation for certain materials, such as Ti-6Al-4V, is limited, and alternative methods must be employed to customize microstructures. Grain refinement and homogenization in cast titanium alloys has been demonstrated through the addition of hypoeutectic concentrations of boron. This work explores the influence of 0.00 wt.%, 0.25 wt.%, 0.50 wt.%, and 1.0 wt.% boron additions on the microstructure and bulk mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V samples fabricated in an Arcam A2 electron beam melting (EBM) system with commercial processing parameters for Ti-6Al-4V. Analyses of EBM fabricatedmore » Ti-6Al-4V + B indicate that the addition of 0.25–1.0 wt.% boron progressively refines the grain structure, and it improves hardness and elastic modulus. Furthermore, despite a reduction in size, the β grain structure remained columnar as a result of directional heat transfer during EBM fabrication.« less

Microstructural Influence on Mechanical Properties in Plasma Microwelding of Ti6Al4V Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baruah, M.; Bag, S.

2016-11-01

The complexity of joining Ti6Al4V alloy enhances with reduction in sheet thickness. The present work puts emphasis on microplasma arc welding (MPAW) of 500-μm-thick Ti6Al4V alloy in butt joint configuration. Using controlled and regulated arc current, the MPAW process is specifically designed to use in joining of thin sheet components over a wide range of process parameters. The weld quality is assessed by carefully controlling the process parameters and by reducing the formation of oxides. The combined effect of welding speed and current on the weld joint properties is evaluated for joining of Ti6Al4V alloy. The macro- and microstructural characterizations of the weldment by optical microscopy as well as the analysis of mechanical properties by microtensile and microhardness test have been performed. The weld joint quality is affected by specifically designed fixture that controls the oxidation of the joint and introduces high cooling rate. Hence, the solidified microstructure of welded specimen influences the mechanical properties of the joint. The butt joint of titanium alloy by MPAW at optimal process parameters is of very high quality, without any internal defects and with minimum residual distortion.

[The effect of technological parameters of wide-band laser cladding on microstructure and sinterability of gradient bioceramics composite coating].

PubMed

Liu, Qibin; Zhu, Weidong; Zou, Longjiang; Zheng, Min; Dong, Chuang

2005-12-01

The gradient bioceramics coating was prepared on the surface of Ti-6Al-4V alloy by using wide-band laser cladding. And the effect of technological parameters of wide-band laser cladding on microstructure and sinterability of gradient bioceramics composite coating was studied. The experimental results indicated that in the circumstances of size of laser doze D and scanning velocity V being fixed, with the increasement of power P, the density of microstructure in bioceramics coating gradually degraded; with the increasement of power P, the pore rate of bioceramics gradually became high. While P = 2.3 KW, the bioceramics coating with dense structure and lower pore rate (5.11%) was obtained; while P = 2.9 KW, the bioceramics coating with disappointing density was formed and its pore rate was up to 21.32%. The microhardness of bioceramics coating demonstrated that while P = 2.3 KW, the largest value of microhardness of bioceramics coating was 1100 HV. Under the condition of our research work, the optimum technological parameters for preparing gradient bioceramics coating by wide-band laser cladding are: P = 2.3 KW, V = 145 mm/min, D = 16 mm x 2 mm.

Surface effect investigation on multipactor in microwave components using the EM-PIC method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yun; Ye, Ming; He, Yong-Ning; Cui, Wan-Zhao; Wang, Dan

2017-11-01

Multipactor poses a great risk to microwave components in space and its accurate controllable suppression is still lacking. To evaluate the secondary electron emission (SEE) of arbitrary surface states on multipactor, metal samples fabricated with ideal smoothness, random roughness, and micro-structures on the surface are investigated through SEE experiments and multipactor simulations. An accurate quantitative relationship between the SEE parameters and the multipactor discharge threshold in practical components has been established through Electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell (EM-PIC) simulation. Simulation results of microwave components, including the impedance transformer and the coaxial filter, exhibit an intuitive correlation between the critical SEE parameters, varied due to different surface states, and multipactor thresholds. It is demonstrated that it is the surface micro-structures with certain depth and morphology that determine the average yield of secondaries, other than the random surface relieves. Both the random surface relieves and micro-structures have a scattering effect on SEE, and the yield is prone to be identical upon different elevation angles of incident electrons. It possesses a great potential in the optimization and improvement of suppression technology without the exhaustion of the technological parameter.

Effect of hypoeutectic boron additions on the grain size and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V manufactured with powder bed electron beam additive manufacturing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mahbooba, Zaynab; West, Harvey; Harrysson, Ola

In additive manufacturing, microstructural control is feasible via processing parameter alteration. However, the window for parameter variation for certain materials, such as Ti-6Al-4V, is limited, and alternative methods must be employed to customize microstructures. Grain refinement and homogenization in cast titanium alloys has been demonstrated through the addition of hypoeutectic concentrations of boron. This work explores the influence of 0.00 wt.%, 0.25 wt.%, 0.50 wt.%, and 1.0 wt.% boron additions on the microstructure and bulk mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V samples fabricated in an Arcam A2 electron beam melting (EBM) system with commercial processing parameters for Ti-6Al-4V. Analyses of EBM fabricatedmore » Ti-6Al-4V + B indicate that the addition of 0.25–1.0 wt.% boron progressively refines the grain structure, and it improves hardness and elastic modulus. Furthermore, despite a reduction in size, the β grain structure remained columnar as a result of directional heat transfer during EBM fabrication.« less

Impact of selected parameters on the development of boiling and flow resistance in the minichannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piasecka, Magdalena; Ziętala, Kinga

2015-05-01

The paper presents results of flow boiling in a rectangular minichannel 1 mm deep, 40 mm wide and 360 mm long. The heating element for FC-72 flowing in the minichannel was the thin alloy foil designated as Haynes-230. There was a microstructure on the side of the foil which comes into contact with fluid in the channel. Two types of microstructured heating surfaces: one with micro-recesses distributed evenly and another with mini-recesses distributed unevenly were used. The paper compares the impact of the microstructured heating surface and minichannel positions on the development of boiling and two phase flow pressure drop. The local heat transfer coefficients and flow resistance obtained in experiment using three positions of the minichannel, e.g.: 0°, 90° and 180° were analyzed. The study of the selected thermal and flow parameters (mass flux density and inlet pressure), geometric parameters and type of cooling liquid on the boiling heat transfer was also conducted. The most important factor turned out to be channel orientation. Application of the enhanced heating surface caused the increase of the heat transfer coefficient from several to several tens per cent, in relation to the plain surface.

Observation of asphalt binder microstructure with ESEM.

PubMed

Mikhailenko, P; Kadhim, H; Baaj, H; Tighe, S

2017-09-01

The observation of asphalt binder with the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) has shown the potential to observe asphalt binder microstructure and its evolution with binder aging. A procedure for the induction and identification of the microstructure in asphalt binder was established in this study and included sample preparation and observation parameters. A suitable heat-sampling asphalt binder sample preparation method was determined for the test and several stainless steel and Teflon sample moulds developed, finding that stainless steel was the preferable material. The magnification and ESEM settings conducive to observing the 3D microstructure were determined through a number of observations to be 1000×, although other magnifications could be considered. Both straight run binder (PG 58-28) and an air blown oxidised binder were analysed; their structures being compared for their relative size, abundance and other characteristics, showing a clear evolution in the fibril microstructure. The microstructure took longer to appear for the oxidised binder. It was confirmed that the fibril microstructure corresponded to actual characteristics in the asphalt binder. Additionally, a 'bee' micelle structure was found as a transitional structure in ESEM observation. The test methods in this study will be used for more comprehensive analysis of asphalt binder microstructure. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2017 Royal Microscopical Society.

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) of Aged CuCrZr Alloy Plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jha, Kaushal; Kumar, Santosh; Nachiket, K.; Bhanumurthy, K.; Dey, G. K.

2018-01-01

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) of Cu-0.80Cr-0.10Zr (in wt pct) alloy under aged condition was performed to study the effects of process parameters on microstructure and properties of the joint. FSW was performed over a wide range of process parameters, like tool-rotation speed (from 800 to 1200 rpm) and tool-travel speed (from 40 to 100 mm/min), and the resulting thermal cycles were recorded on both sides (advancing and retreating) of the joint. The joints were characterized for their microstructure and tensile properties. The welding process resulted in a sound and defect-free weld joint, over the entire range of the process parameters used in this study. Microstructure of the stir zone showed fine and equiaxed grains, the scale of which varied with FSW process parameters. Grain size in the stir zone showed direct correlation with tool rotation and inverse correlation with tool-travel speed. Tensile strength of the weld joints was ranging from 225 to 260 MPa, which is substantially lower than that of the parent metal under aged condition ( 400 MPa), but superior to that of the parent material under annealed condition ( 220 MPa). Lower strength of the FSW joint than that of the parent material under aged condition can be attributed to dissolution of the precipitates in the stir zone and TMAZ. These results are presented and discussed in this paper.

Effects of fabrication on the mechanics, microstructure and micromechanical environment of small intestinal submucosa scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering.

PubMed

Sánchez-Palencia, Diana M; D'Amore, Antonio; González-Mancera, Andrés; Wagner, William R; Briceño, Juan C

2014-08-22

In small intestinal submucosa scaffolds for functional tissue engineering, the impact of scaffold fabrication parameters on success rate may be related to the mechanotransductory properties of the final microstructural organization of collagen fibers. We hypothesized that two fabrication parameters, 1) preservation (P) or removal (R) of a dense collagen layer present in SIS and 2) SIS in a final dehydrated (D) or hydrated (H) state, have an effect on scaffold void area, microstructural anisotropy (fiber alignment) and mechanical anisotropy (global mechanical compliance). We further integrated our experimental measurements in a constitutive model to explore final effects on the micromechanical environment inside the scaffold volume. Our results indicated that PH scaffolds might exhibit recurrent and large force fluctuations between layers (up to 195 pN), while fluctuations in RH scaffolds might be larger (up to 256 pN) but not as recurrent. In contrast, both PD and RD groups were estimated to produce scarcer and smaller fluctuations (not larger than 50 pN). We concluded that the hydration parameter strongly affects the micromechanics of SIS and that an adequate choice of fabrication parameters, assisted by the herein developed method, might leverage the use of SIS for functional tissue engineering applications, where forces at the cellular level are of concern in the guidance of new tissue formation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phase field modeling of microstructure evolution and concomitant effective conductivity change in solid oxide fuel cell electrodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lei, Yinkai; Cheng, Tian -Le; Wen, You -Hai

Microstructure evolution plays an important role in the performance degradation of SOFC electrodes. In this work, we propose a much improved phase field model to simulate the microstructure evolution in the electrodes of solid oxide fuel cell. We demonstrate that the tunability of the interfacial energy in this model has been significantly enhanced. Parameters are set to fit for the interfacial energies of a typical Ni-YSZ anode, an LSM-YSZ cathode and an artificial reference electrode, respectively. The contact angles at various triple junctions and the microstructure evolutions in two dimensions are calibrated to verify the model. As a demonstration ofmore » the capabilities of the model, three dimensional microstructure evolutions are simulated applying the model to the three different electrodes. The time evolutions of grain size and triple phase boundary density are analyzed. In addition, a recently proposed bound charge successive approximation algorithm is employed to calculate the effective conductivity of the electrodes during microstructure evolution. Furthermore, the effective conductivity of all electrodes are found to decrease during the microstructure evolution, which is attributed to the increased tortuosity and the loss of percolated volume fraction of the electrode phase.« less

Phase field modeling of microstructure evolution and concomitant effective conductivity change in solid oxide fuel cell electrodes

DOE PAGES

Lei, Yinkai; Cheng, Tian -Le; Wen, You -Hai

2017-02-13

Microstructure evolution plays an important role in the performance degradation of SOFC electrodes. In this work, we propose a much improved phase field model to simulate the microstructure evolution in the electrodes of solid oxide fuel cell. We demonstrate that the tunability of the interfacial energy in this model has been significantly enhanced. Parameters are set to fit for the interfacial energies of a typical Ni-YSZ anode, an LSM-YSZ cathode and an artificial reference electrode, respectively. The contact angles at various triple junctions and the microstructure evolutions in two dimensions are calibrated to verify the model. As a demonstration ofmore » the capabilities of the model, three dimensional microstructure evolutions are simulated applying the model to the three different electrodes. The time evolutions of grain size and triple phase boundary density are analyzed. In addition, a recently proposed bound charge successive approximation algorithm is employed to calculate the effective conductivity of the electrodes during microstructure evolution. Furthermore, the effective conductivity of all electrodes are found to decrease during the microstructure evolution, which is attributed to the increased tortuosity and the loss of percolated volume fraction of the electrode phase.« less

FOREWORD: Heterogenous nucleation and microstructure formation—a scale- and system-bridging approach Heterogenous nucleation and microstructure formation—a scale- and system-bridging approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emmerich, H.

2009-11-01

Scope and aim of this volume. Nucleation and initial microstructure formation play an important role in almost all aspects of materials science [1-5]. The relevance of the prediction and control of nucleation and the subsequent microstructure formation is fully accepted across many areas of modern surface and materials science and technology. One reason is that a large range of material properties, from mechanical ones such as ductility and hardness to electrical and magnetic ones such as electric conductivity and magnetic hardness, depend largely on the specific crystalline structure that forms in nucleation and the subsequent initial microstructure growth. A very demonstrative example for the latter is the so called bamboo structure of an integrated circuit, for which resistance against electromigration [6] , a parallel alignment of grain boundaries vertical to the direction of electricity, is most favorable. Despite the large relevance of predicting and controlling nucleation and the subsequent microstructure formation, and despite significant progress in the experimental analysis of the later stages of crystal growth in line with new theoretical computer simulation concepts [7], details about the initial stages of solidification are still far from being satisfactorily understood. This is in particular true when the nucleation event occurs as heterogenous nucleation. The Priority Program SPP 1296 'Heterogenous Nucleation and Microstructure Formation—a Scale- and System-Bridging Approach' [8] sponsored by the German Research Foundation, DFG, intends to contribute to this open issue via a six year research program that enables approximately twenty research groups in Germany to work interdisciplinarily together following this goal. Moreover, it enables the participants to embed themselves in the international community which focuses on this issue via internationally open joint workshops, conferences and summer schools. An outline of such activities can be found in [8]. Furthermore, the honorable invitation to publish a special issue in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter dedicated to the Priority Program's topic allows the obtained results to be communicated to relevant international colleagues, which stimulates further interest and encourages future collaborations. The issue comprises the research results of the participants during the first two year period of the Priority Program as well as that of the international referees of the program. Now, what precisely is the research concept of the Priority Program and thus, what are the articles in this special issue dedicated to? Ever since the pioneering work of Volmer and Weber [9], Becker and Döring [10] as well as Turnbull and Fisher [11] nucleation has been modelled more or less phenomenologically. These traditional models describe nucleation by stochastic processes of single atoms, respectively, molecules, which attach at primary droplets. Those thereby growing droplets become stable by reaching a critical size. This concept has largely been employed to model thermal activated first-order phase transformations. However it contains basic weak points, which raises the question of its physical justification. For instance, the dependence of the interfacial free energy on the critical size of a nucleus is—from the point of view of recent experiments—not considered adequately. In the past years, several advances have been performed to put the modelling of nucleation and microstructure formation on a wider base [12-15]. Figure 1 Figure 1. Illustration of the interdisciplinary approach in the Research Priority Program 'Nucleation and Growth Kinetics in Colloids and Metals—Steps towards a Scale- and System-Bridging Understanding' [8]: to advance towards a system- and scale-bridging detailed understanding of the energetics and kinetics of heterogeneous nucleation and micro-structure formation, two different experimental (binary colloids and binary metallic alloys) model systems are investigated jointly by experimental scientists working with different experimental techniques together with theoreticians, whose expertise is likewise diverse, ranging from density functional theory (DFT), over molecular simulations (MC/MD) to the phase-field method and who at the same time aim at a rigorous connection of these methods. This sketch illustrates the different 'dimensions' of the interdisciplinary research setting of the Priority Program and thus underlying the articles in this issue. Still the comparison of these new approaches with experimental results leads to controversial conclusions [12, 16]. Hence the study and development of theoretical models for the understanding and in particular for the quantitative description of the heterogeneous nucleus- and microstructure-formation processes remains an open but successively more and more quantitatively approachable issue. The development of physically relevant models for nucleus- and initial microstructure-formation is based on reliable knowledge of key parameters as the interfacial energy between crystal nucleus and melt. The latter is still experimentally difficult to access in metallic systems due to limitations arising e.g. from non-transmittance of optical light. To accelerate the development of more quantitative models capable of addressing the open issues of heterogenous nucleation and microstructure formation further, it is therefore essential to find complementary experimental systems which are less limited in accessing the above key parameters than metals. For this reason, within the Priority Program 1296 'Heterogenous Nucleation and Microstructure Formation—a Scale- and System-Bridging Approach' [8], the emphasis is to investigate the energetics and kinetics of heterogeneous nucleation and microstructure-formation processes experimentally jointly with metals as well as colloids as mesoscopic model systems for these processes. Thereby the most comprehensive experimental picture shall be obtained. The research on colloidal systems is now at a point, at which it promises, in a symbiotic approach with metal physics, to make significant contributions to the identification of the above key parameters. So it has e.g. become possible to tune the interaction potential in colloids and thus to adjust it to display generic mechanisms of heterogeneous nucleation and microstructure-formation [17]. This offers several advantages compared to experimental investigations in metals: the crystallization of fluidic colloidal systems is much slower than the crystallization of metals. Moreover colloids are transparent in the field of optical light, so it is possible to study nucleation in situ by using novel optical research methods (confocal light microscopy)—thus, determining the above key parameters. For this reason the DFG Research Priority Program 1296 employs a system- and scale-bridging interdisciplinary scientific approach intended to thereby contribute to a comprehensive multiscale understanding of the basic mechanisms determining heterogenous nucleation and initial microstructure formation, which might successively be an applicable material system-independently. Initially its focus—and thus the focus of this issue—will be on the simplest types of model systems for heterogenous crystalline orders, on pure metals, binary metal alloys, and colloids. Theoretically and simulation based these systems are jointly studied based on density functional theory (DFT), molecular simulation methods (MC/MD) and the phase-field method at the same time aiming at a rigorous connection of these methods. The joint approach comprising theory and experiment is depicted in figure 1. More specifically the following questions are addressed and the first advances on these can be found in this issue: Heterogeneous nucleation: what does a critical nucleation grain look like? Does the classical concept of a contact angle make sense for heterogeneous nucleation? Can claims made about the dominant contributions to the nucleation barrier for heterogeneous nucleation, as they can be obtained from molecular simulations, be reconciled with results obtained via the phase-field method? What is the relation between interaction potentials and the relevant boundary energies? Transition from nucleus to microstructure: how does a microstructure develop out of a nucleus in the interplay between crystallization and segregation depending on the precise reference point in the phase diagram? How stable are those scenarios with respect to changes of that reference point? How well can these scenarios be reproduced via binary colloidal model systems? Microstructure development: what kind of consequences result from the new understanding of nucleation for the initial development of the microstructure? What kind of kinetic rules does the initial growth of the solidifying microstructure follow? Is it possible to identify conditions under which several microscopic morphologies of the same alloy composition are kinetically stable? This issue is organized as follows: it starts with three sections, where the main focus is on theoretical and simulation based advances beginning with the methods at the lowest scale, i.e. with a section on density functional theory and phase-field crystal method based contributions. This section is succeeded by a section devoted to the investigations of the molecular modelling groups inside the Priority Program, and a subsequent one on phase-field simulation. Sections 4, 5 and 6 are devoted to articles with a main focus on experimental contributions for the metallic and the colloidal systems and finally a section on applications. It is important to have in mind the term 'main focus' with an emphasis on main when reflecting this devision due to the interdisciplinary nature of the research reported here, which can already be seen in the articles as well. References [1] Chernov A A 1984 Modern Crystallography III-Crystal Growth (Berlin: Springer) [2] Mutaftschiev B 1993 Handbook on Crystal Growth ed D T J Hurle (Amsterdam: North-Holland) p 187 [3] Lacmann R and Schmidt P 1977 Current Topics in Materials Science ed E Kaldis and H J Scheel (Amsterdam: North-Holland) vol 2, pp 301-25 [4] Skripov V P 1977 Current Topics in Materials Scierce ed by E Kaldis and H J Scheel (Amsterdam: North-Holland) 327-78 [5] Chayen N E 1997 J. Appl. Crystallogr. 30 198 [6] Cho J and Thompson C V 1989 Appl. Phys. Lett. 54 2577 [7] Boettinger W J, Coriell S R, Greer A L, Karma A, Kurz W, Rappaz M, and Trivedi R 2000 Acta mater. 48 43 [8] www.spp1296.rwth-aachen.de [9] Volmer M and Weber A 1926 Z. Phys. Chemie. 119 227 [10] Becker R and Döring W 1935 Ann. Phys. 24 719 [11] Turnbull D and Fisher J C 1949 J. Chem. Phys. 17 71 [12] Oxtoby D W 1992 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 4 7627 [13] Gránásy L and Iglói F 1997 J. Chem. Phys. 107 3634 [14] Gránásy L, Börzsönyi T, Pusztai T 2003 Interface and Transport Dynamics ed H Emmerich, B Nestler and M Schreckenberg (Berlin: Springer) p 190 [15] Emmerich H and Siquieri R 2005 Numerical Heat Transfer ed A Nowack and R A Bialecki [16] Gránásy L 1993 J. Non-Cryst. Solids 162 301 Dragnevski K I, Cochrane R F and Mullis A 2004 Mat. Sci. Eng. A 375-377 479 [17] Sood A K 1991 Solid State Physics 45 1

EBSD characterization of low temperature deformation mechanisms in modern alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozmel, Thomas S., II

For structural applications, grain refinement has been shown to enhance mechanical properties such as strength, fatigue resistance, and fracture toughness. Through control of the thermos-mechanical processing parameters, dynamic recrystallization mechanisms were used to produce microstructures consisting of sub-micron grains in 9310 steel, 4140 steel, and Ti-6Al-4V. In both 9310 and 4140 steel, the distribution of carbides throughout the microstructure affected the ability of the material to dynamically recrystallize and determined the size of the dynamically recrystallized grains. Processing the materials at lower temperatures and higher strain rates resulted in finer dynamically recrystallized grains. Microstructural process models that can be used to estimate the resulting microstructure based on the processing parameters were developed for both 9310 and 4140 steel. Heat treatment studies performed on 9310 steel showed that the sub-micron grain size obtained during deformation could not be retained due to the low equilibrium volume fraction of carbides. Commercially available aluminum alloys were investigated to explain their high strain rate deformation behavior. Alloys such as 2139, 2519, 5083, and 7039 exhibit strain softening after an ultimate strength is reached, followed by a rapid degradation of mechanical properties after a critical strain level has been reached. Microstructural analysis showed that the formation of shear bands typically preceded this rapid degradation in properties. Shear band boundary misorientations increased as a function of equivalent strain in all cases. Precipitation behavior was found to greatly influence the microstructural response of the alloys. Additionally, precipitation strengthened alloys were found to exhibit similar flow stress behavior, whereas solid solution strengthened alloys exhibited lower flow stresses but higher ductility during dynamic loading. Schmid factor maps demonstrated that shear band formation behavior was influenced by texturing in these alloys.

The microstructure of the surface layer of magnesium laser alloyed with aluminum and silicon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dziadoń, Andrzej

2016-08-15

The surface layer under analysis was formed as a result of diffusion bonding of a thin AlSi20 plate to a magnesium substrate followed by laser melting. Depending on the process parameters, the laser beam melted the AlSi20 plate only or the AlSi20 plate and a layer of the magnesium surface adjacent to it. Two types of microstructure of the remelted layer were thus analyzed. If the melting zone was limited to the AlSi20 plate, the microstructure of the surface layer was typical of a rapidly solidified hypereutectic Al–Si alloy. Since, however, the liquid AlSi20 reacted with the magnesium substrate, themore » following intermetallic phases formed: Al{sub 3}Mg{sub 2}, Mg{sub 17}Al{sub 12} and Mg{sub 2}Si. The microstructure of the modified surface layer of magnesium was examined using optical, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. The analysis of the surface properties of the laser modified magnesium revealed that the thin layer has a microstructure of a rapidly solidified Al–Si alloy offering good protection against corrosion. By contrast, the surface layer containing particles of intermetallic phases was more resistant to abrasion but had lower corrosion resistance than the silumin type layer. - Highlights: •A CO{sub 2} laser was used for surface alloying of Mg with AlSi20. •Before alloying, an AlSi20 plate was diffusion bonded with the Mg substrate. •The process parameters affected the alloyed layer microstructure and properties. •With melting limited to AlSi20, the layer had a structure of rapidly solidified AlSi20. •Mg–Al and Mg–Si phases were present when both the substrate and the plate were melted.« less

Aseismic creep along the North Anatolian Fault quantified by coupling microstructural strain and chemical analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaduri, Maor; Gratier, Jean-Pierre; Renard, François; Çakir, Ziyadin; Lasserre, Cécile

2017-04-01

In the last decade aseismic creep has been noted as one of the key processes along tectonic plate boundaries. It contributes to the energy budget during the seismic cycle, delaying or triggering the occurrence of large earthquakes. Several major continental active faults show spatial alternation of creeping and locked segments. A great challenge is to understand which parameters control the transition from seismic to aseismic deformation in fault zones, such as the lithology, the degree of deformation from damage rocks to gouge, and the stress driven fault architecture transformations at all scales. The present study focuses on the North Anatolian Fault (Turkey) and characterizes the mechanisms responsible for the partition between seismic and aseismic deformation. Strain values were calculated using various methods, e.g. Fry, R-φs from microstructural measurements in gouge and damage samples collected on more than 30 outcrops along the fault. Maps of mineral composition were reconstructed from microprobe measurements of gouge and damage rock microstructure, in order to calculate the relative mass changes due to stress driven processes during deformation. Strain values were extracted, in addition to the geometrical properties of grain orientation and size distribution. Our data cover subsamples in the damage zones that were protected from deformation and are reminiscent of the host rock microstructure and composition, and subsamples that were highly deformed and recorded both seismic and aseismic deformations. Increase of strain value is linked to the evolution of the orientation of the grains from random to sheared sub-parallel and may be related to various parameters: (1) relative mass transfer increase with increasing strain indicating how stress driven mass transfer processes control aseismic creep evolution with time; (2) measured strain is strongly related with the initial lithology and with the evolution of mineral composition: monomineralic rocks are stronger (less deformed) than polymineralic ones; (3) strain measurements allow to evaluate the cumulated geological displacement accommodated by aseismic creep and the relative ratio between seismic and aseismic displacement for each section of an active fault. These relations allow to quantify more accurately the aseismic creep processes and their evolution with time along the North Anatolian Fault which are controlled by a superposition of two kinds of mechanisms: (1) stress driven mass transfer (pressure solution and metamorphism) that control local and regional mass transfer and associated rheology evolution and (2) grain boundary sliding along weak mineral interfaces (initially weak minerals or more often transformed by deformation-related reactions).

Molecular modeling of the microstructure evolution during carbon fiber processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desai, Saaketh; Li, Chunyu; Shen, Tongtong; Strachan, Alejandro

2017-12-01

The rational design of carbon fibers with desired properties requires quantitative relationships between the processing conditions, microstructure, and resulting properties. We developed a molecular model that combines kinetic Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics techniques to predict the microstructure evolution during the processes of carbonization and graphitization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers. The model accurately predicts the cross-sectional microstructure of the fibers with the molecular structure of the stabilized PAN fibers and physics-based chemical reaction rates as the only inputs. The resulting structures exhibit key features observed in electron microcopy studies such as curved graphitic sheets and hairpin structures. In addition, computed X-ray diffraction patterns are in good agreement with experiments. We predict the transverse moduli of the resulting fibers between 1 GPa and 5 GPa, in good agreement with experimental results for high modulus fibers and slightly lower than those of high-strength fibers. The transverse modulus is governed by sliding between graphitic sheets, and the relatively low value for the predicted microstructures can be attributed to their perfect longitudinal texture. Finally, the simulations provide insight into the relationships between chemical kinetics and the final microstructure; we observe that high reaction rates result in porous structures with lower moduli.

Microstructure characterization of multi-phase composites and utilization of phase change materials and recycled rubbers in cementitious materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meshgin, Pania

2011-12-01

This research focuses on two important subjects: (1) Characterization of heterogeneous microstructure of multi-phase composites and the effect of microstructural features on effective properties of the material. (2) Utilizations of phase change materials and recycled rubber particles from waste tires to improve thermal properties of insulation materials used in building envelopes. Spatial pattern of multi-phase and multidimensional internal structures of most composite materials are highly random. Quantitative description of the spatial distribution should be developed based on proper statistical models, which characterize the morphological features. For a composite material with multi-phases, the volume fraction of the phases as well as the morphological parameters of the phases have very strong influences on the effective property of the composite. These morphological parameters depend on the microstructure of each phase. This study intends to include the effect of higher order morphological details of the microstructure in the composite models. The higher order statistics, called two-point correlation functions characterize various behaviors of the composite at any two points in a stochastic field. Specifically, correlation functions of mosaic patterns are used in the study for characterizing transport properties of composite materials. One of the most effective methods to improve energy efficiency of buildings is to enhance thermal properties of insulation materials. The idea of using phase change materials and recycled rubber particles such as scrap tires in insulation materials for building envelopes has been studied.

Additive Manufacturing of IN100 Superalloy Through Scanning Laser Epitaxy for Turbine Engine Hot-Section Component Repair: Process Development, Modeling, Microstructural Characterization, and Process Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acharya, Ranadip; Das, Suman

2015-09-01

This article describes additive manufacturing (AM) of IN100, a high gamma-prime nickel-based superalloy, through scanning laser epitaxy (SLE), aimed at the creation of thick deposits onto like-chemistry substrates for enabling repair of turbine engine hot-section components. SLE is a metal powder bed-based laser AM technology developed for nickel-base superalloys with equiaxed, directionally solidified, and single-crystal microstructural morphologies. Here, we combine process modeling, statistical design-of-experiments (DoE), and microstructural characterization to demonstrate fully metallurgically bonded, crack-free and dense deposits exceeding 1000 μm of SLE-processed IN100 powder onto IN100 cast substrates produced in a single pass. A combined thermal-fluid flow-solidification model of the SLE process compliments DoE-based process development. A customized quantitative metallography technique analyzes digital cross-sectional micrographs and extracts various microstructural parameters, enabling process model validation and process parameter optimization. Microindentation measurements show an increase in the hardness by 10 pct in the deposit region compared to the cast substrate due to microstructural refinement. The results illustrate one of the very few successes reported for the crack-free deposition of IN100, a notoriously "non-weldable" hot-section alloy, thus establishing the potential of SLE as an AM method suitable for hot-section component repair and for future new-make components in high gamma-prime containing crack-prone nickel-based superalloys.

A multiscale MD-FE model of diffusion in composite media with internal surface interaction based on numerical homogenization procedure.

PubMed

Kojic, M; Milosevic, M; Kojic, N; Kim, K; Ferrari, M; Ziemys, A

2014-02-01

Mass transport by diffusion within composite materials may depend not only on internal microstructural geometry, but also on the chemical interactions between the transported substance and the material of the microstructure. Retrospectively, there is a gap in methods and theory to connect material microstructure properties with macroscale continuum diffusion characteristics. Here we present a new hierarchical multiscale model for diffusion within composite materials that couples material microstructural geometry and interactions between diffusing particles and the material matrix. This model, which bridges molecular dynamics (MD) and the finite element (FE) method, is employed to construct a continuum diffusion model based on a novel numerical homogenization procedure. The procedure is general and robust for evaluating constitutive material parameters of the continuum model. These parameters include the traditional bulk diffusion coefficients and, additionally, the distances from the solid surface accounting for surface interaction effects. We implemented our models to glucose diffusion through the following two geometrical/material configurations: tightly packed silica nanospheres, and a complex fibrous structure surrounding nanospheres. Then, rhodamine 6G diffusion analysis through an aga-rose gel network was performed, followed by a model validation using our experimental results. The microstructural model, numerical homogenization and continuum model offer a new platform for modeling and predicting mass diffusion through complex biological environment and within composite materials that are used in a wide range of applications, like drug delivery and nanoporous catalysts.

A multiscale MD–FE model of diffusion in composite media with internal surface interaction based on numerical homogenization procedure

PubMed Central

Kojic, M.; Milosevic, M.; Kojic, N.; Kim, K.; Ferrari, M.; Ziemys, A.

2014-01-01

Mass transport by diffusion within composite materials may depend not only on internal microstructural geometry, but also on the chemical interactions between the transported substance and the material of the microstructure. Retrospectively, there is a gap in methods and theory to connect material microstructure properties with macroscale continuum diffusion characteristics. Here we present a new hierarchical multiscale model for diffusion within composite materials that couples material microstructural geometry and interactions between diffusing particles and the material matrix. This model, which bridges molecular dynamics (MD) and the finite element (FE) method, is employed to construct a continuum diffusion model based on a novel numerical homogenization procedure. The procedure is general and robust for evaluating constitutive material parameters of the continuum model. These parameters include the traditional bulk diffusion coefficients and, additionally, the distances from the solid surface accounting for surface interaction effects. We implemented our models to glucose diffusion through the following two geometrical/material configurations: tightly packed silica nanospheres, and a complex fibrous structure surrounding nanospheres. Then, rhodamine 6G diffusion analysis through an aga-rose gel network was performed, followed by a model validation using our experimental results. The microstructural model, numerical homogenization and continuum model offer a new platform for modeling and predicting mass diffusion through complex biological environment and within composite materials that are used in a wide range of applications, like drug delivery and nanoporous catalysts. PMID:24578582

Influence of cryogenic treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of high strength AISI D2 tool steel =

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghasemi Nanesa, Hadi

Cryogenic treatment, known as treating materials at sub-zero temperatures, has been added to conventional heat treatment cycle of high alloyed steels where martensitic transformation is incomplete after quenching to room temperature. Incomplete martensitic transformation occurs due to the effect of high content of alloying elements on pushing down martensite start and finish temperatures to very low values, specifically, on tool steels. In spite of obtaining significant improvements in mechanical and wear properties after cryogenic treatment, there is no cohesive picture about what exactly modifies the microstructure of tool steels during cryogenic treatment and therefore divergent opinions on the influence of process parameters are still reported. For example, the suggested time length for cryogenic treatment starts from few seconds to several days indicating the lack of understanding about micromechanisms responsible for microstructural evolution while holding at cryogenic temperatures. In this regard, the main objective of this project is to develop a better understanding on the fundamental micromechanisms operating during cryogenic treatment. To attain this objective, the following milestones are pursued. - To study the conventional cryogenic treatment and finding challenges. - To identify and characterize the optimum starting microstructure before cryogenic treatment. - To determine the important processing parameters those control the evolution of microstructure and hardness. - To investigate the interaction between carbide precipitation and martensitic transformation in the AISI D2 steel. - To propose an optimal cryogenic treatment for AISI D2 steel.

3D Printing Optical Engine for Controlling Material Microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Wei-Chin; Chang, Kuang-Po; Wu, Ping-Han; Wu, Chih-Hsien; Lin, Ching-Chih; Chuang, Chuan-Sheng; Lin, De-Yau; Liu, Sung-Ho; Horng, Ji-Bin; Tsau, Fang-Hei

Controlling the cooling rate of alloy during melting and resolidification is the most commonly used method for varying the material microstructure and consequently the resuling property. However, the cooling rate of a selective laser melting (SLM) production is restricted by a preset optimal parameter of a good dense product. The head room for locally manipulating material property in a process is marginal. In this study, we invent an Optical Engine for locally controlling material microstructure in a SLM process. It develops an invovative method to control and adjust thermal history of the solidification process to gain desired material microstucture and consequently drastically improving the quality. Process parameters selected locally for specific materials requirement according to designed characteristics by using thermal dynamic principles of solidification process. It utilize a technique of complex laser beam shape of adaptive irradiation profile to permit local control of material characteristics as desired. This technology could be useful for industrial application of medical implant, aerospace and automobile industries.

Effect of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Parameters on the Microstructure and Texture Development in Superelastic Ti-18Zr-14Nb Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreitcberg, A.; Brailovski, V.; Sheremetyev, V.; Prokoshkin, S.

2017-12-01

The effect of different laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) parameters on the phase composition, microstructure, and crystallographic texture of Ti-18Zr-14Nb alloy was studied. Two levels of laser power, scanning speed, and hatching space were used, while the layer thickness was kept constant. The resulting volume energy density was ranged from 20 to 60 J/mm3, and the build rate, from 12 to 36 cm3/h. The manufactured coupons were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the greater influence observed on the microstructure and texture development was caused by the value of laser power, while the lowest, by that of hatching space. Based on the results obtained, the processing optimization strategy aimed at improving the density, superelastic, and fatigue properties of the L-PBF manufactured Ti-18Zr-14Nb alloy was proposed.

Analytical issues in the evaluation of food deprivation and sucrose concentration effects on the microstructure of licking behavior in the rat.

PubMed

Spector, A C; Klumpp, P A; Kaplan, J M

1998-06-01

A microstructural analysis of licking behavior in nondeprived and 23-hr food-deprived rats (n = 15) presented with various sucrose solutions (0.03-1.0 M) in daily single-bottle, 1-hr sessions was conducted. Food deprivation and concentration interacted to increase total licks. The effects of food deprivation and concentration on burst size (BS), burst number (BN), and other parameters varied as a function of the pause criterion (PC; 0.3-100 s) used to define licking bursts. A rationale for selecting a 1-s PC for further analysis is presented. Despite the lack of correlations between temporally contiguous burst and pause combinations, mean BS decreased and pause duration increased as meals progressed. At the 1-s PC, BS increased linearly with concentration, implying that this microstructural parameter is influenced in part by taste. Food deprivation did not affect BS but rather increased BN and proportionally extended the meal duration.

High-Speed Friction Stir Welding of AA7075-T6 Sheet: Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Micro-texture, and Thermal History

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jingyi; Upadhyay, Piyush; Hovanski, Yuri; Field, David P.

2018-01-01

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a cost-effective and high-quality joining process for aluminum alloys (especially heat-treatable alloys) that is historically operated at lower joining speeds (up to hundreds of millimeters per minute). In this study, we present a microstructural analysis of friction stir welded AA7075-T6 blanks with high welding speeds up to 3 M/min. Textures, microstructures, mechanical properties, and weld quality are analyzed using TEM, EBSD, metallographic imaging, and Vickers hardness. The higher welding speed results in narrower, stronger heat-affected zones (HAZs) and also higher hardness in the nugget zones. The material flow direction in the nugget zone is found to be leaning towards the welding direction as the welding speed increases. Results are coupled with welding parameters and thermal history to aid in the understanding of the complex material flow and texture gradients within the welds in an effort to optimize welding parameters for high-speed processing.

Microstructure and physical properties of nano-biocomposite films based on cassava starch and laponite.

PubMed

Valencia, Germán Ayala; Luciano, Carla Giovana; Lourenço, Rodrigo Vinicius; do Amaral Sobral, Paulo José

2018-02-01

The aim of this research was to study the effects of laponite concentrations on some properties of nano-biocomposite films based on cassava starch, focusing mainly the relation between the properties of the surface microstructure and roughness, water contact angle and gloss. Nano-biocomposite films were produced by casting. We analyzed gloss, color, opacity, water contact angle, crystallinity by X-ray diffraction, and microstructure by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Texture parameters (energy, entropy and fractal dimension) were extracted from micrographs. We observed a great impact of laponite in the morphology of nano-biocomposite films. Texture parameters correlated with surface heterogeneity and roughness. Finally, surface roughness affected the surface hydrophilicity of nano-biocomposite films. Laponite platelets were exfoliated and/or intercalated with amylose and amylopectin chains. This research reports new information on the effects of laponite concentrations on the morphological, optical and wetting properties of nano-biocomposite films aiming future industrial applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of nickel coated multi walled carbon nanotube reinforced stainless steel 316L matrix composites by laser sintering process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahanthesha, P.; Mohankumar, G. C.

2018-04-01

Electroless Ni coated Multi-walled Carbon nanotubes reinforced with Stainless Steel 316L matrix composite was developed by Direct Metal Laser Sintering process (DMLS). Homogeneous mixture of Stainless Steel 316L powder and carbon nanotubes in different vol. % was obtained by using double cone blender machine. Characterization of electroless Ni coated carbon nanotubes was done by using X-ray diffraction, FESEM and EDS. Test samples were fabricated at different laser scan speeds. Effect of process parameters and CNT vol. % content on solidification microstructure and mechanical properties of test samples was investigated by using Optical microscopy, FESEM, and Hounsfield tensometer. Experimental results reveal DMLS process parameters affect the density and microstructure of sintered parts. Dense parts with minimum porosity when processed at low laser scan speeds and low CNT vol. %. Tensile fractured surface of test specimens evidences the survival of carbon nanotubes under high temperature processing condition.

Pepsin diffusion in dairy gels depends on casein concentration and microstructure.

PubMed

Thévenot, J; Cauty, C; Legland, D; Dupont, D; Floury, J

2017-05-15

Fundamental knowledge of gastric digestion had only focused on acid diffusion from the gastric fluid, but no data are available for pepsin diffusion. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technique, diffusion coefficients D of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-pepsin were measured in rennet gels across a range of casein concentrations allowing to form networks of protein aggregates with different structures. To investigate the microstructural parameters of native gels, electron microscopy image analysis were performed and qualitatively related to diffusion behavior of FITC-pepsin in these dairy gels. This study is the first report on quantification of pepsin diffusion in dairy product. Pepsin diffusion in rennet gels depends on casein concentration and microstructure. Models of polymer science can be used to assess D in dairy gel. Such data should be confronted with pepsin activity in acidic environment, and will be very useful as input parameters in mathematical models of food degradation in the human stomach. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantification of eggshell microstructure using X-ray micro computed tomography

PubMed Central

Riley, A.; Sturrock, C. J.; Mooney, S. J.

2014-01-01

1. X-ray microcomputed tomography can be used to produce rapid, fully analysable, three-dimensional images of biological and other materials without the need for complex or tedious sample preparation and sectioning. We describe the use of this technique to visualise and analyse the microstructure of fragments of shell taken from three regions of chicken eggs (sharp pole, blunt pole and equatorial region). 2. Two- and three-dimensional images and data were obtained at a resolution of 1.5 microns. The images were analysed to provide measurements of shell thickness, the spacial density of mammillary bodies, the frequency, shape, volume and effective diameter of individual pore spaces, and the intrinsic sponginess (proportion of non-X-ray dense material formed by vesicles) of the shell matrix. Measurements of these parameters were comparable with those derived by traditional methods and reported in the literature. 3. The advantages of using this technology for the quantification of eggshell microstructural parameters and its potential application for commercial, research and other purposes are discussed. PMID:24875292

The effects of plasma spray parameters and atmosphere on the properties and microstructure of WC-Co coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, D.; Lamy, D.; Sopkow, T.; Smuga-Otto, I.

Wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings deposited by plasma spray process are increasingly used in severe environments in resource industries, such as oil and gas, oil sands, mining, pulp and paper, etc. While there is a large volume of literature in the area of plasma spray coatings, comparatively few papers deal with the co-relation between coating properties and microstructure as a function of plasma spray processing parameters. In this study, the effect of some plasma spray processing variables and atmosphere (air or inert gas) on the microstructure and the properties of WC-Co coatings were studied. The properties of the coatings measured include: microhardness, porosity by image analysis, wear resistance by dry sand/rubber wheel abrasion test (ASTM G 65-91) and corrosion properties by AC impedance technique. Phase analyses of the coatings were also performed by X-ray diffraction. From the above, optimized coatings were developed for oil and gas industry applications.

Surface Chemistry and Nano-/Microstructure Engineering on Photocatalytic In2S3 Nanocrystals.

PubMed

Berestok, Taisiia; Guardia, Pablo; Portals, Javier Blanco; Estradé, Sònia; Llorca, Jordi; Peiró, Francesca; Cabot, Andreu; Brock, Stephanie L

2018-06-05

Colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) compete with molecular catalysts in the field of homogenous catalysis, offering easier recyclability and a number of potentially advantageous functionalities, such as tunable band gaps, plasmonic properties, or a magnetic moment. Using high-throughput printing technologies, colloidal NCs can also be supported onto substrates to produce cost-effective electronic, optoelectronic, electrocatalytic, and sensing devices. For both catalytic and technological application, NC surface chemistry and supracrystal organization are key parameters determining final performance. Here, we study the influence of the surface ligands and the NC organization on the catalytic properties of In 2 S 3 , both as a colloid and as a supported layer. As a colloid, NCs stabilized by inorganic ligands show the highest photocatalytic activities, which we associate with their large and more accessible surfaces. On the other hand, when NCs are supported on a substrate, their organization becomes an essential parameter determining performance. For instance, NC-based films produced through a gelation process provided five-fold higher photocurrent densities than those obtained from dense films produced by the direct printing of NCs.

Impact of Martensite Spatial Distribution on Quasi-Static and Dynamic Deformation Behavior of Dual-Phase Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Manpreet; Das, Anindya; Venugopalan, T.; Mukherjee, Krishnendu; Walunj, Mahesh; Nanda, Tarun; Kumar, B. Ravi

2017-12-01

The effects of microstructure parameters of dual-phase steels on tensile high strain dynamic deformation characteristic were examined in this study. Cold-rolled steel sheets were annealed using three different annealing process parameters to obtain three different dual-phase microstructures of varied ferrite and martensite phase fraction. The volume fraction of martensite obtained in two of the steels was near identical ( 19 pct) with a subtle difference in its spatial distribution. In the first microstructure variant, martensite was mostly found to be situated at ferrite grain boundaries and in the second variant, in addition to at grain boundaries, in-grain martensite was also observed. The third microstructure was very different from the above two with respect to martensite volume fraction ( 67 pct) and its morphology. In this case, martensite packets were surrounded by a three-dimensional ferrite network giving an appearance of core and shell type microstructure. All the three steels were tensile deformed at strain rates ranging from 2.7 × 10-4 (quasi-static) to 650 s-1 (dynamic range). Field-emission scanning electron microscope was used to characterize the starting as well as post-tensile deformed microstructures. Dual-phase steel consisting of small martensite volume fraction ( 19 pct), irrespective of its spatial distribution, demonstrated high strain rate sensitivity and on the other hand, steel with large martensite volume fraction ( 67 pct) displayed a very little strain rate sensitivity. Interestingly, total elongation was found to increase with increasing strain rate in the dynamic regime for steel with core-shell type of microstructure containing large martensite volume fraction. The observed enhancement in plasticity in dynamic regime was attributed to adiabatic heating of specimen. To understand the evolving damage mechanism, the fracture surface and the vicinity of fracture ends were studied in all the three dual-phase steels.

Impact of Martensite Spatial Distribution on Quasi-Static and Dynamic Deformation Behavior of Dual-Phase Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Manpreet; Das, Anindya; Venugopalan, T.; Mukherjee, Krishnendu; Walunj, Mahesh; Nanda, Tarun; Kumar, B. Ravi

2018-02-01

The effects of microstructure parameters of dual-phase steels on tensile high strain dynamic deformation characteristic were examined in this study. Cold-rolled steel sheets were annealed using three different annealing process parameters to obtain three different dual-phase microstructures of varied ferrite and martensite phase fraction. The volume fraction of martensite obtained in two of the steels was near identical ( 19 pct) with a subtle difference in its spatial distribution. In the first microstructure variant, martensite was mostly found to be situated at ferrite grain boundaries and in the second variant, in addition to at grain boundaries, in-grain martensite was also observed. The third microstructure was very different from the above two with respect to martensite volume fraction ( 67 pct) and its morphology. In this case, martensite packets were surrounded by a three-dimensional ferrite network giving an appearance of core and shell type microstructure. All the three steels were tensile deformed at strain rates ranging from 2.7 × 10-4 (quasi-static) to 650 s-1 (dynamic range). Field-emission scanning electron microscope was used to characterize the starting as well as post-tensile deformed microstructures. Dual-phase steel consisting of small martensite volume fraction ( 19 pct), irrespective of its spatial distribution, demonstrated high strain rate sensitivity and on the other hand, steel with large martensite volume fraction ( 67 pct) displayed a very little strain rate sensitivity. Interestingly, total elongation was found to increase with increasing strain rate in the dynamic regime for steel with core-shell type of microstructure containing large martensite volume fraction. The observed enhancement in plasticity in dynamic regime was attributed to adiabatic heating of specimen. To understand the evolving damage mechanism, the fracture surface and the vicinity of fracture ends were studied in all the three dual-phase steels.

Modulating laser intensity profile ellipticity for microstructural control during metal additive manufacturing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roehling, Tien T.; Wu, Sheldon S. Q.; Khairallah, Saad A.

Additively manufactured (AM) metals are often highly textured, containing large columnar grains that initiate epitaxially under steep temperature gradients and rapid solidification conditions. These unique microstructures partially account for the massive property disparity existing between AM and conventionally processed alloys. Although equiaxed grains are desirable for isotropic mechanical behavior, the columnar-to-equiaxed transition remains difficult to predict for conventional solidification processes, and much more so for AM. In this study, the effects of laser intensity profile ellipticity on melt track macrostructures and microstructures were studied in 316L stainless steel. Experimental results were supported by temperature gradients and melt velocities simulated usingmore » the ALE3D multi-physics code. As a general trend, columnar grains preferentially formed with increasing laser power and scan speed for all beam profiles. However, when conduction mode laser heating occurs, scan parameters that result in coarse columnar microstructures using Gaussian profiles produce equiaxed or mixed equiaxed-columnar microstructures using elliptical profiles. Furthermore, by modulating spatial laser intensity profiles on the fly, site-specific microstructures and properties can be directly engineered into additively manufactured parts.« less

Modulating laser intensity profile ellipticity for microstructural control during metal additive manufacturing

DOE PAGES

Roehling, Tien T.; Wu, Sheldon S. Q.; Khairallah, Saad A.; ...

2017-02-12

Additively manufactured (AM) metals are often highly textured, containing large columnar grains that initiate epitaxially under steep temperature gradients and rapid solidification conditions. These unique microstructures partially account for the massive property disparity existing between AM and conventionally processed alloys. Although equiaxed grains are desirable for isotropic mechanical behavior, the columnar-to-equiaxed transition remains difficult to predict for conventional solidification processes, and much more so for AM. In this study, the effects of laser intensity profile ellipticity on melt track macrostructures and microstructures were studied in 316L stainless steel. Experimental results were supported by temperature gradients and melt velocities simulated usingmore » the ALE3D multi-physics code. As a general trend, columnar grains preferentially formed with increasing laser power and scan speed for all beam profiles. However, when conduction mode laser heating occurs, scan parameters that result in coarse columnar microstructures using Gaussian profiles produce equiaxed or mixed equiaxed-columnar microstructures using elliptical profiles. Furthermore, by modulating spatial laser intensity profiles on the fly, site-specific microstructures and properties can be directly engineered into additively manufactured parts.« less

Laser-Based Surface Modification of Microstructure for Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wenfeng; Sun, Ting; Cao, Yu; Li, Shaolong; Liu, Chang; Tang, Qingru

2018-05-01

Bonding repair is a powerful feature of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). Based on the theory of interface bonding, the interface adhesion strength and reliability of the CFRP structure will be directly affected by the microscopic features of the CFRP surface, including the microstructure, physical, and chemical characteristics. In this paper, laser-based surface modification was compared to Peel-ply, grinding, and polishing to comparatively evaluate the surface microstructure of CFRP. The surface microstructure, morphology, fiber damage, height and space parameters were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser confocal microscopy (LCM). Relative to the conventional grinding process, laser modification of the CFRP surface can result in more uniform resin removal and better processing control and repeatability. This decreases the adverse impact of surface fiber fractures and secondary damage. The surface properties were significantly optimized, which has been reflected such things as the obvious improvement of surface roughness, microstructure uniformity, and actual area. The improved surface microstructure based on laser modification is more conducive to interface bonding of CFRP structure repair. This can enhance the interfacial adhesion strength and reliability of repair.

Microstructural analysis of the 2195 aluminum-lithium alloy welds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Talia, George E.

1993-01-01

The principal objective of this research was to explain a tendency of 2195 Al-Li alloy to crack at elevated temperature during welding. Therefore, a study was made on the effect of welding and thermal treatment on the microstructure of Al-Li Alloy 2195. The critical roles of precipitates, boundaries, phases, and other features of the microstructure were inferred from the crack propagation paths and the morphology of fracture surface of the alloy with different microstructures. Particular emphasis was placed on the microstructures generated by the welding process and the mechanisms of crack propagation in such structures. Variation of the welding parameters and thermal treatments were used to alter the micro/macro structures, and they were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy. A theoretical model is proposed to explain changes in the microstructure of welded material. This model proposes a chemical reaction in which gases from the air (i.e., nitrogen) release hydrogen inside the alloy. Such a reaction could generate large internal stresses capable to induce porosity and crack-like delamination in the material.

Ionogels Based on Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Metal-Containing Ionic Liquids: Correlation between Structure and Mechanical and Electrical Properties.

PubMed

Zehbe, Kerstin; Kollosche, Matthias; Lardong, Sebastian; Kelling, Alexandra; Schilde, Uwe; Taubert, Andreas

2016-03-16

Ionogels (IGs) based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and the metal-containing ionic liquids (ILs) bis-1-butyl-3-methlimidazolium tetrachloridocuprate(II), tetrachloride cobaltate(II), and tetrachlorido manganate(II) have been synthesized and their mechanical and electrical properties have been correlated with their microstructure. Unlike many previous examples, the current IGs show a decreasing stability in stress-strain experiments on increasing IL fractions. The conductivities of the current IGs are lower than those observed in similar examples in the literature. Both effects are caused by a two-phase structure with micrometer-sized IL-rich domains homogeneously dispersed an IL-deficient continuous PMMA phase. This study demonstrates that the IL-polymer miscibility and the morphology of the IGs are key parameters to control the (macroscopic) properties of IGs.

Laser-induced damage of coatings on Yb:YAG crystals at cryogenic condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, He; Zhang, Weili; Chen, Shunli; Zhu, Meiping; He, Hongbo; Fan, Zhengxiu

2011-12-01

As large amounts of heat need to be dissipated during laser operation, some diode pumped solid state lasers (DPSSL), especially Yb:YAG laser, operate at cryogenic condition. This work investigated the laser induced damage of coatings (high-reflective and anti-reflective coatings) on Yb:YAG crystals at cryogenic temperature and room temperature. The results show that the damage threshold of coatings at cryogenic temperature is lower than the one at room temperature. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), optical profiler, step profiler and Atomic force microscope (AFM) were used to obtain the damage morphology, size and depth. Taking alteration of physical parameters, microstructure of coatings and the environmental pollution into consideration, we analyzed the key factor of lowering the coating damage threshold at cryogenic conditions. The results are important to understand the mechanisms leading to damage at cryogenic condition.

Ionogels Based on Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Metal-Containing Ionic Liquids: Correlation between Structure and Mechanical and Electrical Properties

PubMed Central

Zehbe, Kerstin; Kollosche, Matthias; Lardong, Sebastian; Kelling, Alexandra; Schilde, Uwe; Taubert, Andreas

2016-01-01

Ionogels (IGs) based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and the metal-containing ionic liquids (ILs) bis-1-butyl-3-methlimidazolium tetrachloridocuprate(II), tetrachloride cobaltate(II), and tetrachlorido manganate(II) have been synthesized and their mechanical and electrical properties have been correlated with their microstructure. Unlike many previous examples, the current IGs show a decreasing stability in stress-strain experiments on increasing IL fractions. The conductivities of the current IGs are lower than those observed in similar examples in the literature. Both effects are caused by a two-phase structure with micrometer-sized IL-rich domains homogeneously dispersed an IL-deficient continuous PMMA phase. This study demonstrates that the IL-polymer miscibility and the morphology of the IGs are key parameters to control the (macroscopic) properties of IGs. PMID:26999112

Effect of Pulse Parameters on Weld Quality in Pulsed Gas Metal Arc Welding: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pal, Kamal; Pal, Surjya K.

2011-08-01

The weld quality comprises bead geometry and its microstructure, which influence the mechanical properties of the weld. The coarse-grained weld microstructure, higher heat-affected zone, and lower penetration together with higher reinforcement reduce the weld service life in continuous mode gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Pulsed GMAW (P-GMAW) is an alternative method providing a better way for overcoming these afore mentioned problems. It uses a higher peak current to allow one molten droplet per pulse, and a lower background current to maintain the arc stability. Current pulsing refines the grains in weld fusion zone with increasing depth of penetration due to arc oscillations. Optimum weld joint characteristics can be achieved by controlling the pulse parameters. The process is versatile and easily automated. This brief review illustrates the effect of pulse parameters on weld quality.

Mapping axonal density and average diameter using non-monotonic time-dependent gradient-echo MRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nunes, Daniel; Cruz, Tomás L.; Jespersen, Sune N.; Shemesh, Noam

2017-04-01

White Matter (WM) microstructures, such as axonal density and average diameter, are crucial to the normal function of the Central Nervous System (CNS) as they are closely related with axonal conduction velocities. Conversely, disruptions of these microstructural features may result in severe neurological deficits, suggesting that their noninvasive mapping could be an important step towards diagnosing and following pathophysiology. Whereas diffusion based MRI methods have been proposed to map these features, they typically entail the application of powerful gradients, which are rarely available in the clinic, or extremely long acquisition schemes to extract information from parameter-intensive models. In this study, we suggest that simple and time-efficient multi-gradient-echo (MGE) MRI can be used to extract the axon density from susceptibility-driven non-monotonic decay in the time-dependent signal. We show, both theoretically and with simulations, that a non-monotonic signal decay will occur for multi-compartmental microstructures - such as axons and extra-axonal spaces, which were here used as a simple model for the microstructure - and that, for axons parallel to the main magnetic field, the axonal density can be extracted. We then experimentally demonstrate in ex-vivo rat spinal cords that its different tracts - characterized by different microstructures - can be clearly contrasted using the MGE-derived maps. When the quantitative results are compared against ground-truth histology, they reflect the axonal fraction (though with a bias, as evident from Bland-Altman analysis). As well, the extra-axonal fraction can be estimated. The results suggest that our model is oversimplified, yet at the same time evidencing a potential and usefulness of the approach to map underlying microstructures using a simple and time-efficient MRI sequence. We further show that a simple general-linear-model can predict the average axonal diameters from the four model parameters, and map these average axonal diameters in the spinal cords. While clearly further modelling and theoretical developments are necessary, we conclude that salient WM microstructural features can be extracted from simple, SNR-efficient multi-gradient echo MRI, and that this paves the way towards easier estimation of WM microstructure in vivo.

Mapping axonal density and average diameter using non-monotonic time-dependent gradient-echo MRI.

PubMed

Nunes, Daniel; Cruz, Tomás L; Jespersen, Sune N; Shemesh, Noam

2017-04-01

White Matter (WM) microstructures, such as axonal density and average diameter, are crucial to the normal function of the Central Nervous System (CNS) as they are closely related with axonal conduction velocities. Conversely, disruptions of these microstructural features may result in severe neurological deficits, suggesting that their noninvasive mapping could be an important step towards diagnosing and following pathophysiology. Whereas diffusion based MRI methods have been proposed to map these features, they typically entail the application of powerful gradients, which are rarely available in the clinic, or extremely long acquisition schemes to extract information from parameter-intensive models. In this study, we suggest that simple and time-efficient multi-gradient-echo (MGE) MRI can be used to extract the axon density from susceptibility-driven non-monotonic decay in the time-dependent signal. We show, both theoretically and with simulations, that a non-monotonic signal decay will occur for multi-compartmental microstructures - such as axons and extra-axonal spaces, which were here used as a simple model for the microstructure - and that, for axons parallel to the main magnetic field, the axonal density can be extracted. We then experimentally demonstrate in ex-vivo rat spinal cords that its different tracts - characterized by different microstructures - can be clearly contrasted using the MGE-derived maps. When the quantitative results are compared against ground-truth histology, they reflect the axonal fraction (though with a bias, as evident from Bland-Altman analysis). As well, the extra-axonal fraction can be estimated. The results suggest that our model is oversimplified, yet at the same time evidencing a potential and usefulness of the approach to map underlying microstructures using a simple and time-efficient MRI sequence. We further show that a simple general-linear-model can predict the average axonal diameters from the four model parameters, and map these average axonal diameters in the spinal cords. While clearly further modelling and theoretical developments are necessary, we conclude that salient WM microstructural features can be extracted from simple, SNR-efficient multi-gradient echo MRI, and that this paves the way towards easier estimation of WM microstructure in vivo. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Additive Genetic Effects on Circulating Periostin Contribute to the Heritability of Bone Microstructure.

PubMed

Bonnet, N; Biver, E; Durosier, C; Chevalley, T; Rizzoli, R; Ferrari, S

2015-07-01

Genetic factors account for 60-80% of the areal bone mineral density (aBMD) variance, whereas the heritability of bone microstructure is not clearly established. aBMD and microstructure are under the control of osteocytes, which regulate bone formation through the expression of molecules such as sclerostin (SOST) and periostin (POSTN). We hypothesized that additive genetic effects contribute to serum levels of SOST and POSTN and thereby to the individual variance of bone microstructure. In a retrospective analysis of 432 subjects from the Geneva Retiree Cohort age 64.9 ± 1.4 years and 96 of their offspring age 37.9 ± 5.7 years, we measured serum SOST (sSOST) and serum POSTN (sPOSTN), distal radius and tibia microstructure, hip and lumbar spine aBMD, and bone turnover markers, Heritability (h(2), %) was calculated as twice the slope of the regression (β) between parents and offspring. cPOSTN levels were significantly higher in men than women and in offspring than parents. h(2) values for bone microstructural traits ranged from 22-64% depending on the envelope (trabecular [Tb] or cortical [Ct]) and skeletal site (radius or tibia), whereas h(2) for sPOSTN and sSOST was 50% and 40%, respectively. sPOSTN was positively associated with Tb bone volume on total volume and Ct thickness, and negatively with Ct porosity. The associations for Ct parameters remain significant after adjustment for propetide of type-I procollagen, cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen, femoral neck aBMD, sex or age. After adjustment of bone traits for sPOSTN, h(2) values decreased for several Tb and Ct bone parameters, but not for aBMD. In contrast, adjusting for sSOST did not alter h(2) values for bone traits. Additive genetic effects account for a substantial proportion of the individual variance of bone microstructure, sPOSTN, and sSOST. sPOSTN is largely inherited as a sex-related trait and carries an important contribution to the heritability of bone microstructure, indicating that these traits are at least partly determined by common genetic effects.

Effects of Microstructural Parameters on Creep of Nickel-Base Superalloy Single Crystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

MacKay, Rebecca A.; Gabb, Timothy P.; Nathal, Michael V.

2013-01-01

Microstructure-sensitive creep models have been developed for Ni-base superalloy single crystals. Creep rupture testing was conducted on fourteen single crystal alloys at two applied stress levels at each of two temperatures, 982 and 1093 C. The variation in creep lives among the different alloys could be explained with regression models containing relatively few microstructural parameters. At 982 C, gamma-gamma prime lattice mismatch, gamma prime volume fraction, and initial gamma prime size were statistically significant in explaining the creep rupture lives. At 1093 C, only lattice mismatch and gamma prime volume fraction were significant. These models could explain from 84 to 94 percent of the variation in creep lives, depending on test condition. Longer creep lives were associated with alloys having more negative lattice mismatch, lower gamma prime volume fractions, and finer gamma prime sizes. The gamma-gamma prime lattice mismatch exhibited the strongest influence of all the microstructural parameters at both temperatures. Although a majority of the alloys in this study were stable with respect to topologically close packed (TCP) phases, it appeared that up to approximately 2 vol% TCP phase did not affect the 1093 C creep lives under applied stresses that produced lives of approximately 200 to 300 h. In contrast, TCP phase contents of approximately 2 vol% were detrimental at lower applied stresses where creep lives were longer. A regression model was also developed for the as-heat treated initial gamma prime size; this model showed that gamma prime solvus temperature, gamma-gamma prime lattice mismatch, and bulk Re content were all statistically significant.

Is multidetector CT-based bone mineral density and quantitative bone microstructure assessment at the spine still feasible using ultra-low tube current and sparse sampling?

PubMed

Mei, Kai; Kopp, Felix K; Bippus, Rolf; Köhler, Thomas; Schwaiger, Benedikt J; Gersing, Alexandra S; Fehringer, Andreas; Sauter, Andreas; Münzel, Daniela; Pfeiffer, Franz; Rummeny, Ernst J; Kirschke, Jan S; Noël, Peter B; Baum, Thomas

2017-12-01

Osteoporosis diagnosis using multidetector CT (MDCT) is limited to relatively high radiation exposure. We investigated the effect of simulated ultra-low-dose protocols on in-vivo bone mineral density (BMD) and quantitative trabecular bone assessment. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Twelve subjects with osteoporotic vertebral fractures and 12 age- and gender-matched controls undergoing routine thoracic and abdominal MDCT were included (average effective dose: 10 mSv). Ultra-low radiation examinations were achieved by simulating lower tube currents and sparse samplings at 50%, 25% and 10% of the original dose. BMD and trabecular bone parameters were extracted in T10-L5. Except for BMD measurements in sparse sampling data, absolute values of all parameters derived from ultra-low-dose data were significantly different from those derived from original dose images (p<0.05). BMD, apparent bone fraction and trabecular thickness were still consistently lower in subjects with than in those without fractures (p<0.05). In ultra-low-dose scans, BMD and microstructure parameters were able to differentiate subjects with and without vertebral fractures, suggesting osteoporosis diagnosis is feasible. However, absolute values differed from original values. BMD from sparse sampling appeared to be more robust. This dose-dependency of parameters should be considered for future clinical use. • BMD and quantitative bone parameters are assessable in ultra-low-dose in vivo MDCT scans. • Bone mineral density does not change significantly when sparse sampling is applied. • Quantitative trabecular bone microstructure measurements are sensitive to dose reduction. • Osteoporosis subjects could be differentiated even at 10% of original dose. • Radiation exposure should be considered when comparing quantitative bone parameters.

Aging Effects on Microstructure and Creep in Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu Solder

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-01

demonstrated that the primary creep data for ball joints can be fitted well to exponential law. Fit parameters for the tests accomplished at 250C...MICROSTRUCTURE AND CREEP IN Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu SOLDER by Orlando Cornejo September 2007 Thesis Advisor: Indranath Dutta THIS PAGE...collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services , Directorate for Information

Investigation of pouring temperature and holding time for semisolid metal feedstock production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razak, N. A.; Ahmad, A. H.; Rashidi, M. M.

2017-10-01

Semisolid metal (SSM) processing, as a kind of new technology that exploits forming of alloys between solidus and liquidus temperatures, has attracted great attention from investigators for its thixotropic behaviour as well as having advantages in reducing porosity, macrosegregation, and forming forces during shaping process. Various techniques are employed to produce feedstock with fine globular microstructures, and direct thermal method is one of them. In this paper, the effect from different pouring temperatures and holding times using a direct thermal method on microstructure and hardness of aluminium alloy 6061 is presented. Molten aluminium alloy 6061 was poured into a cylindrical copper mould and cooled down to the semisolid temperature before being quenched in water at room temperature. The effect of different pouring temperatures of 660 °C, 680 °C, 700 °C, and holding time of 20 s, and 60 s on the microstructure of aluminium alloy 6061 were investigated. From the micrographs, it was found that the most globular structures were achieved at processing parameters of 660 °C pouring temperature and 60 s holding time. The highest density and hardness of the samples were found at the same processing parameters. It can be concluded that the most spheroidal microstructure, the highest density, and the hardness were recorded at lower pouring temperature and longer holding time.

Setting Mechanical Properties of High Strength Steels for Rapid Hot Forming Processes

PubMed Central

Löbbe, Christian; Hering, Oliver; Hiegemann, Lars; Tekkaya, A. Erman

2016-01-01

Hot stamping of sheet metal is an established method for the manufacturing of light weight products with tailored properties. However, the generally-applied continuous roller furnace manifests two crucial disadvantages: the overall process time is long and a local setting of mechanical properties is only feasible through special cooling techniques. Hot forming with rapid heating directly before shaping is a new approach, which not only reduces the thermal intervention in the zones of critical formability and requested properties, but also allows the processing of an advantageous microstructure characterized by less grain growth, additional fractions (e.g., retained austenite), and undissolved carbides. Since the austenitization and homogenization process is strongly dependent on the microstructure constitution, the general applicability for the process relevant parameters is unknown. Thus, different austenitization parameters are analyzed for the conventional high strength steels 22MnB5, Docol 1400M, and DP1000 in respect of the mechanical properties. In order to characterize the resulting microstructure, the light optical and scanning electron microscopy, micro and macro hardness measurements, and the X-ray diffraction are conducted subsequent to tensile tests. The investigation proves not only the feasibility to adjust the strength and ductility flexibly, unique microstructures are also observed and the governing mechanisms are clarified. PMID:28773354

Air plasma spray processing and electrochemical characterization of SOFC composite cathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, B. D.; Kesler, O.; Rose, Lars

Air plasma spraying has been used to produce porous composite cathodes containing (La 0.8Sr 0.2) 0.98MnO 3- y (LSM) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) for use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Preliminary investigations focused on determining the range of plasma conditions under which each of the individual materials could be successfully deposited. A range of conditions was thereby determined that was suitable for the deposition of a composite cathode from pre-mixed LSM and YSZ powders. A number of composite cathodes were produced using different combinations of parameter values within the identified range according to a Uniform Design experimental grid. Coatings were then characterized for composition and microstructure using EDX and SEM. As a result of these tests, combinations of input parameter values were identified that are best suited to the production of coatings with microstructures appropriate for use in SOFC composite cathodes. A selection of coatings representative of the types of observed microstructures were then subjected to electrochemical testing to evaluate the performance of these cathodes. From these tests, it was found that, in general, the coatings that appeared to have the most suitable microstructures also had the highest electrochemical performances, provided that the deposition efficiency of both phases was sufficiently high.

Phase-field simulation of weld solidification microstructure in an Al Cu alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farzadi, A.; Do-Quang, M.; Serajzadeh, S.; Kokabi, A. H.; Amberg, G.

2008-09-01

Since the mechanical properties and the integrity of the weld metal depend on the solidification behaviour and the resulting microstructural characteristics, understanding weld pool solidification is of importance to engineers and scientists. Thermal and fluid flow conditions affect the weld pool geometry and solidification parameters. During solidification of the weld pool, a columnar grain structure develops in the weld metal. Prediction of the formation of the microstructure during welding may be an important and supporting factor for technology optimization. Nowadays, increasing computing power allows direct simulations of the dendritic and cell morphology of columnar grains in the molten zone for specific temperature conditions. In this study, the solidification microstructures of the weld pool at different locations along the fusion boundary are simulated during gas tungsten arc welding of Al-3wt%Cu alloy using the phase-field model for the directional solidification of dilute binary alloys. A macroscopic heat transfer and fluid flow model was developed to assess the solidification parameters, notably the temperature gradient and solidification growth rate. The effect of the welding speed is investigated. Computer simulations of the solidification conditions and the formation of a cellular morphology during the directional solidification in gas tungsten arc welding are described. Moreover, the simulation results are compared with existing theoretical models and experimental findings.

Microstructural characterization of weld joints of 9Cr reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel fabricated by different joining methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thomas Paul, V.; Saroja, S.; Albert, S.K.

This paper presents a detailed electron microscopy study on the microstructure of various regions of weldment fabricated by three welding methods namely tungsten inert gas welding, electron beam welding and laser beam welding in an indigenously developed 9Cr reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel. Electron back scatter diffraction studies showed a random micro-texture in all the three welds. Microstructural changes during thermal exposures were studied and corroborated with hardness and optimized conditions for the post weld heat treatment have been identified for this steel. Hollomon–Jaffe parameter has been used to estimate the extent of tempering. The activation energy for the tempering processmore » has been evaluated and found to be corresponding to interstitial diffusion of carbon in ferrite matrix. The type and microchemistry of secondary phases in different regions of the weldment have been identified by analytical transmission electron microscopy. - Highlights: • Comparison of microstructural parameters in TIG, electron beam and laser welds of RAFM steel • EBSD studies to illustrate the absence of preferred orientation and identification of prior austenite grain size using phase identification map • Optimization of PWHT conditions for indigenous RAFM steel • Study of kinetics of tempering and estimation of apparent activation energy of the process.« less

Understanding the Formidable Nail Barrier: A Review of the Nail Microstructure, Composition and Diseases

PubMed Central

Baswan, Sudhir; Kasting, Gerald B.; Li, S. Kevin; Wickett, Randy; Adams, Brian; Eurich, Sean; Schamper, Ryan

2016-01-01

The topical treatment of nail fungal infections has been a focal point of nail research in the past few decades as it offers a much safer and focused alternative to conventional oral therapy. Although the current focus remains on exploring the ways of enhancing permeation through the formidable nail barrier, the understanding of the nail microstructure and composition is far from complete. This article reviews our current understanding of the nail microstructure, composition and diseases. A few of the parameters affecting the nail permeability and potential causes of the recurrence of fungal nail infection are also discussed. PMID:28098391

Understanding the formidable nail barrier: A review of the nail microstructure, composition and diseases.

PubMed

Baswan, Sudhir; Kasting, Gerald B; Li, S Kevin; Wickett, Randy; Adams, Brian; Eurich, Sean; Schamper, Ryan

2017-05-01

The topical treatment of nail fungal infections has been a focal point of nail research in the past few decades as it offers a much safer and focused alternative to conventional oral therapy. Although the current focus remains on exploring the ways of enhancing permeation through the formidable nail barrier, the understanding of the nail microstructure and composition is far from complete. This article reviews our current understanding of the nail microstructure, composition and diseases. A few of the parameters affecting the nail permeability and potential causes of the recurrence of fungal nail infection are also discussed. © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Ultrasound finite element simulation sensitivity to anisotropic titanium microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freed, Shaun; Blackshire, James L.; Na, Jeong K.

2016-02-01

Analytical wave models are inadequate to describe complex metallic microstructure interactions especially for near field anisotropic property effects and through geometric features smaller than the wavelength. In contrast, finite element ultrasound simulations inherently capture microstructure influences due to their reliance on material definitions rather than wave descriptions. To better understand and quantify heterogeneous crystal orientation effects to ultrasonic wave propagation, a finite element modeling case study has been performed with anisotropic titanium grain structures. A parameterized model has been developed utilizing anisotropic spheres within a bulk material. The resulting wave parameters are analyzed as functions of both wavelength and sphere to bulk crystal mismatch angle.

Modeling of non-uniform spatial arrangement of fibers in a ceramic matrix composite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, S.; Tewari, A.; Gokhale, A.M.

In the unidirectional fiber reinforced composites, the spatial agreement of fibers is often non-uniform. These non-uniformities are linked to the processing conditions, and they affect the properties of the composite. In this contribution, a recently developed digital image analysis technique is used to quantify the non-uniform spatial arrangement of Nicalon fibers in a ceramic matrix composite (CMC). These quantitative data are utilized to develop a six parameter computer simulated microstructure model that is statistically equivalent to the non-uniform microstructure of the CMC. The simulated microstructure can be utilized as a RVE for the micro-mechanical modeling studies.

75 FR 73034 - Application(s) for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-29

... into structure function relationships. Key capabilities of the instrument include extended [[Page 73035... geological samples for their microstructure, phase characteristics, and interfacial processes. This...

Thermal Effects on Microstructural Heterogeneity of Inconel 718 Materials Fabricated by Electron Beam Melting

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sames, William J.; Unocic, Kinga A.; Dehoff, Ryan R.

2014-07-28

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, also known as 3D printing, have demonstrated the potential to fabricate complex geometrical components, but the resulting microstructures and mechanical properties of these materials are not well understood due to unique and complex thermal cycles observed during processing. The electron beam melting (EBM) process is unique because the powder bed temperature can be elevated and maintained at temperatures over 1000 °C for the duration of the process. This results in three specific stages of microstructural phase evolution: (a) rapid cool down from the melting temperature to the process temperature, (b) extended hold at the process temperature,more » and (c) slow cool down to the room temperature. In this work, the mechanisms for reported microstructural differences in EBM are rationalized for Inconel 718 based on measured thermal cycles, preliminary thermal modeling, and computational thermodynamics models. The relationship between processing parameters, solidification microstructure, interdendritic segregation, and phase precipitation (δ, γ´, and γ´´) are discussed.« less

Low Conductive Thermal Barrier Coatings Produced by Ion Beam Assisted EB-PVD with Controlled Porosity, Microstructure Refinement and Alloying Additions for High Temperature Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wolfe, Douglas E.; Singh, Jogender

2005-01-01

Various advanced Hafnia-based thermal barrier coatings (TBC) were applied on nickel-based superalloy coupons by electron beam physical vapor deposition. In addition, microstructural modifications to the coating material were made in an effort to reduce the thermal conductivity of the coating materials. Various processing parameters and coating system modifications were made in order to deposit the alloyed TBC with the desired microstructure and thus coating performance, some of which include applying coatings at substrate temperatures of 1150 C on both PtAl and CoNiCrAlY bond coated samples, as well as using 8YSZ as a bond layer. In addition, various characterization techniques including thermal cyclic tests, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity measurements were performed. Although the coating microstructure was never fully optimized due to funding being cut short, significant reductions in thermal conductivity were accomplished through both chemistry changes (composition) and microstructural modifications.

Microstructure and Hardness Profiles of Bifocal Laser-Welded DP-HSLA Steel Overlap Joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grajcar, A.; Matter, P.; Stano, S.; Wilk, Z.; Różański, M.

2017-04-01

The article presents results related to the bifocal laser welding of overlap joints made of HSLA and DP high-strength steels. The joints were made using a disk laser and a head enabling the 50-50% distribution of laser power. The effects of the laser welding rates and the distance between laser spots on morphological features and hardness profiles were analyzed. It was established that the positioning of beams at angles of 0° or 90° determined the hardness of the individual zones of the joints, without causing significant differences in microstructures of the steels. Microstructural features were inspected using scanning electron microscopy. Both steels revealed primarily martensitic-bainitic microstructures in the fusion zone and in the heat-affected zone. Mixed multiphase microstructures were revealed in the inter-critical heat-affected zone of the joint. The research involved the determination of parameters making it possible to reduce the hardness of joints and prevent the formation of the soft zone in the dual-phase steel.

Homogenization-based interval analysis for structural-acoustic problem involving periodical composites and multi-scale uncertain-but-bounded parameters.

PubMed

Chen, Ning; Yu, Dejie; Xia, Baizhan; Liu, Jian; Ma, Zhengdong

2017-04-01

This paper presents a homogenization-based interval analysis method for the prediction of coupled structural-acoustic systems involving periodical composites and multi-scale uncertain-but-bounded parameters. In the structural-acoustic system, the macro plate structure is assumed to be composed of a periodically uniform microstructure. The equivalent macro material properties of the microstructure are computed using the homogenization method. By integrating the first-order Taylor expansion interval analysis method with the homogenization-based finite element method, a homogenization-based interval finite element method (HIFEM) is developed to solve a periodical composite structural-acoustic system with multi-scale uncertain-but-bounded parameters. The corresponding formulations of the HIFEM are deduced. A subinterval technique is also introduced into the HIFEM for higher accuracy. Numerical examples of a hexahedral box and an automobile passenger compartment are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the presented method for a periodical composite structural-acoustic system with multi-scale uncertain-but-bounded parameters.

Evaluation of Subsequent Heat Treatment Routes for Near-β Forged TA15 Ti-Alloy

PubMed Central

Sun, Zhichao; Wu, Huili; Yang, He

2016-01-01

TA15 Ti-alloy is widely used to form key load-bearing components in the aerospace field, where excellent service performance is needed. Near-β forging technology provides an attractive way to form these complicated Ti-alloy components but subsequent heat treatment has a great impact on the final microstructure and mechanical properties. Therefore evaluation and determination of the heat treatment route is of particular significance. In this paper, for the near-β forged TA15 alloy, the formation and evolution of microstructures under different subsequent heat treatment routes (annealing, solution and aging, toughening and strengthening) were studied and the cooling mode after forging was also considered. Then, the type and characteristics of the obtained microstructures were discussed through quantitative metallographic analysis. The corresponding mechanical properties (tensile, impact toughness, and fracture toughness) and effects of microstructural characteristics were investigated. Finally, for a required microstructure and performance a reasonable heat treatment route was recommended. The work is of importance for the application and development of near-β forging technology. PMID:28773994

Preparation, anti-biofouling and drag-reduction properties of a biomimetic shark skin surface

PubMed Central

Pu, Xia; Li, Guangji; Huang, Hanlu

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Shark skin surfaces show non-smoothness characteristics due to the presence of a riblet structure. In this study, biomimetic shark skin was prepared by using the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-embedded elastomeric stamping (PEES) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface microstructure and fine structure of shark skin and biomimetic shark skin. To analyse the hydrophobic mechanism of the shark skin surface microstructure, the effect of biomimetic shark skin surface microstructure on surface wettability was evaluated by recording water contact angle. Additionally, protein adhesion experiments and anti-algae adhesion performance testing experiments were used to investigate and evaluate the anti-biofouling properties of the surface microstructure of biomimetic shark skin. The recorded values of the water contact angle of differently microstructured surfaces revealed that specific microstructures have certain effects on surface wettability. The anti-biofouling properties of the biomimetic shark skin surface with microstructures were superior to a smooth surface using the same polymers as substrates. Moreover, the air layer fixed on the surface of the biomimetic shark skin was found to play a key role in their antibiont adhesion property. An experiment into drag reduction was also conducted. Based on the experimental results, the microstructured surface of the prepared biomimetic shark skin played a significant role in reducing drag. The maximum of drag reduction rate is 12.5%, which is higher than the corresponding maximum drag reduction rate of membrane material with a smooth surface. PMID:26941105

Preparation, anti-biofouling and drag-reduction properties of a biomimetic shark skin surface.

PubMed

Pu, Xia; Li, Guangji; Huang, Hanlu

2016-04-15

Shark skin surfaces show non-smoothness characteristics due to the presence of a riblet structure. In this study, biomimetic shark skin was prepared by using the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-embedded elastomeric stamping (PEES) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface microstructure and fine structure of shark skin and biomimetic shark skin. To analyse the hydrophobic mechanism of the shark skin surface microstructure, the effect of biomimetic shark skin surface microstructure on surface wettability was evaluated by recording water contact angle. Additionally, protein adhesion experiments and anti-algae adhesion performance testing experiments were used to investigate and evaluate the anti-biofouling properties of the surface microstructure of biomimetic shark skin. The recorded values of the water contact angle of differently microstructured surfaces revealed that specific microstructures have certain effects on surface wettability. The anti-biofouling properties of the biomimetic shark skin surface with microstructures were superior to a smooth surface using the same polymers as substrates. Moreover, the air layer fixed on the surface of the biomimetic shark skin was found to play a key role in their antibiont adhesion property. An experiment into drag reduction was also conducted. Based on the experimental results, the microstructured surface of the prepared biomimetic shark skin played a significant role in reducing drag. The maximum of drag reduction rate is 12.5%, which is higher than the corresponding maximum drag reduction rate of membrane material with a smooth surface. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Effects of microstructures on the performance of rare-earth-free MnBi magnetic materials and magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Vuong Van; Nguyen, Truong Xuan

2018-03-01

Since the solidification of MnBi alloys is peritectic, their microstructures always consist of the starting phases of Mn and Bi and the productive phase MnBi. The high performance of MnBi bulk magnets requires appropriate routes of preparing MnBi powders of high spontaneous magnetization Ms and large coercivity iHc as well a route of producing bulk magnets thereof. In these routes, the microstructures of arc-melted alloys, annealed alloys and magnets strongly related to the quality of powders and the performance of magnets. The paper proves that: i) The microstructure of fine Mn-inclusions embedded in the matrix of Bi is preferred for arc-melted alloys to realize the rapid evolution of the ferromagnetic phase inside them during their sequent annealing process; ii) The time-controlled annealing process plays a key role in controlling the microstructure with the main ferromagnetic phase matrix, in which the rest of Mn and the Bi accumulations are embedded; iii) The cold (in-liquid-nitrogen) ball milling annealed alloys is required for preparing a high quality powders with the preferred sub-micrometer microstructure without a Bi-decomposition; iv) The short-time warm compaction is crucial to fabricate dense, highly textured bulk magnets with the micrometer microstructure. The realization and control of these preferred microstructures figured in these routes enhance the chance of preparing MnBi bulk magnets with the energy product (BH)max larger than 8 MGOe.

Microstructure Modeling of Third Generation Disk Alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jou, Herng-Jeng

2010-01-01

The objective of this program was to model, validate, and predict the precipitation microstructure evolution, using PrecipiCalc (QuesTek Innovations LLC) software, for 3rd generation Ni-based gas turbine disc superalloys during processing and service, with a set of logical and consistent experiments and characterizations. Furthermore, within this program, the originally research-oriented microstructure simulation tool was to be further improved and implemented to be a useful and user-friendly engineering tool. In this report, the key accomplishments achieved during the third year (2009) of the program are summarized. The activities of this year included: Further development of multistep precipitation simulation framework for gamma prime microstructure evolution during heat treatment; Calibration and validation of gamma prime microstructure modeling with supersolvus heat treated LSHR; Modeling of the microstructure evolution of the minor phases, particularly carbides, during isothermal aging, representing the long term microstructure stability during thermal exposure; and the implementation of software tools. During the research and development efforts to extend the precipitation microstructure modeling and prediction capability in this 3-year program, we identified a hurdle, related to slow gamma prime coarsening rate, with no satisfactory scientific explanation currently available. It is desirable to raise this issue to the Ni-based superalloys research community, with hope that in future there will be a mechanistic understanding and physics-based treatment to overcome the hurdle. In the mean time, an empirical correction factor was developed in this modeling effort to capture the experimental observations.

Tissue microstructure estimation using a deep network inspired by a dictionary-based framework.

PubMed

Ye, Chuyang

2017-12-01

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) captures the anisotropic pattern of water displacement in the neuronal tissue and allows noninvasive investigation of the complex tissue microstructure. A number of biophysical models have been proposed to relate the tissue organization with the observed diffusion signals, so that the tissue microstructure can be inferred. The Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) model has been a popular choice and has been widely used for many neuroscientific studies. It models the diffusion signal with three compartments that are characterized by distinct diffusion properties, and the parameters in the model describe tissue microstructure. In NODDI, these parameters are estimated in a maximum likelihood framework, where the nonlinear model fitting is computationally intensive. Therefore, efforts have been made to develop efficient and accurate algorithms for NODDI microstructure estimation, which is still an open problem. In this work, we propose a deep network based approach that performs end-to-end estimation of NODDI microstructure, which is named Microstructure Estimation using a Deep Network (MEDN). MEDN comprises two cascaded stages and is motivated by the AMICO algorithm, where the NODDI microstructure estimation is formulated in a dictionary-based framework. The first stage computes the coefficients of the dictionary. It resembles the solution to a sparse reconstruction problem, where the iterative process in conventional estimation approaches is unfolded and truncated, and the weights are learned instead of predetermined by the dictionary. In the second stage, microstructure properties are computed from the output of the first stage, which resembles the weighted sum of normalized dictionary coefficients in AMICO, and the weights are also learned. Because spatial consistency of diffusion signals can be used to reduce the effect of noise, we also propose MEDN+, which is an extended version of MEDN. MEDN+ allows incorporation of neighborhood information by inserting a stage with learned weights before the MEDN structure, where the diffusion signals in the neighborhood of a voxel are processed. The weights in MEDN or MEDN+ are jointly learned from training samples that are acquired with diffusion gradients densely sampling the q-space. We performed MEDN and MEDN+ on brain dMRI scans, where two shells each with 30 gradient directions were used, and measured their accuracy with respect to the gold standard. Results demonstrate that the proposed networks outperform the competing methods. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Porous Mullite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsiung, Chwan-Hai Harold

Mullite (3 Al2O3 : 2 SiO2) is a technologically important ceramic due to its thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and mechanical robustness. One variant, porous acicular mullite (ACM), has a unique needle-like microstructure and is the material platform for The Dow Chemical Company's diesel particulate filter AERIFY(TM). The investigation described herein focuses on the microstructure-mechanical property relationships in acicular mullites as well as those with traditional porous microstructures with the goal of illuminating the critical factors in determining their modulus, strength, and toughness. Mullites with traditional pore morphologies were made to serve as references via slipcasting of a kaolinite-alumina-starch slurry. The starch was burned out to leave behind a pore network, and the calcined body was then reaction-sintered at 1600C to form mullite. The samples had porosities of approximately 60%. Pore size and shape were altered by using different starch templates, and pore size was found to influence the stiffness and toughness. The ACM microstructure was varied along three parameters: total porosity, pore size, and needle size. Total porosity was found to dominate the mechanical behavior of ACM, while increases in needle and pore size increased the toughness at lower porosities. ACM was found to have much improved (˜130%) mechanical properties relative to its non-acicular counterpart at the same porosity. A second set of investigations studied the role of the intergranular glassy phase which wets the needle intersections of ACM. Removal of the glassy phase via an HF etch reduced the mechanical properties by ˜30%, highlighting the intergranular phase's importance to the enhanced mechanical properties of ACM. The composition of the glassy phase was altered by doping the ACM precursor with magnesium and neodymium. Magnesium doping resulted in ACM with greatly reduced fracture strength and toughness. Studies showed that the mechanical properties of the two doped intergranular glasses and their interfaces with mullite were quite similar. The reductions in strength and toughness were traced to differences in the ACM network structure and mass-distribution that are hypothesized to result from dopant-altered ACM nucleation and growth kinetics. X-ray computed tomography, a non-destructive 3-D imaging technique, played a key role in this work, enabling the measurement of needle diameters, quantification of the ACM structural network, and finite element analysis of ACM's mechanical response.

Metallurgical Mechanisms Controlling Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloy 2219 Produced by Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Domack, Marcia S.; Tainger, Karen M.

2006-01-01

The electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) layer-additive manufacturing process has been developed to directly fabricate complex geometry components. EBF3 introduces metal wire into a molten pool created on the surface of a substrate by a focused electron beam. Part geometry is achieved by translating the substrate with respect to the beam to build the part one layer at a time. Tensile properties demonstrated for electron beam deposited aluminum and titanium alloys are comparable to wrought products, although the microstructures of the deposits exhibit cast features. Understanding the metallurgical mechanisms controlling mechanical properties is essential to maximizing application of the EBF3 process. Tensile mechanical properties and microstructures were examined for aluminum alloy 2219 fabricated over a range of EBF3 process variables. Unique microstructures were observed within the deposited layers and at interlayer boundaries, which varied within the deposit height due to microstructural evolution associated with the complex thermal history experienced during subsequent layer deposition. Microstructures exhibited irregularly shaped grains with interior dendritic structures, described based on overall grain size, morphology, distribution, and dendrite spacing, and were correlated with deposition parameters. Fracture features were compared with microstructural elements to define fracture paths and aid in definition of basic processing-microstructure-property correlations.

Stress Rupture Fracture Model and Microstructure Evolution for Waspaloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Zhihao; Zhang, Maicang; Dong, Jianxin

2013-07-01

Stress rupture behavior and microstructure evolution of nickel-based superalloy Waspaloy specimens from tenon teeth of an as-received 60,000-hour service-exposed gas turbine disk were studied between 923 K and 1088 K (650 °C and 815 °C) under initial applied stresses varying from 150 to 840 MPa. Good microstructure stability and performance were verified for this turbine disk prior to stress rupture testing. Microstructure instability, such as the coarsening and dissolution of γ' precipitates at the varying test conditions, was observed to be increased with temperature and reduced stress. Little microstructure variation was observed at 923 K (650 °C). Only secondary γ' instability occurred at 973 K (700 °C). Four fracture mechanisms were obtained. Transgranular creep fracture was exhibited up to 923 K (650 °C) and at high stress. A mixed mode of transgranular and intergranular creep fracture occurred with reduced stress as a transition to intergranular creep fracture (ICF) at low stress. ICF was dominated by grain boundary sliding at low temperature and by the nucleation and growth of grain boundary cavities due to microstructure instability at high temperature. The fracture mechanism map and microstructure-related fracture model were constructed. Residual lifetime was also evaluated by the Larson-Miller parameter method.

Study on Silicon Microstructure Processing Technology Based on Porous Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, Yingqi; Zhang, Linchao; Qi, Hong; Wu, Yalin; Zhang, Yan; Chen, Jing

2018-03-01

Aiming at the heterogeneity of micro - sealed cavity in silicon microstructure processing technology, the technique of preparing micro - sealed cavity of porous silicon is proposed. The effects of different solutions, different substrate doping concentrations, different current densities, and different etching times on the rate, porosity, thickness and morphology of the prepared porous silicon were studied. The porous silicon was prepared by different process parameters and the prepared porous silicon was tested and analyzed. For the test results, optimize the process parameters and experiments. The experimental results show that the porous silicon can be controlled by optimizing the parameters of the etching solution and the doping concentration of the substrate, and the preparation of porous silicon with different porosity can be realized by different doping concentration, so as to realize the preparation of silicon micro-sealed cavity, to solve the sensor sensitive micro-sealed cavity structure heterogeneous problem, greatly increasing the application of the sensor.

Design of a new nozzle for direct current plasma guns with improved spraying parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jankovic, M.; Mostaghimi, J.; Pershin, V.

2000-03-01

A new design is proposed for direct current plasma spray gas-shroud attachments. It has curvilinearly shaped internal walls aimed toward elimination of the cold air entrainment, recorded for commercially available conical designs of the shrouded nozzle. The curvilinear nozzle design was tested; it proved to be capable of withstanding high plasma temperatures and enabled satisfactory particle injection. Parallel measurements with an enthalpy probe were performed on the jet emerging from two different nozzles. Also, corresponding calculations were made to predict the plasma flow parameters and the particle parameters. Adequate spray tests were performed by spraying iron-aluminum and MCrAlY coatings onto stainless steel substrates. Coating analyses were performed, and coating qualities, such as microstructure, open porosity, and adhesion strength, were determined. The results indicate that the coatings sprayed with a curvilinear nozzle exhibited lower porosity, higher adhesion strength, and an enhanced microstructure.

Effect of Deformation Parameters on Microstructure and Properties During DIFT of X70HD Pipeline Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jian; Zhu, Wei; Xiao, Hong; Zhang, Liang-liang; Qin, Hao; Yu, Yue

2018-02-01

Grain refinement is a critical approach to improve the strength of materials without damaging the toughness. The grains of deformation-induced ferrite are considerably smaller than those of proeutectoid ferrite. Grain refinement is crucial to the application of deformation-induced ferrite. The composition of ferrite and bainite or martensite is important in controlling the performance of X70HD pipeline steel, and cooling significantly influences the control of their ratio and grain size. By analyzing the static and dynamic phase-transition points using Gleeble-3800 thermal simulator, thermal simulations were performed through two-stage deformations in the austenite zone. Ferrite transformation rules were studied with thermal simulation tests under different deformation and cooling parameters based on the actual production of cumulative deformation. The influence of deformation parameters on the microstructure transformation was analyzed. Numerous fine-grain deformation-induced ferrites were obtained by regulating various parameters, including deformation temperature, strain rate, cooling rate, final cooling temperature and other parameters. Results of metallographic observation and microtensile testing revealed that the selection of appropriate parameters can refine the grains and improve the performance of the X70HD pipeline steel.

Effect of moderate magnetic annealing on the microstructure, quasi-static and viscoelastic mechanical behavior of a structural epoxy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tehrani, Mehran; Al-Haik, Marwan; Garmestani, Hamid

2012-01-01

In this study the effect of moderate magnetic fields on the microstructure of a structural epoxy system was investigated. The changes in the microstructure have been quantitatively investigated using wide angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD) and pole figure analysis. The mechanical properties (modulus, hardness and strain rate sensitivity parameter) of the epoxy system annealed in the magnetic field were probed with the aid of instrumented nanoindentation and the results are compared to the reference epoxy sample. To further examine the creep response of the magnetically annealed and reference samples, short 45 min duration creep tests were carried out. An equivalent tomore » the macro scale creep compliance was calculated using the aforementioned nano-creep data. Using the continuous complex compliance (CCC) analysis, the phase lag angle, tan (δ), between the displacement and applied force in an oscillatory nanoindentation test was measured for both neat and magnetically annealed systems through which the effect of low magnetic fields on the viscoelastic properties of the epoxy was invoked. The comparison of the creep strain rate sensitivity parameter , A/d(0), from short term(80 ), creep tests and the creep compliance J(t) from the long term(2700 s) creep tests with the tan(δ) suggests that former parameter is a more useful comparative creep parameter than the creep compliance. The results of this investigation reveal that under low magnetic fields both the quasi-static and viscoelastic mechanical properties of the epoxy have been improved.« less

Bone-related Circulating MicroRNAs miR-29b-3p, miR-550a-3p, and miR-324-3p and their Association to Bone Microstructure and Histomorphometry.

PubMed

Feichtinger, Xaver; Muschitz, Christian; Heimel, Patrick; Baierl, Andreas; Fahrleitner-Pammer, Astrid; Redl, Heinz; Resch, Heinrich; Geiger, Elisabeth; Skalicky, Susanna; Dormann, Rainer; Plachel, Fabian; Pietschmann, Peter; Grillari, Johannes; Hackl, Matthias; Kocijan, Roland

2018-03-20

The assessment of bone quality and the prediction of fracture risk in idiopathic osteoporosis (IOP) are complex prospects as bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers (BTM) do not indicate fracture-risk. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are promising new biomarkers for bone diseases, but the current understanding of the biological information contained in the variability of miRNAs is limited. Here, we investigated the association between serum-levels of 19 miRNA biomarkers of idiopathic osteoporosis to bone microstructure and bone histomorphometry based upon bone biopsies and µCT (9.3 μm) scans from 36 patients. Four miRNAs were found to be correlated to bone microarchitecture and seven miRNAs to dynamic histomorphometry (p < 0.05). Three miRNAs, namely, miR-29b-3p, miR-324-3p, and miR-550a-3p showed significant correlations to histomorphometric parameters of bone formation as well as microstructure parameters. miR-29b-3p and miR-324-p were found to be reduced in patients undergoing anti-resorptive therapy. This is the first study to report that serum levels of bone-related miRNAs might be surrogates of dynamic histomorphometry and potentially reveal changes in bone microstructure. Although these findings enhance the potential value of circulating miRNAs as bone biomarkers, further experimental studies are required to qualify the clinical utility of miRNAs to reflect dynamic changes in bone formation and microstructure.

Effects of Emulsifier, Overrun and Dasher Speed on Ice Cream Microstructure and Melting Properties.

PubMed

Warren, Maya M; Hartel, Richard W

2018-03-01

Ice cream is a multiphase frozen food containing ice crystals, air cells, fat globules, and partially coalesced fat globule clusters dispersed in an unfrozen serum phase (sugars, proteins, and stabilizers). This microstructure is responsible for ice cream's melting characteristics. By varying both formulation (emulsifier content and overrun) and processing conditions (dasher speed), the effects of different microstructural elements, particularly air cells and fat globule clusters, on ice cream melt-down properties were studied. Factors that caused an increase in shear stress within the freezer, namely increasing dasher speed and overrun, caused a decrease in air cell size and an increase in extent of fat destabilization. Increasing emulsifier content, especially of polysorbate 80, caused an increase in extent of fat destabilization. Both overrun and fat destabilization influenced drip-through rates. Ice creams with a combination of low overrun and low fat destabilization had the highest drip-through rates. Further, the amount of remnant foam left on the screen increased with reduced drip-through rates. These results provide a better understanding of the effects of microstructure components and their interactions on drip-through rate. Manipulating operating and formulation parameters in ice cream manufacture influences the microstructure (air cells, ice crystals, and fat globule clusters). This work provides guidance on which parameters have most effect on air cell size and fat globule cluster formation. Further, the structural characteristics that reduce melt-down rate were determined. Ice cream manufacturers will use these results to tailor their products for the desired quality attributes. © 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.

Volcanogenic Pseudo-Fossils from the ∼3.48 Ga Dresser Formation, Pilbara, Western Australia

PubMed Central

Noffke, Nora; Saunders, Martin; Guagliardo, Paul; Pyle, David M.

2018-01-01

Abstract The ∼3.48 billion-year-old Dresser Formation, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, is a key geological unit for the study of Earth's earliest life and the habitats it occupied. Here, we describe a new suite of spheroidal to lenticular microstructures that morphologically resemble some previously reported Archean microfossils. Correlative microscopy shows that these objects have a size distribution, wall ultrastructure, and chemistry that are incompatible with a microfossil origin and instead are interpreted as pyritized and silicified fragments of vesicular volcanic glass. Organic kerogenous material is associated with much of the altered volcanic glass; variable quantities of organic carbon line or fill the insides of some individual vesicles, while relatively large, tufted organic-rich laminae envelop multiple vesicles. The microstructures reported herein constitute a new type of abiogenic artifact (pseudo-fossil) that must be considered when evaluating potential signs of early life on Earth or elsewhere. In the sample studied here, where hundreds of these microstructures are present, the combined evidence permits a relatively straightforward interpretation as vesicular volcanic glass. However, reworked, isolated, and silicified microstructures of this type may prove particularly problematic in early or extraterrestrial life studies since they adsorb carbon onto their surfaces and are readily pyritized, mimicking a common preservation mechanism for bona fide microfossils. In those cases, nanoscale analysis of wall ultrastructure would be required to firmly exclude a biological origin. Key Words: Microfossils—Pseudo-fossils—Volcanic vesicles—Archean life—Pilbara Craton—Dresser Formation. Astrobiology 18, 539–555. PMID:29461869

Altered tract-specific white matter microstructure is related to poorer cognitive performance: The Rotterdam Study.

PubMed

Cremers, Lotte G M; de Groot, Marius; Hofman, Albert; Krestin, Gabriel P; van der Lugt, Aad; Niessen, Wiro J; Vernooij, Meike W; Ikram, M Arfan

2016-03-01

White matter microstructural integrity has been related to cognition. Yet, the potential role of specific white matter tracts on top of a global white matter effect remains unclear, especially when considering specific cognitive domains. Therefore, we determined the tract-specific effect of white matter microstructure on global cognition and specific cognitive domains. In 4400 nondemented and stroke-free participants (mean age 63.7 years, 55.5% women), we obtained diffusion magnetic resonance imaging parameters (fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity) in 14 white matter tracts using probabilistic tractography and assessed cognitive performance with a cognitive test battery. Tract-specific white matter microstructure in all supratentorial tracts was associated with poorer global cognition. Lower fractional anisotropy in association tracts, primarily the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and higher mean diffusivity in projection tracts, in particular the posterior thalamic radiation, most strongly related to poorer cognition. Altered white matter microstructure related to poorer information processing speed, executive functioning, and motor speed, but not to memory. Tract-specific microstructural changes may aid in better understanding the mechanism of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The CONNECT project: Combining macro- and micro-structure.

PubMed

Assaf, Yaniv; Alexander, Daniel C; Jones, Derek K; Bizzi, Albero; Behrens, Tim E J; Clark, Chris A; Cohen, Yoram; Dyrby, Tim B; Huppi, Petra S; Knoesche, Thomas R; Lebihan, Denis; Parker, Geoff J M; Poupon, Cyril; Anaby, Debbie; Anwander, Alfred; Bar, Leah; Barazany, Daniel; Blumenfeld-Katzir, Tamar; De-Santis, Silvia; Duclap, Delphine; Figini, Matteo; Fischi, Elda; Guevara, Pamela; Hubbard, Penny; Hofstetter, Shir; Jbabdi, Saad; Kunz, Nicolas; Lazeyras, Francois; Lebois, Alice; Liptrot, Matthew G; Lundell, Henrik; Mangin, Jean-François; Dominguez, David Moreno; Morozov, Darya; Schreiber, Jan; Seunarine, Kiran; Nava, Simone; Poupon, Cyril; Riffert, Till; Sasson, Efrat; Schmitt, Benoit; Shemesh, Noam; Sotiropoulos, Stam N; Tavor, Ido; Zhang, Hui Gary; Zhou, Feng-Lei

2013-10-15

In recent years, diffusion MRI has become an extremely important tool for studying the morphology of living brain tissue, as it provides unique insights into both its macrostructure and microstructure. Recent applications of diffusion MRI aimed to characterize the structural connectome using tractography to infer connectivity between brain regions. In parallel to the development of tractography, additional diffusion MRI based frameworks (CHARMED, AxCaliber, ActiveAx) were developed enabling the extraction of a multitude of micro-structural parameters (axon diameter distribution, mean axonal diameter and axonal density). This unique insight into both tissue microstructure and connectivity has enormous potential value in understanding the structure and organization of the brain as well as providing unique insights to abnormalities that underpin disease states. The CONNECT (Consortium Of Neuroimagers for the Non-invasive Exploration of brain Connectivity and Tracts) project aimed to combine tractography and micro-structural measures of the living human brain in order to obtain a better estimate of the connectome, while also striving to extend validation of these measurements. This paper summarizes the project and describes the perspective of using micro-structural measures to study the connectome. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Relating the 3D electrode morphology to Li-ion battery performance; a case for LiFePO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhao; Verhallen, Tomas W.; Singh, Deepak P.; Wang, Hongqian; Wagemaker, Marnix; Barnett, Scott

2016-08-01

One of the main goals in lithium ion battery electrode design is to increase the power density. This requires insight in the relation between the complex heterogeneous microstructure existing of active material, conductive additive and electrolyte providing the required electronic and Li-ion transport. FIB-SEM is used to determine the three phase 3D morphology, and Li-ion concentration profiles obtained with Neutron Depth Profiling (NDP) are compared for two cases, conventional LiFePO4 electrodes and better performing carbonate templated LiFePO4 electrodes. This provides detailed understanding of the impact of key parameters such as the tortuosity for electron and Li-ion transport though the electrodes. The created hierarchical pore network of the templated electrodes, containing micron sized pores, appears to be effective only at high rate charge where electrolyte depletion is hindering fast discharge. Surprisingly the carbonate templating method results in a better electronic conductive CB network, enhancing the activity of LiFePO4 near the electrolyte-electrode interface as directly observed with NDP, which in a large part is responsible for the improved rate performance both during charge and discharge. The results demonstrate that standard electrodes have a far from optimal charge transport network and that significantly improved electrode performance should be possible by engineering the microstructure.

The role of topology in microstructure-property relations: a 2D DEM based study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saleme Ruiz, Katerine; Emelianenko, Maria

2018-01-01

We compare Rényi entropy-based mesoscale approaches for characterizing 2D polycrystalline network topology and geometry, based on the grain number of sides and grain areas, respectively. We study the effect of microstructure disorder on mechanical properties such as elastic and damage response by performing simulations of quasi-static uniaxial compression loading tests on an idealized material using grain-level micro-mechanical discrete element model. While not comprehensive enough to make general conclusions, this study allows us to make observations about the sensitivity of mechanical parameters such as Young's modulus, proportional limit, first yield stress, toughness and amount of microstructure damage to different entropy measures.

Fabrication of locally micro-structured fiber Bragg gratings by fs-laser machining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutz, Franz J.; Stephan, Valentin; Marchi, Gabriele; Koch, Alexander W.; Roths, Johannes; Huber, Heinz P.

2018-06-01

Here, we describe a method for producing locally micro-structured fiber Bragg gratings (LMFGB) by fs-laser machining. This technique enables the precise and reproducible ablation of cladding material to create circumferential grooves inside the claddings of optical fibers. From initial ablation experiments we acquired optimized process parameters. The fabricated grooves were located in the middle of uniform type I fiber Bragg gratings. LMFBGs with four different groove widths of 48, 85, 135 and 205 μ { {m}} were produced. The grooves exhibited constant depths of about 30 μ {m} and steep sidewall angles. With the combination of micro-structures and fiber Bragg gratings, fiber optic sensor elements with enhanced functionalities can be achieved.

Characterizing ceramics and the interfacial adhesion to resin: I - The relationship of microstructure, composition, properties and fractography.

PubMed

Della Bona, Alvaro

2005-03-01

The appeal of ceramics as structural dental materials is based on their light weight, high hardness values, chemical inertness, and anticipated unique tribological characteristics. A major goal of current ceramic research and development is to produce tough, strong ceramics that can provide reliable performance in dental applications. Quantifying microstructural parameters is important to develop structure/property relationships. Quantitative microstructural analysis provides an association among the constitution, physical properties, and structural characteristics of materials. Structural reliability of dental ceramics is a major factor in the clinical success of ceramic restorations. Complex stress distributions are present in most practical conditions and strength data alone cannot be directly extrapolated to predict structural performance.

Effect of Processing Conditions on the Anelastic Behavior of Plasma Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viswanathan, Vaishak

2011-12-01

Plasma sprayed ceramic materials contain an assortment of micro-structural defects, including pores, cracks, and interfaces arising from the droplet based assemblage of the spray deposition technique. The defective architecture of the deposits introduces a novel "anelastic" response in the coatings comprising of their non-linear and hysteretic stress-strain relationship under mechanical loading. It has been established that this anelasticity can be attributed to the relative movement of the embedded defects under varying stresses. While the non-linear response of the coatings arises from the opening/closure of defects, hysteresis is produced by the frictional sliding among defect surfaces. Recent studies have indicated that anelastic behavior of coatings can be a unique descriptor of their mechanical behavior and related to the defect configuration. In this dissertation, a multi-variable study employing systematic processing strategies was conducted to augment the understanding on various aspects of the reported anelastic behavior. A bi-layer curvature measurement technique was adapted to measure the anelastic properties of plasma sprayed ceramic. The quantification of anelastic parameters was done using a non-linear model proposed by Nakamura et.al. An error analysis was conducted on the technique to know the available margins for both experimental as well as computational errors. The error analysis was extended to evaluate its sensitivity towards different coating microstructure. For this purpose, three coatings with significantly different microstructures were fabricated via tuning of process parameters. Later the three coatings were also subjected to different strain ranges systematically, in order to understand the origin and evolution of anelasticity on different microstructures. The last segment of this thesis attempts to capture the intricacies on the processing front and tries to evaluate and establish a correlation between them and the anelastic parameters.

Optimizing Discharge Capacity of Li-O 2 Batteries by Design of Air-Electrode Porous Structure: Multifidelity Modeling and Optimization

DOE PAGES

Pan, Wenxiao; Yang, Xiu; Bao, Jie; ...

2017-01-01

We develop a new mathematical framework to study the optimal design of air electrode microstructures for lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. It can eectively reduce the number of expensive experiments for testing dierent air-electrodes, thereby minimizing the cost in the design of Li-O2 batteries. The design parameters to characterize an air-electrode microstructure include the porosity, surface-to-volume ratio, and parameters associated with the pore-size distribution. A surrogate model (also known as response surface) for discharge capacity is rst constructed as a function of these design parameters. The surrogate model is accurate and easy to evaluate such that an optimization can be performed basedmore » on it. In particular, a Gaussian process regression method, co-kriging, is employed due to its accuracy and eciency in predicting high-dimensional responses from a combination of multidelity data. Specically, a small amount of data from high-delity simulations are combined with a large number of data obtained from computationally ecient low-delity simulations. The high-delity simulation is based on a multiscale modeling approach that couples the microscale (pore-scale) and macroscale (device-scale) models. Whereas, the low-delity simulation is based on an empirical macroscale model. The constructed response surface provides quantitative understanding and prediction about how air electrode microstructures aect the discharge performance of Li-O2 batteries. The succeeding sensitivity analysis via Sobol indices and optimization via genetic algorithm ultimately oer a reliable guidance on the optimal design of air electrode microstructures. The proposed mathematical framework can be generalized to investigate other new energy storage techniques and materials.« less

Optimizing Discharge Capacity of Li-O 2 Batteries by Design of Air-Electrode Porous Structure: Multifidelity Modeling and Optimization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pan, Wenxiao; Yang, Xiu; Bao, Jie

We develop a new mathematical framework to study the optimal design of air electrode microstructures for lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. It can eectively reduce the number of expensive experiments for testing dierent air-electrodes, thereby minimizing the cost in the design of Li-O2 batteries. The design parameters to characterize an air-electrode microstructure include the porosity, surface-to-volume ratio, and parameters associated with the pore-size distribution. A surrogate model (also known as response surface) for discharge capacity is rst constructed as a function of these design parameters. The surrogate model is accurate and easy to evaluate such that an optimization can be performed basedmore » on it. In particular, a Gaussian process regression method, co-kriging, is employed due to its accuracy and eciency in predicting high-dimensional responses from a combination of multidelity data. Specically, a small amount of data from high-delity simulations are combined with a large number of data obtained from computationally ecient low-delity simulations. The high-delity simulation is based on a multiscale modeling approach that couples the microscale (pore-scale) and macroscale (device-scale) models. Whereas, the low-delity simulation is based on an empirical macroscale model. The constructed response surface provides quantitative understanding and prediction about how air electrode microstructures aect the discharge performance of Li-O2 batteries. The succeeding sensitivity analysis via Sobol indices and optimization via genetic algorithm ultimately oer a reliable guidance on the optimal design of air electrode microstructures. The proposed mathematical framework can be generalized to investigate other new energy storage techniques and materials.« less

Multiscale Modeling of Grain Boundaries in ZrB2: Structure, Energetics, and Thermal Resistance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawson, John W.; Daw, Murray S.; Squire, Thomas H.; Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.

2012-01-01

A combination of ab initio, atomistic and finite element methods (FEM) were used to investigate the structures, energetics and lattice thermal conductance of grain boundaries for the ultra high temperature ceramic ZrB2. Atomic models of idealized boundaries were relaxed using density functional theory. Information about bonding across the interfaces was determined from the electron localization function. The Kapitza conductance of larger scale versions of the boundary models were computed using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics. The interfacial thermal parameters together with single crystal thermal conductivities were used as parameters in microstructural computations. FEM meshes were constructed on top of microstructural images. From these computations, the effective thermal conductivity of the polycrystalline structure was determined.

Microstructural, thermal and antibacterial properties of electron beam irradiated Bombyx mori silk fibroin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asha, S.; Sangappa, Naik, Prashantha; Chandra, K. Sharat; Sanjeev, Ganesh

2014-04-01

The Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) films were prepared by solution casting method and the effects of electron beam on structural, thermal and antibacterial responses of the prepared films were studied. The electron irradiation for different doses was carried out using 8 MeV Microtron facility at Mangalore University. The changes in microstructural parameters and thermal stability of the films were investigated using Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. Both microstructuralline parameters (crystallite size and lattice strain (g in %)) and thermal stability of the irradiated films have increased with radiation dosage. Agar diffusion method demonstrated the antibacterial activity of SF film which was increased after irradiation on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of NiCoCrAlYTa alloy processed by press and sintering route

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pereira, J.C., E-mail: jpereira@uc.edu.ve; Centro de Investigaciones en Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Carabobo; Zambrano, J.C.

2015-03-15

Nickel-based superalloys such as NiCoCrAlY are widely used in high-temperature applications, such as gas turbine components in the energy and aerospace industries, due to their strength, high elastic modulus, and high-temperature oxidation resistance. However, the processing of these alloys is complex and costly, and the alloys are currently used as a bond coat in thermal barrier coatings. In this work, the effect of cold press and sintering processing parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of NiCoCrAlY alloy were studied using the powder metallurgy route as a new way to obtain NiCoCrAlYTa samples from a gas atomized prealloyed powder feedstock.more » High mechanical strength and adequate densification up to 98% were achieved. The most suitable compaction pressure and sintering temperature were determined for NiCoCrAlYTa alloy through microstructure characterization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive spectroscopy microanalysis (EDS) were performed to confirm the expected γ-Ni matrix and β-NiAl phase distribution. Additionally, the results demonstrated the unexpected presence of carbides and Ni–Y-rich zones in the microstructure due to the powder metallurgy processing parameters used. Thus, microhardness, nanoindentation and uniaxial compression tests were conducted to correlate the microstructure of the alloy samples with their mechanical properties under the different studied conditions. The results show that the compaction pressure did not significantly affect the mechanical properties of the alloy samples. In this work, the compaction pressures of 400, 700 and 1000 MPa were used. The sintering temperature of 1200 °C for NiCoCrAlYTa alloy was preferred; above this temperature, the improvement in mechanical properties is not significant due to grain coarsening, whereas a lower temperature produces a decrease in mechanical properties due to high porosity and poor solid-state diffusion. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • We made NiCoCrAlYTa alloy by a conventional powder metallurgy route. • High densification and adequate strength were observed. • The presence of unexpected carbides found along γ/γ and γ/β grain boundaries was detected. • The effect of cold press and sintering processing parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties were studied.« less

Thermal Modeling of Resistance Spot Welding and Prediction of Weld Microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheikhi, M.; Valaee Tale, M.; Usefifar, GH. R.; Fattah-Alhosseini, Arash

2017-11-01

The microstructure of nuggets in resistance spot welding can be influenced by the many variables involved. This study aimed at examining such a relationship and, consequently, put forward an analytical model to predict the thermal history and microstructure of the nugget zone. Accordingly, a number of numerical simulations and experiments were conducted and the accuracy of the model was assessed. The results of this assessment revealed that the proposed analytical model could accurately predict the cooling rate in the nugget and heat-affected zones. Moreover, both analytical and numerical models confirmed that sheet thickness and electrode-sheet interface temperature were the most important factors influencing the cooling rate at temperatures lower than about T l/2. Decomposition of austenite is one of the most important transformations in steels occurring over this temperature range. Therefore, an easy-to-use map was designed against these parameters to predict the weld microstructure.

Microstructure and tensile properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloys manufactured by selective laser melting with optimized processing parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L.; Ma, C.; Huang, J.; Ding, H. Y.; Chu, M. Q.

2017-11-01

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a precise additive manufacturing process that the metallic powders without binder are melted layer by layer to complex components using a high bright fiber laser. In the paper, Ti-6Al-4V alloy was fabricated by SLM and its microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated in order to evaluate the SLM process. The results show that the microstructure exists anisotropy between the horizontal and vertical section due to the occurrence of epitaxial growth, and the former microstructure seems equal-axis and the latter is column. Moreover, there is little difference in tensile test between the horizontal and vertical sections. Furthermore, the tensile properties of fabricated Ti-6Al-4V alloy by SLM are higher than the forged standard ones. However, the fatigue results show that there are some scatters, which need further investigation to define the fatigue initiation.

Effects of annealing conditions on microstructure and mechanical properties of low carbon, manganese transformation-induced plasticity steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Jae-Myeong; Kim, Sung-Joon; Kang, Nam Hyun; Cho, Kyung-Mox; Suh, Dong-Woo

2009-12-01

The effects of annealing conditions on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties have been investigated in low carbon, manganese TRIP (Mn TRIP) steel based on a 0.12C-6Mn-0.5Si-3Al alloy system. The microstructure of cold-rolled sheet subjected to annealing at 760 °C to 800 °C for 30 s to 1800 s consists of a recrystallized ferrite matrix and fine-grained austenite with a phase fraction of 25 % to 35 %. Variation of the annealing conditions remarkably influenced the characteristics of constituent phases and thus affected the tensile strength and elongation. Optimization of microstructural parameters such as grain size and fraction of constituent phases, which control the yield strength, overall work hardening, and the kinetics of strain-induced martensite formation, is thus critical for obtaining an exceptional mechanical balance of the alloy.

A facile preparation route for netlike microstructures on a stainless steel using an ethanol-mediated femtosecond laser irradiation.

PubMed

Bian, Hao; Yang, Qing; Liu, Hewei; Chen, Feng; Du, Guangqing; Si, Jinhai; Hou, Xun

2013-03-01

Netlike or porous microstructures are highly desirable in metal implants and biomedical monitoring applications. However, realization of such microstructures remains technically challenging. Here, we report a facile and environmentally friendly method to prepare netlike microstructures on a stainless steel by taking the full advantage of the liquid-mediated femtosecond laser ablation. An unordered netlike structure and a quasi-ordered array of holes can be fabricated on the surface of stainless steel via an ethanol-mediated femtosecond laser line-scan method. SEM analysis of the surface morphology indicates that the porous netlike structure is in the micrometer scale and the diameter of the quasi-ordered holes ranges from 280 nm to 320 nm. Besides, we find that the obtained structures are tunable by altering the laser processing parameters especially scanning speed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of X80 and X100 Microalloyed Pipeline Steel Using Quantitative X-ray Diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiskel, J. B.; Li, X.; Ivey, D. G.; Henein, H.

2018-06-01

Quantitative X-ray diffraction characterization of four (4) X80 and three (3) X100 microalloyed steels was undertaken. The effect of through-thickness position, processing parameters, and composition on the measured crystallite size, microstrain, and J index (relative magnitude of crystallographic texture) was determined. Microstructure analysis using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron-backscattered diffraction was also undertaken. The measured value of microstrain increased with increasing alloy content and decreasing cooling interrupt temperature. Microstructural features corresponding to crystallite size in the X80 steels were both above and below the detection limit for quantitative X-ray diffraction. The X100 steels consistently exhibited microstructure features below the crystallite size detection limit. The yield stress of each steel increased with increasing microstrain. The increase in microstrain from X80 to X100 is also associated with a change in microstructure from predominantly polygonal ferrite to bainitic ferrite.

Metallographic assessment of Al-12Si high-pressure die casting escalator steps.

PubMed

Vander Voort, George Frederic; Suárez-Peña, Beatriz; Asensio-Lozano, Juan

2014-10-01

A microstructural characterization study was performed on high-pressure die cast specimens extracted from escalator steps manufactured from an Al-12 wt.% Si alloy designed for structural applications. Black and white, color light optical imaging and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to conduct the microstructural analysis. Most regions in the samples studied contained globular-rosette primary α-Al grains surrounded by an Al-Si eutectic aggregate, while primary dendritic α-Al grains were present in the surface layer. This dendritic microstructure was observed in the regions where the melt did not impinge directly on the die surface during cavity filling. Consequently, microstructures in the surface layer were nonuniform. Utilizing physical metallurgy principles, these results were analyzed in terms of the applied pressure and filling velocity during high-pressure die casting. The effects of these parameters on solidification at different locations of the casting are discussed.

Limiting factors in the production of deep microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tolfree, David W. L.; O'Neill, William; Tunna, Leslie; Sutcliffe, Christopher

1999-10-01

Microsystems increasingly require precision deep microstructures that can be cost-effectively designed and manufactured. New products must be able to meet the demands of the rapidly growing markets for microfluidic, micro- optical and micromechanical devices in industrial sectors which include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biosciences, medicine and food. The realization of such products, first requires an effective process to design and manufacture prototypes. Two process methods used for the fabrication of high aspect-ratio microstructures are based on X-ray beam lithography with electroforming processes and direct micromachining with a frequency multiplied Nd:YAG laser using nanosecond pulse widths. Factors which limit the efficiency and precision obtainable using such processes are important parameters when deciding on the best fabrication method to use. A basic microstructure with narrow channels suitable for a microfluidic mixer have been fabricated using both these techniques and comparisons made of the limitations and suitability of the processes in respect of fast prototyping and manufacture or working devices.

Microstructure-related properties of magnesium fluoride films at 193nm by oblique-angle deposition.

PubMed

Guo, Chun; Kong, Mingdong; Lin, Dawei; Liu, Cunding; Li, Bincheng

2013-01-14

Magnesium fluoride (MgF2) films deposited by resistive heating evaporation with oblique-angle deposition have been investigated in details. The optical and micro-structural properties of single-layer MgF2 films were characterized by UV-VIS and FTIR spectrophotometers, scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The dependences of the optical and micro-structural parameters of the thin films on the deposition angle were analyzed. It was found that the MgF2 film in a columnar microstructure was negatively inhomogeneous of refractive index and polycrystalline. As the deposition angle increased, the optical loss, extinction coefficient, root-mean-square (rms) roughness, dislocation density and columnar angle of the MgF2 films increased, while the refractive index, packing density and grain size decreased. Furthermore, IR absorption of the MgF2 films depended on the columnar structured growth.

A grain boundary damage model for delamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Messner, M. C.; Beaudoin, A. J.; Dodds, R. H.

2015-07-01

Intergranular failure in metallic materials represents a multiscale damage mechanism: some feature of the material microstructure triggers the separation of grain boundaries on the microscale, but the intergranular fractures develop into long cracks on the macroscale. This work develops a multiscale model of grain boundary damage for modeling intergranular delamination—a failure of one particular family of grain boundaries sharing a common normal direction. The key feature of the model is a physically-consistent and mesh independent, multiscale scheme that homogenizes damage at many grain boundaries on the microscale into a single damage parameter on the macroscale to characterize material failure across a plane. The specific application of the damage framework developed here considers delamination failure in modern Al-Li alloys. However, the framework may be readily applied to other metals or composites and to other non-delamination interface geometries—for example, multiple populations of material interfaces with different geometric characteristics.

Rare earth doped M-type hexaferrites; ferromagnetic resonance and magnetization dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Vipul; Kumari, Shweta; Kuanr, Bijoy K.

2018-05-01

M-type hexagonal barium ferrites come in the category of magnetic material that plays a key role in electromagnetic wave propagation in various microwave devices. Due to their large magnetic anisotropy and large magnetization, their operating frequency exceeds above 50 GHz. Doping is a way to vary its magnetic properties to such an extent that its ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) response can be tuned over a broad frequency band. We have done a complete FMR study of rare earth elements neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm), with cobalt (Co) as base, doped hexaferrite nanoparticles (NPs). X-ray diffractometry, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) techniques were used to characterize the microstructure and magnetic properties of doped hexaferrite nanoparticles. Using proper theoretical electromagnetic models, various parameters are extracted from FMR data which play important role in designing and fabricating high-frequency microwave devices.

Structural and electrical properties of cobalt-doped 4H-SrMnO_{3-δ} perovskites obtained by the hydrothermal method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

ben Rguiga, N.; Álvarez-Serrano, I.; López, M. L.; Chérif, W.; Alonso, J. A.

2018-02-01

A mild hydrothermal method was adapted to prepare the SrMn_{1-x}CoxO_{3-δ} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) compounds. They showed hexagonal-4H perovskite-type structure with space group P63/mmc, and cell parameters a ˜ 5.45 and c ˜ 9.08 Å, as deduced from X-ray and neutron diffraction data. The mean atomic concentrations indicated global stoichiometries close to the nominal ones whereas electron microscopy analyses pointed out to heterogeneity at the nanoscale. The characterization of the electrical response by means of impedance measurements, suggested a semiconductor behavior mainly ascribed to bulk contributions. Relaxation and conduction processes were analyzed. The materials showed mixed electronic-ionic conduction above ˜ 400 K, when ionic conduction between intergrains becomes favored. Microstructural homogeneity was revealed as the key factor controlling the electrical response.

On the critical parameters that regulate the deformation behaviour of tooth enamel.

PubMed

Xie, Zonghan; Swain, Michael; Munroe, Paul; Hoffman, Mark

2008-06-01

Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body with a complex hierarchical structure. Enamel hypomineralisation--a developmental defect--has been reported to cause a marked reduction in the mechanical properties of enamel and loss of dental function. We discover a distinctive difference in the inelastic deformation mechanism between sound and hypomineralised enamels that is apparently controlled by microstructural variation. For sound enamel, when subjected to mechanical forces the controlling deformation mechanism was distributed shearing within nanometre thick protein layer between its constituent mineral crystals; whereas for hypomineralised enamel microcracking and subsequent crack growth were more evident in its less densely packed microstructure. We develop a mechanical model that not only identifies the critical parameters, i.e., the thickness and shear properties of enamels, that regulate the mechanical behaviour of enamel, but also explains the degradation of hypomineralised enamel as manifested by its lower resistance to deformation and propensity for catastrophic failure. With support of experimental data, we conclude that for sound enamel an optimal microstructure has been developed that endows enamel with remarkable structural integrity for durable mechanical function.

High-Speed Friction Stir Welding of AA7075-T6 Sheet: Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Micro-texture, and Thermal History

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Jingyi; Upadhyay, Piyush; Hovanski, Yuri

Friction-stir-welding (FSW) is a cost-effective and high quality joining process for aluminum alloys (especially heat-treatable allo ys) that has been applied successfully in the aerospace industry. However, the full potential of FSW on more cost-sensitive applications is still limited by the production rate, namely the welding speed of the process. The majority of literature evaluating FSW of aluminum alloys is based on welds made in the range of welding speeds around hundreds of millimeters per minute, and only a handful are at a moderate speed of 1 m/min. In this study we present a microstructural analysis of friction stir weldedmore » AA7075-T6 blanks with welding speeds up to 3 m/min. Textures, microstructures, mechanical properties, and weld quality are analyzed using TEM, EBSD, metallographic imaging, and Vickers hardness. Results are coupled with welding parameters to aid in the understanding of the complex material flow and texture gradients within the welds in an effort to optimize welding parameters for high speed processing.« less

High-aspect-ratio microstructures with versatile slanting angles on silicon by uniform metal-assisted chemical etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Liyi; Zhang, Cheng; Tuan, Chia-Chi; Chen, Yun; Wong, C.-P.

2018-05-01

High-aspect-ratio (HAR) microstructures on silicon (Si) play key roles in photonics and electromechanical devices. However, it has been challenging to fabricate HAR microstructures with slanting profiles. Here we report successful fabrication of uniform HAR microstructures with controllable slanting angles on (1 0 0)-Si by slanted uniform metal-assisted chemical etching (SUMaCE). The trenches have width of 2 µm, aspect ratio greater than 20:1 and high geometric uniformity. The slanting angles can be adjusted between 2-70° with respect to the Si surface normal. The results support a fundamental hypothesis that under the UMaCE condition, the preferred etching direction is along the normal of the thin film catalysts, regardless of the relative orientation of the catalyst to Si substrates or the crystalline orientation of the substrates. The SUMaCE method paves the way to HAR 3D microfabrication with arbitrary slanting profiles inside Si.

3D Microstructural Characterization of Uranium Oxide as a Surrogate Nuclear Fuel: Effect of Oxygen Stoichiometry on Grain Boundary Distributions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rudman, K.; Dickerson, P.; Byler, Darrin David

The initial microstructure of an oxide fuel can play a key role in its performance. At low burn-ups, the diffusion of fission products can depend strongly on grain size and grain boundary (GB) characteristics, which in turn depend on processing conditions and oxygen stoichiometry. Serial sectioning techniques using Focused Ion Beam were developed to obtain Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) data for depleted UO2 pellets that were processed to obtain 3 different oxygen stoichiometries. The EBSD data were used to create 3D microstructure reconstructions and to gather statistical information on the grain and GB crystallography, with emphasis on identifying the charactermore » (twist, tilt, mixed) for GBs that meet the Coincident Site Lattice (CSL) criterion as well as GBs with the most common misorientation angles. Data on dihedral angles at triple points were also collected. The results were compared across different samples to understand effects of oxygen content on microstructure evolution.« less

Microstructural evolution and IMCs growth behavior of Sn-58Bi-0.25Mo solder joint during aging treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Li; Zhu, Lu; Zhang, Yaocheng; Zhou, Shiyuan; Xiong, Yifeng; Wu, Pengcheng

2018-02-01

The microstructural evolution and IMCs growth behavior of Sn-58Bi and Sn-58Bi-0.25Mo solder joints were investigated. The results showed that the microstructure is coarsened, the IMCs layer thickness is increased and the tensile strength of Sn-58Bi and Sn-58Bi-0.25Mo solder joints is decreased with increasing aging time and temperature. Aging temperature is the key factor that causes the excessive IMCs growth of the solder joint compared with aging time, and the activation energy of IMCs layer growth of Sn-58Bi and Sn-58Bi-0.25Mo solder joints is 48.94 kJ mol-1 and 53.79 kJ mol-1, respectively. During the aging treatment, the microstructure of Sn-58Bi solder joint is refined by adding Mo nanoparticles, and the appropriate IMCs layer thickness and improved mechanical properties are obtained by Sn-58Bi-0.25Mo solder joint.

Microstructure as a function of the grain size distribution for packings of frictionless disks: Effects of the size span and the shape of the distribution.

PubMed

Estrada, Nicolas; Oquendo, W F

2017-10-01

This article presents a numerical study of the effects of grain size distribution (GSD) on the microstructure of two-dimensional packings of frictionless disks. The GSD is described by a power law with two parameters controlling the size span and the shape of the distribution. First, several samples are built for each combination of these parameters. Then, by means of contact dynamics simulations, the samples are densified in oedometric conditions and sheared in a simple shear configuration. The microstructure is analyzed in terms of packing fraction, local ordering, connectivity, and force transmission properties. It is shown that the microstructure is notoriously affected by both the size span and the shape of the GSD. These findings confirm recent observations regarding the size span of the GSD and extend previous works by describing the effects of the GSD shape. Specifically, we find that if the GSD shape is varied by increasing the proportion of small grains by a certain amount, it is possible to increase the packing fraction, increase coordination, and decrease the proportion of floating particles. Thus, by carefully controlling the GSD shape, it is possible to obtain systems that are denser and better connected, probably increasing the system's robustness and optimizing important strength properties such as stiffness, cohesion, and fragmentation susceptibility.

Modelling study on the three-dimensional neutron depolarisation response of the evolving ferrite particle size distribution during the austenite-ferrite phase transformation in steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, H.; van der Zwaag, S.; van Dijk, N. H.

2018-07-01

The magnetic configuration of a ferromagnetic system with mono-disperse and poly-disperse distribution of magnetic particles with inter-particle interactions has been computed. The analysis is general in nature and applies to all systems containing magnetically interacting particles in a non-magnetic matrix, but has been applied to steel microstructures, consisting of a paramagnetic austenite phase and a ferromagnetic ferrite phase, as formed during the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation in low-alloyed steels. The characteristics of the computational microstructures are linked to the correlation function and determinant of depolarisation matrix, which can be experimentally obtained in three-dimensional neutron depolarisation (3DND). By tuning the parameters in the model used to generate the microstructure, we studied the effect of the (magnetic) particle size distribution on the 3DND parameters. It is found that the magnetic particle size derived from 3DND data matches the microstructural grain size over a wide range of volume fractions and grain size distributions. A relationship between the correlation function and the relative width of the particle size distribution was proposed to accurately account for the width of the size distribution. This evaluation shows that 3DND experiments can provide unique in situ information on the austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation in steels.

Micromechanics of plastic deformation and phase transformation in a three-phase TRIP-assisted advanced high strength steel: Experiments and modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Ankit; Ghassemi-Armaki, Hassan; Sung, Hyokyung; Chen, Peng; Kumar, Sharvan; Bower, Allan F.

2015-05-01

The micromechanics of plastic deformation and phase transformation in a three-phase advanced high strength steel are analyzed both experimentally and by microstructure-based simulations. The steel examined is a three-phase (ferrite, martensite and retained austenite) quenched and partitioned sheet steel with a tensile strength of 980 MPa. The macroscopic flow behavior and the volume fraction of martensite resulting from the austenite-martensite transformation during deformation were measured. In addition, micropillar compression specimens were extracted from the individual ferrite grains and the martensite particles, and using a flat-punch nanoindenter, stress-strain curves were obtained. Finite element simulations idealize the microstructure as a composite that contains ferrite, martensite and retained austenite. All three phases are discretely modeled using appropriate crystal plasticity based constitutive relations. Material parameters for ferrite and martensite are determined by fitting numerical predictions to the micropillar data. The constitutive relation for retained austenite takes into account contributions to the strain rate from the austenite-martensite transformation, as well as slip in both the untransformed austenite and product martensite. Parameters for the retained austenite are then determined by fitting the predicted flow stress and transformed austenite volume fraction in a 3D microstructure to experimental measurements. Simulations are used to probe the role of the retained austenite in controlling the strain hardening behavior as well as internal stress and strain distributions in the microstructure.

Influence of nanogold additives on phase formation, microstructure and dielectric properties of perovskite BaTiO3 ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nonkumwong, Jeeranan; Ananta, Supon; Srisombat, Laongnuan

2015-06-01

The formation of perovskite phase, microstructure and dielectric properties of nanogold-modified barium titanate (BaTiO3) ceramics was examined as a function of gold nanoparticle contents by employing a combination of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, Archimedes principle and dielectric measurement techniques. These ceramics were fabricated from a simple mixed-oxide method. The amount of gold nanoparticles was found to be one of the key factors controlling densification, grain growth and dielectric response in BaTiO3 ceramics. It was found that under suitable amount of nanogold addition (4 mol%), highly dense perovskite BaTiO3 ceramics with homogeneous microstructures of refined grains (~0.5-3.1 μm) and excellence dielectric properties can be produced.

Investigation of radiation damage tolerance in interface-containing metallic nano structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greer, Julia R.

The proposed work seeks to conduct a basic study by applying experimental and computational methods to obtain quantitative influence of helium sink strength and proximity on He bubble nucleation and growth in He-irradiated nano-scale metallic structures, and the ensuing deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties. We utilized a combination of nano-scale in-situ tension and compression experiments on low-energy He-irradiated samples combined with site-specific microstructural characterization and modeling efforts. We also investigated the mechanical deformation of nano-architected materials, i.e. nanolattices which are comprised of 3-dimensional interwoven networks of hollow tubes, with the wall thickness in the nanometer range. This systematic approach willmore » provide us with critical information for identifying key factors that govern He bubble nucleation and growth upon irradiation as a function of both sink strength and sink proximity through an experimentally-confirmed physical understanding. As an outgrowth of these efforts, we performed irradiations with self-ions (Ni 2+) on Ni-Al-Zr metallic glass nanolattices to assess their resilience against radiation damage rather than He-ion implantation. We focused our attention on studying individual bcc/fcc interfaces within a single nano structure (nano-pillar or a hollow tube): a single Fe (bcc)-Cu (fcc) boundary per pillar oriented perpendicular to the pillar axes, as well as pure bcc and fcc nano structures. Additional interfaces of interest include bcc/bcc and metal/metallic glass all within a single nano-structure volume. The model material systems are: (1) pure single crystalline Fe and Cu, (2) a single Fe (bcc)-Cu (fcc) boundary per nano structure (3) a single metal–metallic glass, all oriented non-parallel to the loading direction so that their fracture strength can be tested. A nano-fabrication approach, which involves e-beam lithography and templated electroplating, as well as two-photon lithography, was utilized, which enabled precise control of the initial microstructure control. Experimentally determined stress-strain relationships were enhanced by in-situ SEM observations coupled with TEM microstructural characterization of the same samples before and after deformation (irradiated and as-fabricated) and atomistic (MD) modeling. A comprehensive suite of experiments was conducted to quantitatively assess the key parameters for He bubble nucleation and growth by independently varying the sink strength, sink proximity, and He implantation temperature and dose. The implantations were conducted at Sandia and Los Alamos National Labs (CINT). Nano structuress containing He-enriched interfaces and irradiation-damaged microstructure were tested under uniaxial tension to assess embrittlement, resulting boundary strength, and deformation mechanisms. Results of this work helped identify which types of interfaces are particularly resilient against radiation damage.« less

Direct generation of superhydrophobic microstructures in metals by UV laser sources in the nanosecond regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ocaña, Jose L.; Jagdheesh, R.; García-Ballesteros, J. J.

2016-02-01

The current availability of new advanced fiber and DPSS lasers with characteristic pulse lengths ranging from ns to fs has provided a unique frame in which the development of laser-generated microstructures has been made possible for very diverse kinds of materials and applications. At the same time, the development of the appropriate laser-processing workstations granting the appropriate precision and repeatability of the respective laser interaction processes in line with the characteristic dimension features required in the microstructured samples has definitively consolidated laser surface microstructuring as a reference domain, nowadays, unavoidable for the design and manufacturing of current use microsystem: MEMSs, fluidic devices, advanced sensors, biomedical devices and instruments, etc., are all among the most well-known developments of the micromanufacturing technology. Completing the broad spectrum of applications developed mostly involving the generation of geometrical features on a subtrate with specific functional purposes, a relatively new, emerging class of laser-microstructuring techniques is finding an important niche of application in the generation of physically structured surfaces (particularly of metallic materials) with specific contact, friction, and wear functionalities, for whose generation the concourse of different types of laser sources is being found as an appropriate tool. In this paper, the application of laser sources with emission in the UV and at ns time regime to the surface structuration of metal surfaces (specifically Al) for the modification of their wettability properties is described as an attractive application basis for the generation of self-cleaning properties of extended functional surfaces. Flat aluminum sheets of thickness 100 μm were laser machined with ultraviolet laser pulses of 30 ns with different laser parameters to optimize the process parameters. The samples produced at the optimum conditions with respect to contact angle measurement were subjected to microstructure and chemical analysis. The wetting properties were evaluated by static contact angle measurements on the laser-patterned surface. The laser-patterned microstructures exhibited superhydrophobicity with a maximum contact angle of 180° for the droplet volumes in the range of 8-12 μl.

Investigation of the laser engineered net shaping process for nanostructured cermets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Yuhong

Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENSRTM) is a solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technology that combines high power laser deposition and powder metallurgy technologies. The LENSRTM technology has been used to fabricate a number of metallic alloys with improved physical and mechanical material properties. The successful application provides a motivation to also apply this method to fabricate non-metallic alloys, such as tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) cermets in a timely and easy way. However, reports on this topic are very limited. In this work, the LENSRTM technology was used to investigate its application to nanostructured WC-Co cermets, including processing conditions, microstructural evolution, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and environmental and economic benefits. Details of the approaches are described as follows. A comprehensive analysis of the relationships between process parameters, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties was conducted through various analytical techniques. Effects of process parameters on sample profiles and microstructures were analyzed. Dissolution, shape change and coarsening of WC particles were investigated to study the mechanisms of microstructural evolution. The thermal features were correlated with the microstructure and mechanical properties. The special thermal behavior during this process and its relevant effects on the microstructure have been experimentally studied and numerically simulated. A high-speed digital camera was applied to study the temperature profile, temperature gradient and cooling rate in and near the molten pool. Numerical modeling was employed for 3D samples using finite element method with ADINA software for the first time. The validated modeling results were used to interpret microstructural evolution and thermal history. In order to fully evaluate the capability of the LENSRTM technology for the fabrication of cermets, material properties of WC-Co cermets produced by different powder metallurgy technologies were compared. In addition, another cermet system, nanostructured titanium/tungsten carbide-nickel ((Ti,W)C-Ni) powder, prepared using high-energy ball milling process, was also deposited by the LENSRTM technology. Because of the near net shape feature of the LENSRTM process, special emphasis was also placed on its potential environmental and economic benefits by applying life cycle assessment (LCA) and technical cost modeling (TCM). Comparisons were conducted between the conventional powder metallurgy processes and the LENSRTM process.

Effect of thermo-mechanical processing on microstructure and mechanical properties of U - Nb - Zr alloys: Part 2 - U - 3 wt % Nb - 9 wt % Zr and U - 9 wt% Nb - 3 wt% Zr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morais, Nathanael Wagner Sales; Lopes, Denise Adorno; Schön, Cláudio Geraldo

2018-04-01

The present work is the second and final part of an extended investigation on Usbnd Nb - Zr alloys. It investigates the effect of mechanical processing routes on microstructure of alloys U - 3 wt % Nb - 9 wt % Zr and U - 9 wt% Nb - 3 wt% Zr, through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, completing the investigation, which started with alloy U - 6 wt% Nb - 6 wt% Zr in part 1. Mechanical properties are determined using microhardness and bending tests and correlated with the developed microstructures. The results show that processing sequence, in particular the inclusion of a 1000 °C heat treatment step, affects significantly the microstructure and mechanical properties of these alloys alloy in different ways. Microstructural characterization shows that both alloys present significant volume fraction of precipitates of a body-centered cubic (BCC) γ-Nb-Zr rich phase in addition the uranium-rich matrix. Bending tests show that sample ductility does not correlate necessarily with hardness and that the key factor appears to be the amount of the γ-Nb-Zr precipitates, which controls the matrix microstructure. Samples with a monoclinic α″ cellular microstructure and/or with the tetragonally-distorted BCC phase (γ0), although not strictly ductile, showed the largest allowed strains-before-break and complete elastic recovery of the broken pieces, pointing out to the macroscopic observation of superelasticity.

Effects of high pressure on microstructure evolution and crystallization mechanisms during solidification of nickel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hai-Tao; Mo, Yun-Fei; Liu, Rang-Su; Tian, Ze-An; Liu, Hai-Rong; Hou, Zhao-Yang; Zhou, Li-Li; Liang, Yong-Chao; Peng, Ping

2018-03-01

To deeply understand the effects of high pressure on microstructural evolutions and crystallization mechanisms of liquid metal Ni during solidification process, MD simulation studies have been performed under 7 pressures of 0 ˜ 30 GPa, at cooling rate of 1.0 × 1011 K s-1. Adopting several microstructural analyzing methods, especially the cluster-type index method (CTIM-2) to analyze the local microstructures in the system. It is found that the pressure has important influence on the formation and evolution of microstructures, especially of the main basic clusters in the system. All the simulation systems are directly solidified into crystal structures, and the 1421, 1422, 1441 and 1661 bond-types, as well the FCC (12 0 0 0 12 0), HCP (12 0 0 0 6 6) and BCC (14 6 0 8 0 0) clusters play a key role in the microstructure transitions from liquid to crystal structures. The crystallization temperature T c is enhanced almost linearly with the increase of pressure. Highly interesting, it is found for the first time that there is an important phase transformation point from FCC to BCC structures between 20 ˜ 22.5 GPa during the solidification processes from the same initial liquid system at the same cooling rate. And the effect of increasing pressure is similar to that of decreasing cooling rate for the phase transformation of microstructures during solidification process of liquid metal Ni system, though they have different concrete effecting mechanisms.

Use of MR-based trabecular bone microstructure analysis at the distal radius for osteoporosis diagnostics: a study in post-menopausal women with breast cancer and treated with aromatase inhibitor.

PubMed

Baum, Thomas; Karampinos, Dimitrios C; Seifert-Klauss, Vanadin; Pencheva, Tsvetelina D; Jungmann, Pia M; Rummeny, Ernst J; Müller, Dirk; Bauer, Jan S

2016-01-01

Treatment with aromatase inhibitor (AI) is recommended for post-menopausal women with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. However, AI therapy is known to induce bone loss leading to osteoporosis with an increased risk for fragility fractures. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether changes of magnetic resonance (MR)-based trabecular bone microstructure parameters as advanced imaging biomarker can already be detected in subjects with AI intake but still without evidence for osteoporosis according to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-based bone mineral density (BMD) measurements as current clinical gold standard. Twenty-one postmenopausal women (62±6 years of age) with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer, ongoing treatment with aromatase inhibitor for 23±15 months, and no evidence for osteoporosis (current DXA T-score greater than -2.5) were recruited for this study. Eight young, healthy women (24±2 years of age) were included as controls. All subjects underwent 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the distal radius to assess the trabecular bone microstructure. Trabecular bone microstructure parameters were not significantly (p>0.05) different between subjects with AI intake and controls, including apparent bone fraction (0.42±0.03 vs. 0.42±0.05), trabecular number (1.95±0.10 mm(-1) vs 1.89±0.15 mm(-1)), trabecular separation (0.30±0.03 mm vs 0.31±0.06 mm), trabecular thickness (0.21±0.01 mm vs 0.22±0.02 mm), and fractal dimension (1.70±0.02 vs. 1.70±0.03). These findings suggest that the initial deterioration of trabecular bone microstructure as measured by MRI and BMD loss as measured by DXA occur not sequentially but rather simultaneously. Thus, the use of MR-based trabecular bone microstructure assessment is limited as early diagnostic biomarker in this clinical setting.

Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Hot-Die Forming, and Joining of 47XD Gamma TiAl Rolled Sheets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Das, G.; Draper, S.; Whittenberger, J. D.; Bartolotta, P. A.

2001-01-01

The microstructure and mechanical properties, along with the hot-die forming and joining of Ti-47Al-2Nb-2Mn-0.8 vol% TiB, sheets (known as 47XD), produced by a low-cost rolling process, were evaluated. A near-gamma microstructure was obtained in the as-rolled condition. The microstructures of heat-treated sheets ranged from a recrystallized equiaxed near-gamma microstructure at 1,200 to 1,310 C, to a duplex microstructure at 1,350 C, to a fully lamellar microstructure at 1,376 C. Tensile behavior was determined for unidirectionally rolled and cross-rolled sheets for room temperature (RT) to 816 C. Yield stress decreased gradually with increasing deformation temperature up to 704 C; above 704 C, it declined rapidly. Ultimate tensile strength exhibited a gradual decrease up to 537 C before peaking at 704 C, followed by a rapid decline at 816 C. The modulus showed a gradual decrease with temperature, reaching approximately 72% of the RT value at 816 C. Strain to failure increased slowly from RT to 537 C; between 537 C and 704 C it exhibited a phenomenal increase, suggesting that the ductile-brittle transition temperature was below 704 C. Fracture mode changed from transgranular fracture at low temperature, to a mixture of transgranular and intergranular fracture at intermediate temperature, to ductile fracture at 816 C, coupled with dynamic recrystallization at large strains. Creep rupture response was evaluated between 649 and 816 C over the stress range of 69 to 276 MPa. Deformation parameters for steady-state creep rate and time-to-rupture were similar: activation energies of approximately 350 kJ/mol and stress exponents of approximately 4.5. Hot-die forming of sheets into corrugations was done at elevated temperatures in vacuum. The process parameters to join sheets by diffusion bonding and brazing with TiCuNi 70 filler alloy were optimized for test coupons and successfully used to fabricate large truss-core and honeycomb structures. Nondestructive evaluation methods, e.g., ultrasonic C-scans and thermography along with metallography, were used to characterize bond quality. Microstructural evaluation during heat treatment, identification of phases at the braze/matrix interface, determination of shear strengths of brazed joints, and deformation mechanisms during tensile and creep processes will be discussed.

Microstructure and Solidification Crack Susceptibility of Al 6014 Molten Alloy Subjected to a Spatially Oscillated Laser Beam.

PubMed

Kang, Minjung; Han, Heung Nam; Kim, Cheolhee

2018-04-23

Oscillating laser beam welding for Al 6014 alloy was performed using a single mode fiber laser and two-axis scanner system. Its effect on the microstructural evolution of the fusion zone was investigated. To evaluate the influence of oscillation parameters, self-restraint test specimens were fabricated with different beam patterns, widths, and frequencies. The behavior of hot cracking propagation was analyzed by high-speed camera and electron backscatter diffraction. The behavior of crack propagation was observed to be highly correlated with the microstructural evolution of the fusion zone. For most oscillation conditions, the microstructure resembled that of linear welds. A columnar structure was formed near the fusion line and an equiaxed structure was generated at its center. The wide equiaxed zone of oscillation welding increased solidification crack susceptibility. For an oscillation with an infinite-shaped scanning pattern at 100 Hz and 3.5 m/min welding speed, the bead width, solidification microstructure, and the width of the equiaxed zone at the center of fusion fluctuated. Furthermore, the equiaxed and columnar regions alternated periodically, which could reduce solidification cracking susceptibility.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Plotkowski, A.; Rios, O.; Sridharan, N.

Our present research in metal additive manufacturing (AM) focuses on designing processing parameters around existing alloys designed for traditional manufacturing. However, to maximize the benefits of AM, alloys should be designed to specifically take advantage of the unique thermal conditions of these processes. Furthermore, our study focuses on the development of a design methodology for alloys in AM, using a newly developed Al-Ce alloy as an initial case study. To evaluate the candidacy of this system for fusion based additive manufacturing, single-line laser melts were made on cast Al-12Ce plates using three different beam velocities (100, 200, and 300 mm/min).more » The microstructure was evaluated in the as-melted and heat treated conditions (24 hrs at 300°C). An extremely fine microstructure was observed within the weld pools, evolving from eutectic at the outer solid-liquid boundaries to a primary Al FCC dendritic/cellular structure nearer the melt-pool centerline. We rationalized the observed microstructures through the construction of a microstructure selection map for the Al-Ce binary system, which will be used to enable future alloy design. Interestingly, the heat treated samples exhibited no microstructural coarsening.« less

Modeling of the flow behavior of SAE 8620H combing microstructure evolution in hot forming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Xiaobin; Wang, Baoyu; Tang, Xuefeng

2017-10-01

With the development of net-shape forming technology, hot forming process is widely applied to manufacturing gear parts, during which, materials suffer severe plastic distortion and microstructure changes continually. In this paper, to understand and model the flow behavior and microstructure evolution, SAE 8620H, a widely used gear steel, is selected as the object and the flow behavior and microstructure evolution are observed by an isothermal hot compression tests at 1273-1373 K with a strain rate of 0.1-10 s-1. Depending on the results of the compression test, a set of internal-state-variable based unified constitutive equations is put forward to describe the flow behavior and microstructure evaluation of SAE 8620H. Moreover, the evaluation of the dislocation density and the fraction of dynamic recrystallization based on the theory of thermal activation is modeled and reincorporated into the constitutive law. The material parameters in the constitutive model are calculated based on the measured flow stress and dynamic recrystallization fraction. The predicted flow stress under different deformation conditions has a good agreement with the measured results.

Microstructure and Solidification Crack Susceptibility of Al 6014 Molten Alloy Subjected to a Spatially Oscillated Laser Beam

PubMed Central

Kang, Minjung; Han, Heung Nam

2018-01-01

Oscillating laser beam welding for Al 6014 alloy was performed using a single mode fiber laser and two-axis scanner system. Its effect on the microstructural evolution of the fusion zone was investigated. To evaluate the influence of oscillation parameters, self-restraint test specimens were fabricated with different beam patterns, widths, and frequencies. The behavior of hot cracking propagation was analyzed by high-speed camera and electron backscatter diffraction. The behavior of crack propagation was observed to be highly correlated with the microstructural evolution of the fusion zone. For most oscillation conditions, the microstructure resembled that of linear welds. A columnar structure was formed near the fusion line and an equiaxed structure was generated at its center. The wide equiaxed zone of oscillation welding increased solidification crack susceptibility. For an oscillation with an infinite-shaped scanning pattern at 100 Hz and 3.5 m/min welding speed, the bead width, solidification microstructure, and the width of the equiaxed zone at the center of fusion fluctuated. Furthermore, the equiaxed and columnar regions alternated periodically, which could reduce solidification cracking susceptibility. PMID:29690630

Assessment of the microstructure evolution of an austempered ductile iron during austempering process through strain hardening analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnini, Riccardo; Fabrizi, Alberto; Bonollo, Franco; Zanardi, Franco; Angella, Giuliano

2017-09-01

The aim of this investigation was to determine a procedure based on tensile testing to assess the critical range of austempering times for having the best ausferrite produced through austempering. The austempered ductile iron (ADI) 1050 was quenched at different times during austempering and the quenched samples were tested in tension. The dislocation-density-related constitutive equation proposed by Estrin for materials having high density of geometrical obstacles to dislocation motion, was used to model the flow curves of the tensile tested samples. On the basis of strain hardening theory, the equation parameters were related to the microstructure of the quenched samples and were used to assess the ADI microstructure evolution during austempering. The microstructure evolution was also analysed through conventional optical microscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction technique and transmission electron microscopy. The microstructure observations resulted to be consistent with the assessment based on tensile testing, so the dislocation-density-related constitutive equation was found to be a powerful tool to characterise the evolution of the solid state transformations of austempering.

Evolution and Control of 2219 Aluminum Microstructural Features Through Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taminger, Karen M.; Hafley, Robert A.; Domack, Marcia S.

2006-01-01

The layer-additive nature of the electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) process results in a tortuous thermal path producing complex microstructures including: small homogeneous equiaxed grains; dendritic growth contained within larger grains; and/or pervasive dendritic formation in the interpass regions of the deposits. Several process control variables contribute to the formation of these different microstructures, including translation speed, wire feed rate, beam current and accelerating voltage. In electron beam processing, higher accelerating voltages embed the energy deeper below the surface of the substrate. Two EBF3 systems have been established at NASA Langley, one with a low-voltage (10-30kV) and the other a high-voltage (30-60 kV) electron beam gun. Aluminum alloy 2219 was processed over a range of different variables to explore the design space and correlate the resultant microstructures with the processing parameters. This report is specifically exploring the impact of accelerating voltage. Of particular interest is correlating energy to the resultant material characteristics to determine the potential of achieving microstructural control through precise management of the heat flux and cooling rates during deposition.

Microstructural evolution in the HAZ of Inconel 718 and correlation with the hot ductility test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thompson, R. G.; Genculu, S.

1983-01-01

The nickel-base alloy 718 was evaluated to study the role of preweld heat treatment in reducing or eliminating heat-affected zone hot cracking. Three heat treatments were studied using the Gleeble hot ductility test. A modified hot ductility test was also used to follow the evolution of microstructure during simulated welding thermal cycles. The microstructural evolution was correlated with the hot ductility data in order to evaluate the mechanism of hot cracking in alloy 718. The correlation of hot ductility with microstructure showed that recrystallization, grain growth, and dissolution of precipitates did not in themselves cause any loss of ductility during cooling. Ductility loss during cooling was not initiated until the constitutional liquation of NbC particles was observed in the microstructure. Laves-type phases were found precipitated in the solidified grain boundaries but were not found to correlate with any ductility loss parameter. Mechanisms are reviewed which help to explain how heat treatment controls the hot crack susceptibility of alloy 718 as measured in the hot ductility test.

Multiple sclerosis-related white matter microstructural change alters the BOLD hemodynamic response.

PubMed

Hubbard, Nicholas A; Turner, Monroe; Hutchison, Joanna L; Ouyang, Austin; Strain, Jeremy; Oasay, Larry; Sundaram, Saranya; Davis, Scott; Remington, Gina; Brigante, Ryan; Huang, Hao; Hart, John; Frohman, Teresa; Frohman, Elliot; Biswal, Bharat B; Rypma, Bart

2016-11-01

Multiple sclerosis (MS) results in inflammatory damage to white matter microstructure. Prior research using blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) imaging indicates MS-related alterations to brain function. What is currently unknown is the extent to which white matter microstructural damage influences BOLD signal in MS. Here we assessed changes in parameters of the BOLD hemodynamic response function (HRF) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS compared to healthy controls. We also used diffusion tensor imaging to assess whether MS-related changes to the BOLD-HRF were affected by changes in white matter microstructural integrity. Our results showed MS-related reductions in BOLD-HRF peak amplitude. These MS-related amplitude decreases were influenced by individual differences in white matter microstructural integrity. Other MS-related factors including altered reaction time, limited spatial extent of BOLD activity, elevated lesion burden, or lesion proximity to regions of interest were not mediators of group differences in BOLD-HRF amplitude. Results are discussed in terms of functional hyperemic mechanisms and implications for analysis of BOLD signal differences. © The Author(s) 2015.

Impact of Protein Gel Porosity on the Digestion of Lipid Emulsions.

PubMed

Sarkar, Anwesha; Juan, Jean-Marc; Kolodziejczyk, Eric; Acquistapace, Simone; Donato-Capel, Laurence; Wooster, Tim J

2015-10-14

The present study sought to understand how the microstructure of protein gels impacts lipolysis of gelled emulsions. The selected system consisted of an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion embedded within gelatin gels. The gelatin-gelled emulsions consisted of a discontinuous network of aggregated emulsion droplets (mesoscale), dispersed within a continuous network of gelatin (microscale). The viscoelastic properties of the gelled emulsions were dominated by the rheological behavior of the gelatin, suggesting a gelatin continuous microstructure rather than a bicontinuous gel. A direct relationship between the speed of fat digestion and gel average mesh size was found, indicating that the digestion of fat within gelatin-gelled emulsions is controlled by the ability of the gel's microstructure to slow lipase diffusion to the interface of fat droplets. Digestion of fat was facilitated by gradual breakdown of the gelatin network, which mainly occurred via surface erosion catalyzed by proteases. Overall, this work has demonstrated that the lipolysis kinetics of gelled emulsions is driven by the microstructure of protein gels; this knowledge is key for the future development of microstructures to control fat digestion and/or the delivery of nutrients to different parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Effect of processing parameters on FDM process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chari, V. Srinivasa; Venkatesh, P. R.; Krupashankar, Dinesh, Veena

2018-04-01

This paper focused on the process parameters on fused deposition modeling (FDM). Infill, resolution, temperature are the process variables considered for experimental studies. Compression strength, Hardness test microstructure are the outcome parameters, this experimental study done based on the taguchi's L9 orthogonal array is used. Taguchi array used to build the 9 different models and also to get the effective output results on the under taken parameters. The material used for this experimental study is Polylactic Acid (PLA).

Anisotropic and Hierarchical Porosity in Multifunctional Ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lichtner, Aaron Zev

The performance of multifunctional porous ceramics is often hindered by the seemingly contradictory effects of porosity on both mechanical and non-structural properties and yet a sufficient body of knowledge linking microstructure to these properties does not exist. Using a combination of tailored anisotropic and hierarchical materials, these disparate effects may be reconciled. In this project, a systematic investigation of the processing, characterization and properties of anisotropic and isotropic hierarchically porous ceramics was conducted. The system chosen was a composite ceramic intended as the cathode for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Comprehensive processing investigations led to the development of approaches to make hierarchical, anisotropic porous microstructures using directional freeze-casting of well dispersed slurries. The effect of all the important processing parameters was investigated. This resulted in an ability to tailor and control the important microstructural features including the scale of the microstructure, the macropore size and total porosity. Comparable isotropic porous ceramics were also processed using fugitive pore formers. A suite of characterization techniques including x-ray tomography and 3-D sectional scanning electron micrographs (FIB-SEM) was used to characterize and quantify the green and partially sintered microstructures. The effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure was quantified and discrete element simulations (DEM) were used to explain the experimental observations. Finally, the comprehensive mechanical properties, at room temperature, were investigated, experimentally and using DEM, for the different microstructures.

Mapping local anisotropy axis for scattering media using backscattering Mueller matrix imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Honghui; Sun, Minghao; Zeng, Nan; Du, E.; Guo, Yihong; He, Yonghong; Ma, Hui

2014-03-01

Mueller matrix imaging techniques can be used to detect the micro-structure variations of superficial biological tissues, including the sizes and shapes of cells, the structures in cells, and the densities of the organelles. Many tissues contain anisotropic fibrous micro-structures, such as collagen fibers, elastin fibers, and muscle fibers. Changes of these fibrous structures are potentially good indicators for some pathological variations. In this paper, we propose a quantitative analysis technique based on Mueller matrix for mapping local anisotropy axis of scattering media. By conducting both experiments on silk sample and Monte Carlo simulation based on the sphere-cylinder scattering model (SCSM), we extract anisotropy axis parameters from different backscattering Mueller matrix elements. Moreover, we testify the possible applications of these parameters for biological tissues. The preliminary experimental results of human cancerous samples show that, these parameters are capable to map the local axis of fibers. Since many pathological changes including early stage cancers affect the well aligned structures for tissues, the experimental results indicate that these parameters can be used as potential tools in clinical applications for biomedical diagnosis purposes.

Verifying the functional ability of microstructured surfaces by model-based testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartmann, Wito; Weckenmann, Albert

2014-09-01

Micro- and nanotechnology enables the use of new product features such as improved light absorption, self-cleaning or protection, which are based, on the one hand, on the size of functional nanostructures and the other hand, on material-specific properties. With the need to reliably measure progressively smaller geometric features, coordinate and surface-measuring instruments have been refined and now allow high-resolution topography and structure measurements down to the sub-nanometre range. Nevertheless, in many cases it is not possible to make a clear statement about the functional ability of the workpiece or its topography because conventional concepts of dimensioning and tolerancing are solely geometry oriented and standardized surface parameters are not sufficient to consider interaction with non-geometric parameters, which are dominant for functions such as sliding, wetting, sealing and optical reflection. To verify the functional ability of microstructured surfaces, a method was developed based on a parameterized mathematical-physical model of the function. From this model, function-related properties can be identified and geometric parameters can be derived, which may be different for the manufacturing and verification processes. With this method it is possible to optimize the definition of the shape of the workpiece regarding the intended function by applying theoretical and experimental knowledge, as well as modelling and simulation. Advantages of this approach will be discussed and demonstrated by the example of a microstructured inking roll.

Residual Stress Measurement and Calibration for A7N01 Aluminum Alloy Welded Joints by Using Longitudinal Critically Refracted ( LCR) Wave Transmission Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Qimeng; Chen, Jia; Gou, Guoqing; Chen, Hui; Li, Peng; Gao, W.

2016-10-01

Residual stress measurement and control are highly important for the safety of structures of high-speed trains, which is critical for the structure design. The longitudinal critically refracted wave technology is the most widely used method in measuring residual stress with ultrasonic method, but its accuracy is strongly related to the test parameters, namely the flight time at the free-stress condition ( t 0), stress coefficient ( K), and initial stress (σ0) of the measured materials. The difference of microstructure in the weld zone, heat affected zone, and base metal (BM) results in the divergence of experimental parameters. However, the majority of researchers use the BM parameters to determine the residual stress in other zones and ignore the initial stress (σ0) in calibration samples. Therefore, the measured residual stress in different zones is often high in errors and may result in the miscalculation of the safe design of important structures. A serious problem in the ultrasonic estimation of residual stresses requires separation between the microstructure and the acoustoelastic effects. In this paper, the effects of initial stress and microstructure on stress coefficient K and flight time t 0 at free-stress conditions have been studied. The residual stress with or without different corrections was investigated. The results indicated that the residual stresses obtained with correction are more accurate for structure design.

Characterizing the microstructural basis of "unidentified bright objects" in neurofibromatosis type 1: A combined in vivo multicomponent T2 relaxation and multi-shell diffusion MRI analysis.

PubMed

Billiet, Thibo; Mädler, Burkhard; D'Arco, Felice; Peeters, Ronald; Deprez, Sabine; Plasschaert, Ellen; Leemans, Alexander; Zhang, Hui; den Bergh, Bea Van; Vandenbulcke, Mathieu; Legius, Eric; Sunaert, Stefan; Emsell, Louise

2014-01-01

The histopathological basis of "unidentified bright objects" (UBOs) (hyperintense regions seen on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) brain scans in neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1)) remains unclear. New in vivo MRI-based techniques (multi-exponential T2 relaxation (MET2) and diffusion MR imaging (dMRI)) provide measures relating to microstructural change. We combined these methods and present previously unreported data on in vivo UBO microstructure in NF1. 3-Tesla dMRI data were acquired on 17 NF1 patients, covering 30 white matter UBOs. Diffusion tensor, kurtosis and neurite orientation and dispersion density imaging parameters were calculated within UBO sites and in contralateral normal appearing white matter (cNAWM). Analysis of MET2 parameters was performed on 24 UBO-cNAWM pairs. No significant alterations in the myelin water fraction and intra- and extracellular (IE) water fraction were found. Mean T2 time of IE water was significantly higher in UBOs. UBOs furthermore showed increased axial, radial and mean diffusivity, and decreased fractional anisotropy, mean kurtosis and neurite density index compared to cNAWM. Neurite orientation dispersion and isotropic fluid fraction were unaltered. Our results suggest that demyelination and axonal degeneration are unlikely to be present in UBOs, which appear to be mainly caused by a shift towards a higher T2-value of the intra- and extracellular water pool. This may arise from altered microstructural compartmentalization, and an increase in 'extracellular-like', intracellular water, possibly due to intramyelinic edema. These findings confirm the added value of combining dMRI and MET2 to characterize the microstructural basis of T2 hyperintensities in vivo.

Effects of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field on microstructure and bone metabolism of femur in mice.

PubMed

Guo, Ling; Zhang, Jun-Ping; Zhang, Ke-Ying; Wang, Huan-Bo; Wang, Huan; An, Guang-Zhou; Zhou, Yan; Meng, Guo-Lin; Ding, Gui-Rong

2018-04-30

To investigate the effects of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency (RF) field on bone microstructure and metabolism of femur in mice, C57BL/6 mice (male, age 4 weeks) were whole-body exposed or sham exposed to 1.8 GHz RF field. Specific absorption rates of whole body and bone were approximately 2.70 and 1.14 W/kg (6 h/day for 28 days). After exposure, microstructure and morphology of femur were observed by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Subsequently, bone parameters were calculated directly from the reconstructed images, including structure model index, bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume/total volume, connectivity density, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, and trabecular separation. Biomarkers that reflect bone metabolism, such as serum total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), were determined by biochemical assay methods. Micro-CT and histology results showed that there was no significant change in bone microstructure and the above parameters in RF group, compared with sham group. The activity of serum ALP and BALP increased 29.47% and 16.82%, respectively, in RF group, compared with sham group (P < 0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences in the activity of serum TRACP-5b between RF group and sham group. In brief, under present experimental conditions, we did not find support for an effect of 1.8 GHz RF field on bone microstructure; however, it might promote metabolic function of osteoblasts in mice. Bioelectromagnetics. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

cm-scale variations of crystal orientation fabric in cold Alpine ice core from Colle Gnifetti

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerch, Johanna; Weikusat, Ilka; Eisen, Olaf; Wagenbach, Dietmar; Erhardt, Tobias

2015-04-01

Analysis of the microstructural parameters of ice has been an important part of ice core analyses so far mainly in polar cores in order to obtain information about physical processes (e.g. deformation, recrystallisation) on the micro- and macro-scale within an ice body. More recently the influence of impurities and climatic conditions during snow accumulation on these processes has come into focus. A deeper understanding of how palaeoclimate proxies interact with physical properties of the ice matrix bears relevance for palaeoclimatic interpretations, improved geophysical measurement techniques and the furthering of ice dynamical modeling. Variations in microstructural parameters e.g. crystal orientation fabric or grain size can be observed on a scale of hundreds and tens of metres but also on a centimetre scale. The underlying processes are not necessarily the same on all scales. Especially for the short-scale variations many questions remain unanswered. We present results from a study that aims to investigate following hypotheses: 1. Variations in grain size and fabric, i.e. strong changes of the orientation of ice crystals with respect to the vertical, occur on a centimetre scale and can be observed in all depths of an ice core. 2. Palaeoclimate proxies like dust and impurities have an impact on the microstructural processes and thus are inducing the observed short-scale variations in grain size and fabric. 3. The interaction of proxies with the ice matrix leads to depth intervals that show correlating behaviour as well as ranges with anticorrelation between microstructural parameters and palaeoclimatic proxies. The respective processes need to be identified. Fabric Analyser measurements were conducted on more than 80 samples (total of 8 m) from different depth ranges of a cold Alpine ice core (72 m length) drilled in 2013 at Colle Gnifetti, Switzerland/Italy. Results were obtained by automatic image processing, providing estimates for grain size distributions and crystal orientation fabric, and comparison with data from continuous flow analysis of chemical impurities. A microstructural characterisation of the analysed core is presented with emphasis on the observed variations in crystal orientation fabric. The relevance of these results for palaeoclimate reconstruction and geophysical applications in ice are discussed.

Correlation of microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties of a novel hydrogen transport membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yongjun

A key part of the FutureGen concept is to support the production of hydrogen to fuel a "hydrogen economy," with the use of clean burning hydrogen in power-producing fuel cells, as well as for use as a transportation fuel. One of the key technical barriers to FutureGen deployment is reliable and efficient hydrogen separation technology. Most Hydrogen Transport Membrane (HTM) research currently focuses on separation technology and hydrogen flux characterization. No significant work has been performed on thermo-mechanical properties of HTMs. The objective of the thesis is to understand the structure-property correlation of HTM and to characterize (1) thermo mechanical properties under different reducing environments and thermal cycles (thermal shock), and (2) evaluate the stability of the novel HTM material. A novel HTM cermet bulk sample was characterized for its physical and mechanical properties at both room temperature and at elevated temperature up to 1000°C. Micro-structural properties and residual stresses were evaluated in order to understand the changing mechanism of the microstructure and its effects on the mechanical properties of materials. A correlation of the microstructural and thermo mechanical properties of the HTM system was established for both HTM and the substrate material. Mechanical properties of both selected structural ceramics and the novel HTM cermet bulk sample are affected mainly by porosity and microstructural features, such as grain size and pore size-distribution. The Young's Modulus (E-value) is positively correlated to the flexural strength for materials with similar crystallographic structure. However, for different crystallographic materials, physical properties are independent of mechanical properties. Microstructural properties, particularly, grain size and crystallographic structure, and thermodynamic properties are the main factors affecting the mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures. The HTM cermet behaves more like an elastic material at room temperature and as a ductile material at temperature above 850°C. The oxidation and the plasticity of Pd phase mainly affected the mechanical properties of HTM cermet at high temperature, also as a result of thermal cycling. Residual stress induced in the HTM by thermo cycles also plays a very critical role in defining the thermo-mechanical properties.

Engineering topological edge states in two dimensional magnetic photonic crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bing; Wu, Tong; Zhang, Xiangdong

2017-01-01

Based on a perturbative approach, we propose a simple and efficient method to engineer the topological edge states in two dimensional magnetic photonic crystals. The topological edge states in the microstructures can be constructed and varied by altering the parameters of the microstructure according to the field-energy distributions of the Bloch states at the related Bloch wave vectors. The validity of the proposed method has been demonstrated by exact numerical calculations through three concrete examples. Our method makes the topological edge states "designable."

Characterization and microstructure of HPMC/Gly:AgNO3 polymer composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ananda, H. T.; Urs, G. Thejas; Somashekar, R.

2018-04-01

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of AgNo3 doped HPMC/Glycerol blend films. The microstructural parameters of these composites were evaluated employing whole powder pattern fitting method (WPPF) and the results obtained are related with other physical properties. AC conductivity results and optical band gap evaluated from UV/Vis studies are focused to establish structure property relations. These composite films are bio-degradable in nature and non-hazardous, this makes them very suitable candidates for applications in appropriate fields.

Modal loss mechanism of micro-structured VCSELs studied using full vector FDTD method.

PubMed

Jo, Du-Ho; Vu, Ngoc Hai; Kim, Jin-Tae; Hwang, In-Kag

2011-09-12

Modal properties of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with holey structures are studied using a finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. We investigate loss behavior with respect to the variation of structural parameters, and explain the loss mechanism of VCSELs. We also propose an effective method to estimate the modal loss based on mode profiles obtained using FDTD simulation. Our results could provide an important guideline for optimization of the microstructures of high-power single-mode VCSELs.

Cooking Potatoes: Experimentation and Mathematical Modeling.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Xiao Dong

2002-01-01

Describes a laboratory activity involving a mathematical model of cooking potatoes that can be solved analytically. Highlights the microstructure aspects of the experiment. Provides the key aspects of the results, detailed background readings, laboratory procedures and data analyses. (MM)

Predictive Capabilities of Multiphysics and Multiscale Models in Modeling Solidification of Steel Ingots and DC Casting of Aluminum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Combeau, Hervé; Založnik, Miha; Bedel, Marie

2016-08-01

Prediction of solidification defects, such as macrosegregation and inhomogeneous microstructures, constitutes a key issue for industry. The development of models of casting processes needs to account for several imbricated length scales and different physical phenomena. For example, the kinetics of the growth of microstructures needs to be coupled with the multiphase flow at the process scale. We introduce such a state-of-the-art model and outline its principles. We present the most recent applications of the model to casting of a heavy steel ingot and to direct chill casting of a large Al alloy sheet ingot. Their ability to help in the understanding of complex phenomena, such as the competition between nucleation and growth of grains in the presence of convection of the liquid and of grain motion is shown, and its predictive capabilities are discussed. Key issues for future developments and research are addressed.

Microstructural, thermal and antibacterial properties of electron beam irradiated Bombyx mori silk fibroin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Asha, S.; Sanjeev, Ganesh, E-mail: ganeshsanjeev@rediffmail.com; Sangappa

The Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) films were prepared by solution casting method and the effects of electron beam on structural, thermal and antibacterial responses of the prepared films were studied. The electron irradiation for different doses was carried out using 8 MeV Microtron facility at Mangalore University. The changes in microstructural parameters and thermal stability of the films were investigated using Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. Both microstructuralline parameters (crystallite size and lattice strain (g in %)) and thermal stability of the irradiated films have increased with radiation dosage. Agar diffusion method demonstrated themore » antibacterial activity of SF film which was increased after irradiation on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species.« less

The effect of reaction conditions on formation of wet precipitated calcium phosphates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Chen; Cao, Peng

2015-03-01

The precipitation process discussed in the present study involves the addition of alkaline solutions to an acidic calcium phosphate suspension. Several parameters (pH, pH buffer reagent, ageing and stirring) were investigated. The synthesized powders were calcined at 1000°C for 1 h in air, in order to study the thermal stability and crystalline phase compositions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ESEM analysis were used for sample characterization. It is found that all these processing parameters affect the crystalline phases evolved and resultant microstructures. Phase evolution occurred at an elevated pH level. The pH buffer reagent would affect both the phase composition and microstructure. Ageing was essential for the phase maturation. Stirring accelerated the reaction process by providing a homogeneous medium for precipitation.

Fracture toughness of plasma-sprayed thermal barrier ceramics: Influence of processing, microstructure, and thermal aging

DOE PAGES

Dwivedi, Gopal; Viswanathan, Vaishak; Sampath, Sanjay; ...

2014-06-09

Fracture toughness has become one of the dominant design parameters that dictates the selection of materials and their microstructure to obtain durable thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Much progress has been made in characterizing the fracture toughness of relevant TBC compositions in bulk form, and it has become apparent that this property is significantly affected by process-induced microstructural defects. In this investigation, a systematic study of the influence of coating microstructure on the fracture toughness of atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) TBCs has been carried out. Yttria partially stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings were fabricated under different spray process conditions inducing different levelsmore » of porosity and interfacial defects. Fracture toughness was measured on free standing coatings in as-processed and thermally aged conditions using the double torsion technique. Results indicate significant variance in fracture toughness among coatings with different microstructures including changes induced by thermal aging. Comparative studies were also conducted on an alternative TBC composition, Gd 2Zr 2O 7 (GDZ), which as anticipated shows significantly lower fracture toughness compared to YSZ. Furthermore, the results from these studies not only point towards a need for process and microstructure optimization for enhanced TBC performance but also a framework for establishing performance metrics for promising new TBC compositions.« less

An Integrated Approach Linking Process to Structural Modeling With Microstructural Characterization for Injections-Molded Long-Fiber Thermoplastics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nguyen, Ba Nghiep; Bapanapalli, Satish K.; Smith, Mark T.

2008-09-01

The objective of our work is to enable the optimum design of lightweight automotive structural components using injection-molded long fiber thermoplastics (LFTs). To this end, an integrated approach that links process modeling to structural analysis with experimental microstructural characterization and validation is developed. First, process models for LFTs are developed and implemented into processing codes (e.g. ORIENT, Moldflow) to predict the microstructure of the as-formed composite (i.e. fiber length and orientation distributions). In parallel, characterization and testing methods are developed to obtain necessary microstructural data to validate process modeling predictions. Second, the predicted LFT composite microstructure is imported into amore » structural finite element analysis by ABAQUS to determine the response of the as-formed composite to given boundary conditions. At this stage, constitutive models accounting for the composite microstructure are developed to predict various types of behaviors (i.e. thermoelastic, viscoelastic, elastic-plastic, damage, fatigue, and impact) of LFTs. Experimental methods are also developed to determine material parameters and to validate constitutive models. Such a process-linked-structural modeling approach allows an LFT composite structure to be designed with confidence through numerical simulations. Some recent results of our collaborative research will be illustrated to show the usefulness and applications of this integrated approach.« less

A Sensory Material Approach for Reducing Variability in Additively Manufactured Metal Parts.

PubMed

Franco, B E; Ma, J; Loveall, B; Tapia, G A; Karayagiz, K; Liu, J; Elwany, A; Arroyave, R; Karaman, I

2017-06-15

Despite the recent growth in interest for metal additive manufacturing (AM) in the biomedical and aerospace industries, variability in the performance, composition, and microstructure of AM parts remains a major impediment to its widespread adoption. The underlying physical mechanisms, which cause variability, as well as the scale and nature of variability are not well understood, and current methods are ineffective at capturing these details. Here, a Nickel-Titanium alloy is used as a sensory material in order to quantitatively, and rather rapidly, observe compositional and/or microstructural variability in selective laser melting manufactured parts; thereby providing a means to evaluate the role of process parameters on the variability. We perform detailed microstructural investigations using transmission electron microscopy at various locations to reveal the origins of microstructural variability in this sensory material. This approach helped reveal how reducing the distance between adjacent laser scans below a critical value greatly reduces both the in-sample and sample-to-sample variability. Microstructural investigations revealed that when the laser scan distance is wide, there is an inhomogeneity in subgrain size, precipitate distribution, and dislocation density in the microstructure, responsible for the observed variability. These results provide an important first step towards understanding the nature of variability in additively manufactured parts.

A study on the effects of temperature and substrate structure on the templated two-phase film growth via a hybrid model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xiao; Li, Jia; Zhu, Jian-Gang; Laughlin, David E.; Zhu, Jingxi

2018-06-01

Templated growth of two-phase thin films can achieve desirably ordered microstructures. In such cases, the microstructure of the growing films follows the topography of the template. By combining the Potts model Monte Carlo simulation and the "level set" method, an attempt was previously made to understand the physical mechanism behind the templated growth process. In the current work, this model is further used to study the effect of two parameters within the templated growth scenario, namely, the temperature and the geometric features of the template. The microstructure of the thin film grown with different lattice temperatures and domes is analyzed. It is found that within a moderate temperature range, the effect of geometric features took control of the ordering of the microstructure by its influence on the surface energy gradient. Interestingly, within this temperature range, as the temperature is increased, an ordered microstructure forms on a template without the optimal geometric features, which seems to be a result of competition between the kinetics and the thermodynamics during deposition. However, when the temperature was either above or below this temperature range, the template provided no guide to the whole deposition so that no ordered microstructure formed.

Flexible and self-powered temperature-pressure dual-parameter sensors using microstructure-frame-supported organic thermoelectric materials.

PubMed

Zhang, Fengjiao; Zang, Yaping; Huang, Dazhen; Di, Chong-an; Zhu, Daoben

2015-09-21

Skin-like temperature- and pressure-sensing capabilities are essential features for the next generation of artificial intelligent products. Previous studies of e-skin and smart elements have focused on flexible pressure sensors, whereas the simultaneous and sensitive detection of temperature and pressure with a single device remains a challenge. Here we report developing flexible dual-parameter temperature-pressure sensors based on microstructure-frame-supported organic thermoelectric (MFSOTE) materials. The effective transduction of temperature and pressure stimuli into two independent electrical signals permits the instantaneous sensing of temperature and pressure with an accurate temperature resolution of <0.1 K and a high-pressure-sensing sensitivity of up to 28.9 kPa(-1). More importantly, these dual-parameter sensors can be self-powered with outstanding sensing performance. The excellent sensing properties of MFSOTE-based devices, together with their unique advantages of low cost and large-area fabrication, make MFSOTE materials possess promising applications in e-skin and health-monitoring elements.

Quantitatively characterizing the microstructural features of breast ductal carcinoma tissues in different progression stages by Mueller matrix microscope.

PubMed

Dong, Yang; Qi, Ji; He, Honghui; He, Chao; Liu, Shaoxiong; Wu, Jian; Elson, Daniel S; Ma, Hui

2017-08-01

Polarization imaging has been recognized as a potentially powerful technique for probing the microstructural information and optical properties of complex biological specimens. Recently, we have reported a Mueller matrix microscope by adding the polarization state generator and analyzer (PSG and PSA) to a commercial transmission-light microscope, and applied it to differentiate human liver and cervical cancerous tissues with fibrosis. In this paper, we apply the Mueller matrix microscope for quantitative detection of human breast ductal carcinoma samples at different stages. The Mueller matrix polar decomposition and transformation parameters of the breast ductal tissues in different regions and at different stages are calculated and analyzed. For more quantitative comparisons, several widely-used image texture feature parameters are also calculated to characterize the difference in the polarimetric images. The experimental results indicate that the Mueller matrix microscope and the polarization parameters can facilitate the quantitative detection of breast ductal carcinoma tissues at different stages.

Gluten-Free Precooked Rice-Yellow Pea Pasta: Effect of Extrusion-Cooking Conditions on Phenolic Acids Composition, Selected Properties and Microstructure.

PubMed

Bouasla, Abdallah; Wójtowicz, Agnieszka; Zidoune, Mohammed Nasereddine; Olech, Marta; Nowak, Renata; Mitrus, Marcin; Oniszczuk, Anna

2016-05-01

Rice/yellow pea flour blend (2/1 ratio) was used to produce gluten-free precooked pasta using a single-screw modified extrusion-cooker TS-45. The effect of moisture content (28%, 30%, and 32%) and screw speed (60, 80, and 100 rpm) on some quality parameters was assessed. The phenolic acids profile and selected pasta properties were tested, like pasting properties, water absorption capacity, cooking loss, texture characteristics, microstructure, and sensory overall acceptability. Results indicated that dough moisture content influenced all tested quality parameters of precooked pasta except firmness. Screw speed showed an effect only on some quality parameters. The extrusion-cooking process at 30% of dough moisture with 80 rpm is appropriate to obtain rice-yellow pea precooked pasta with high content of phenolics and adequate quality. These pasta products exhibited firm texture, low stickiness, and regular and compact interne structure confirmed by high score in sensory overall acceptability. © 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®

Study of water dynamics in the soaking, steaming, and solid-state fermentation of glutinous rice by LF-NMR: a novel monitoring approach.

PubMed

Li, Teng; Tu, Chuanhai; Rui, Xin; Gao, Yangwen; Li, Wei; Wang, Kun; Xiao, Yu; Dong, Mingsheng

2015-04-01

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) of starchy grain is a traditional technique for food and alcoholic beverage production in East Asia. In the present study, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) was introduced for the elucidation of water dynamics and microstructure alternations during the soaking, steaming, and SSF of glutinous rice as a rapid real-time monitoring method. Three different proton fractions with different mobilities were identified based on the degree of interaction between biopolymers and water. Soaking and steaming significantly changed the proton distribution of the sample. The different phases of SSF were reflected by the T2 parameters. In addition, the variations in the T2 parameters were explained by the microstructure changes of rice induced by SSF. The fermentation time and T2 parameters were sigmoidally correlated. Thus, LF-NMR may be an effective real-time monitoring method for SSF in starch systems.

Flexible and self-powered temperature-pressure dual-parameter sensors using microstructure-frame-supported organic thermoelectric materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Fengjiao; Zang, Yaping; Huang, Dazhen; di, Chong-An; Zhu, Daoben

2015-09-01

Skin-like temperature- and pressure-sensing capabilities are essential features for the next generation of artificial intelligent products. Previous studies of e-skin and smart elements have focused on flexible pressure sensors, whereas the simultaneous and sensitive detection of temperature and pressure with a single device remains a challenge. Here we report developing flexible dual-parameter temperature-pressure sensors based on microstructure-frame-supported organic thermoelectric (MFSOTE) materials. The effective transduction of temperature and pressure stimuli into two independent electrical signals permits the instantaneous sensing of temperature and pressure with an accurate temperature resolution of <0.1 K and a high-pressure-sensing sensitivity of up to 28.9 kPa-1. More importantly, these dual-parameter sensors can be self-powered with outstanding sensing performance. The excellent sensing properties of MFSOTE-based devices, together with their unique advantages of low cost and large-area fabrication, make MFSOTE materials possess promising applications in e-skin and health-monitoring elements.

Simulated impedance of diffusion in porous media

DOE PAGES

Cooper, Samuel J.; Bertei, Antonio; Finegan, Donal P.; ...

2017-07-27

This paper describes the use of a frequency domain, finite-difference scheme to simulate the impedance spectra of diffusion in porous microstructures. We investigate both open and closed systems for a range of ideal geometries, as well as some randomly generated synthetic volumes and tomographically derived microstructural data. In many cases, the spectra deviate significantly from the conventional Warburg-type elements typically used to represent diffusion in equivalent circuit analysis. Furthermore, a key finding is that certain microstructures show multiple peaks in the complex plane, which may be misinterpreted as separate electrochemical processes in real impedance data. This is relevant to batterymore » electrode design as the techniques for nano-scale fabrication become more widespread. This simulation tool is provided as an open-source MatLab application and is freely available online as part of the TauFactor platform.« less

Role of microstructure on twin nucleation and growth in HCP titanium: A statistical study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arul Kumar, M.; Wroński, M.; McCabe, Rodney James

In this study, a detailed statistical analysis is performed using Electron Back Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) to establish the effect of microstructure on twin nucleation and growth in deformed commercial purity hexagonal close packed (HCP) titanium. Rolled titanium samples are compressed along rolling, transverse and normal directions to establish statistical correlations for {10–12}, {11–21}, and {11–22} twins. A recently developed automated EBSD-twinning analysis software is employed for the statistical analysis. Finally, the analysis provides the following key findings: (I) grain size and strain dependence is different for twin nucleation and growth; (II) twinning statistics can be generalized for the HCP metalsmore » magnesium, zirconium and titanium; and (III) complex microstructure, where grain shape and size distribution is heterogeneous, requires multi-point statistical correlations.« less

Role of microstructure on twin nucleation and growth in HCP titanium: A statistical study

DOE PAGES

Arul Kumar, M.; Wroński, M.; McCabe, Rodney James; ...

2018-02-01

In this study, a detailed statistical analysis is performed using Electron Back Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) to establish the effect of microstructure on twin nucleation and growth in deformed commercial purity hexagonal close packed (HCP) titanium. Rolled titanium samples are compressed along rolling, transverse and normal directions to establish statistical correlations for {10–12}, {11–21}, and {11–22} twins. A recently developed automated EBSD-twinning analysis software is employed for the statistical analysis. Finally, the analysis provides the following key findings: (I) grain size and strain dependence is different for twin nucleation and growth; (II) twinning statistics can be generalized for the HCP metalsmore » magnesium, zirconium and titanium; and (III) complex microstructure, where grain shape and size distribution is heterogeneous, requires multi-point statistical correlations.« less

Interrogating the origin and behavior of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor scalar parameters in the myocardium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdullah, Osama Mahmoud

Myocardial microstructure plays an important role in sustaining the orchestrated beating motion of the heart. Several microstructural components, including myocytes and auxiliary cells, extracellular space, and blood vessels provide the infrastructure for normal heart function, including excitation propagation, myocyte contraction, delivery of oxygen and nutrients, and removing byproduct wastes. Cardiac diseases cause deleterious changes to some or all of these microstructural components in the detrimental process of cardiac remodeling. Since heart failure is among the leading causes of death in the world, new and novel tools to noninvasively characterize heart microstructure are needed for monitoring and staging of cardiac disease. In this regards, diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a promising framework to probe and quantify tissue microstructure without the need for exogenous contrast agent. As diffusion in 3-dimensional space is characterized by the diffusion tensor, MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is being used to noninvasively measure anisotropic diffusion, and thus the magnitude and spatial orientation of microstructural organization of tissues, including the heart. However, even though in vivo cardiac DTI has become more clinically available, to date the origin and behavior of different microstructural components on the measured DTI signal remain to be explicitly specified. The presented studies in this work demonstrate that DTI can be used as a noninvasive and contrast-free imaging modality to characterize myocyte size and density, extracellular collagen content, and the directional magnitude of blood flow. The identified applications are expected to provide metrics to enable physicians to detect, quantify, and stage different microstructural components during progression of cardiac disease.

AxonPacking: An Open-Source Software to Simulate Arrangements of Axons in White Matter

PubMed Central

Mingasson, Tom; Duval, Tanguy; Stikov, Nikola; Cohen-Adad, Julien

2017-01-01

HIGHLIGHTS AxonPacking: Open-source software for simulating white matter microstructure.Validation on a theoretical disk packing problem.Reproducible and stable for various densities and diameter distributions.Can be used to study interplay between myelin/fiber density and restricted fraction. Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can provide parameters that describe white matter microstructure, such as the fiber volume fraction (FVF), the myelin volume fraction (MVF) or the axon volume fraction (AVF) via the fraction of restricted water (fr). While already being used for clinical application, the complex interplay between these parameters requires thorough validation via simulations. These simulations required a realistic, controlled and adaptable model of the white matter axons with the surrounding myelin sheath. While there already exist useful algorithms to perform this task, none of them combine optimisation of axon packing, presence of myelin sheath and availability as free and open source software. Here, we introduce a novel disk packing algorithm that addresses these issues. The performance of the algorithm is tested in term of reproducibility over 50 runs, resulting density, and stability over iterations. This tool was then used to derive multiple values of FVF and to study the impact of this parameter on fr and MVF in light of the known microstructure based on histology sample. The standard deviation of the axon density over runs was lower than 10−3 and the expected hexagonal packing for monodisperse disks was obtained with a density close to the optimal density (obtained: 0.892, theoretical: 0.907). Using an FVF ranging within [0.58, 0.82] and a mean inter-axon gap ranging within [0.1, 1.1] μm, MVF ranged within [0.32, 0.44] and fr ranged within [0.39, 0.71], which is consistent with the histology. The proposed algorithm is implemented in the open-source software AxonPacking (https://github.com/neuropoly/axonpacking) and can be useful for validating diffusion models as well as for enabling researchers to study the interplay between microstructure parameters when evaluating qMRI methods. PMID:28197091

Rehydration of freeze-dried and convective dried boletus edulis mushrooms: effect on some quality parameters.

PubMed

Hernando, I; Sanjuán, N; Pérez-Munuera, I; Mulet, A

2008-10-01

Quality of rehydrated products is a key aspect linked to rehydration conditions. To assess the effect of rehydration temperature on some quality parameters, experiments at 20 and 70 degrees C were performed with convective dried and freeze-dried Boletus edulis mushrooms. Rehydration characteristics (through Peleg's parameter, k(1), and equilibrium moisture, W(e)), texture (Kramer), and microstructure (Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy) were evaluated. Freeze-dried samples absorbed water more quickly and attained higher W(e) values than convective dried ones. Convective dehydrated samples rehydrated at 20 degrees C showed significantly lower textural values (11.9 +/- 3.3 N/g) than those rehydrated at 70 degrees C (15.7 +/- 1.2 N/g). For the freeze-dried Boletus edulis, the textural values also exhibited significant differences, being 8.2 +/- 1.3 and 10.5 +/- 2.3 N/g for 20 and 70 degrees C, respectively. Freeze-dried samples showed a porous structure that allows rehydration to take place mainly at the extracellular level. This explains the fact that, regardless of temperature, freeze-dried mushrooms absorbed water more quickly and reached higher W(e) values than convective dried ones. Whatever the dehydration technique used, rehydration at 70 degrees C produced a structural damage that hindered water absorption; consequently lower W(e) values and higher textural values were attained than when rehydrating at 20 degrees C.

Size effects in martensitic microstructures: Finite-strain phase field model versus sharp-interface approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tůma, K.; Stupkiewicz, S.; Petryk, H.

2016-10-01

A finite-strain phase field model for martensitic phase transformation and twinning in shape memory alloys is developed and confronted with the corresponding sharp-interface approach extended to interfacial energy effects. The model is set in the energy framework so that the kinetic equations and conditions of mechanical equilibrium are fully defined by specifying the free energy and dissipation potentials. The free energy density involves the bulk and interfacial energy contributions, the latter describing the energy of diffuse interfaces in a manner typical for phase-field approaches. To ensure volume preservation during martensite reorientation at finite deformation within a diffuse interface, it is proposed to apply linear mixing of the logarithmic transformation strains. The physically different nature of phase interfaces and twin boundaries in the martensitic phase is reflected by introducing two order-parameters in a hierarchical manner, one as the reference volume fraction of austenite, and thus of the whole martensite, and the second as the volume fraction of one variant of martensite in the martensitic phase only. The microstructure evolution problem is given a variational formulation in terms of incremental fields of displacement and order parameters, with unilateral constraints on volume fractions explicitly enforced by applying the augmented Lagrangian method. As an application, size-dependent microstructures with diffuse interfaces are calculated for the cubic-to-orthorhombic transformation in a CuAlNi shape memory alloy and compared with the sharp-interface microstructures with interfacial energy effects.

Nonlinear optical effects in organic microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novikov, Vladimir B.; Mamonov, Evgeniy A.; Kopylov, Denis A.; Mitetelo, Nikolai V.; Venkatakrishnarao, D.; Narayana, YSLV; Chandrasekar, R.; Murzina, Tatiana V.

2017-05-01

Organic microstructures attract much attention due to their unique properties originating from the design of their shape and optical parameters. In this work we discuss the linear, second- and third-order nonlinear optical effects in arrays and in individual organic microstructures composed by self-assembling technique and formed randomly on top of a solid substrate. The structures under study consist of micro-spheres, -hemispheres or -frustums made of red laser dye and reveal an intense fluorescence (FL) in the visible spectral range. Importantly, that due to a high value of the refractive index and confined geometry, such micro-structures support the excitation of whispering gallery modes (WGM), which brings about strong and spectrally-selected light localization. We show that an amplification of the nonlinear optical effects is observed for these structures as compared to a homogeneous dye film of similar composition. The obtained data are in agreement with the results of the FDTD calculations performed for the structures of different dimensions. Perspectives of application of such type of organic nonlinear microresonators in optical devices are discussed.

Mechanical properties of aluminium fused SiO2 particulate composites cast using metallic and non-metallic chills

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harshith, H. S.; Hemanth, Joel

2018-04-01

This research work aims at developing and mechanical characterization of aluminium (LM13) based metal matrix composite reinforced with varying percentage of fused SiO2 (3%,6%,9%,12%). The mechanical properties are completely dependent on the microstructural parameters of the system. Also the microstructure further depends on the cooling rates during solidification process. Various Chills like Silicon carbide, Mild steel, Copper were used during the casting process to increase the rate of solidification, which enhances the mechanical properties of the composite. The chill casted specimens were subjected to tensile and hardness tests followed by microstructure studies. A casting produced using mild steel chill exhibited higher young's modulus and was found to be maximum at 9% reinforcement. Finer microstructure and better UTS were seen for specimen's casted using copper chills, whereas silicon carbide and mild steel chills gave rise to very coarse structure with reduced UTS values compared to copper chills.

Nucleation and microstructure development in Cr-Mo-V tool steel during gas atomization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behúlová, M.; Grgač, P.; Čička, R.

2017-11-01

Nucleation studies of undercooled metallic melts are of essential interest for the understanding of phase selection, growth kinetics and microstructure development during their rapid non-equilibrium solidification. The paper deals with the modelling of nucleation processes and microstructure development in the hypoeutectic tool steel Ch12MF4 with the chemical composition of 2.37% C, 12.06 % Cr, 1.2% Mo, 4.0% V and balance Fe [wt. %] in the process of nitrogen gas atomization. Based on the classical theory of homogeneous nucleation, the nucleation temperature of molten rapidly cooled spherical particles from this alloy with diameter from 40 μm to 600 μm in the gas atomization process is calculated using various estimations of parameters influencing the nucleation process - the Gibbs free energy difference between solid and liquid phases and the solid/liquid interfacial energy. Results of numerical calculations are compared with experimentally measured nucleation temperatures during levitation experiments and microstructures developed in rapidly solidified powder particles from the investigated alloy.

The interrelation between mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and microstructure of Pb-Sn casting alloys for lead-acid battery components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peixoto, Leandro C.; Osório, Wislei R.; Garcia, Amauri

It is well known that there is a strong influence of thermal processing variables on the solidification structure and as a direct consequence on the casting final properties. The morphological microstructural parameters such as grain size and cellular or dendritic spacings will depend on the heat transfer conditions imposed by the metal/mould system. There is a need to improve the understanding of the interrelation between the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of dilute Pb-Sn casting alloys which are widely used in the manufacture of battery components. The present study has established correlations between cellular microstructure, ultimate tensile strength and corrosion resistance of Pb-1 wt% Sn and Pb-2.5 wt% Sn alloys by providing a combined plot of these properties as a function of cell spacing. It was found that a compromise between good corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties can be attained by choosing an appropriate cell spacing range.

Laser-induced Self-organizing Microstructures on Steel for Joining with Polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Straeten, Kira; Burkhardt, Irmela; Olowinsky, Alexander; Gillner, Arnold

The combination of different materials such as thermoplastic composites and metals is an important way to improve lightweight construction. As direct connections between these materials fail due to their physical and chemical properties, other joining techniques are required. A new joining approach besides fastening and adhesive joining is a laser-based two-step process. Within the first step the metal surface is modified by laser-microstructuring. In order to enlarge the boundary surface and create undercuts, random self-organizing microstructures are generated on stainless steel substrates. In a second process step both joining partners, metal and composite, are clamped together, the steel surface is heated up with laser radiation and through heat conduction the thermoplastic matrix is melted and flows into the structures. After cooling-down a firm joint between both materials is created. The presented work shows the influence of different laser parameters on the generation of the microstructures. The joint strength is investigated through tensile shear strength tests.

Underwater superoleophobicity, anti-oil and ultra-broadband enhanced absorption of metallic surfaces produced by a femtosecond laser inspired by fish and chameleons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, K.; Song, Y. X.; Dong, X. R.; Wang, C.; Duan, J. A.

2016-11-01

Reported here is the bio-inspired and robust function of underwater superoleophobic, anti-oil metallic surfaces with ultra-broadband enhanced optical absorption obtained through femtosecond laser micromachining. Three distinct surface structures are fabricated using a wide variety of processing parameters. Underwater superoleophobic and anti-oil surfaces containing coral-like microstructures with nanoparticles and mount-like microstructures are achieved. These properties of the as-prepared surfaces exhibit good chemical stability when exposed to various types of oils and when immersed in water with a wide range of pH values. Moreover, coral-like microstructures with nanoparticle surfaces show strongly enhanced optical absorption over a broadband wavelength range from 0.2-25 μm. The potential mechanism for the excellent performance of the coral-like microstructures with a nanoparticle surface is also discussed. This multifunctional surface has potential applications in military submarines, amphibious military aircraft and tanks, and underwater anti-oil optical counter-reconnaissance devices.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paillard, Pascal

Two try-out campaigns of friction stir welding (FSW) were performed with different friction parameters to join S690QL high yield strength steel. The welds were investigated at macroscopic and microscopic scales using optical and electronic microscopy and microhardness mapping. Welds of the second campaign exhibit microstructures and mechanical properties in accordance with requirements for service use. Microtexture measurements were carried out in different zones of welds by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). It is shown that that texture of the bottom of the weld is similar to that of the base metal, suggesting a diffusion bonding mechanism. Finally, the mechanical properties (tensilemore » strength, resilience, bending) were established on the most promising welds. It is shown that it is possible to weld this high yield strength steel using FSW process with satisfactory geometric, microstructural and mechanical properties. - Highlights: •1000 mm ∗ 400 mm ∗ 8 mm S690QL steel plates are joined by friction stir welding (FSW). •Maximum hardness is reduced by optimization of process parameters. •Various microstructures are formed but no martensite after process optimization. •Texture is modified in mechanically affected zones of the weld. •Texture in the bottom of the weld is preserved, suggesting diffusion bonding.« less

Characterizing microstructural features of biomedical samples by statistical analysis of Mueller matrix images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Honghui; Dong, Yang; Zhou, Jialing; Ma, Hui

2017-03-01

As one of the salient features of light, polarization contains abundant structural and optical information of media. Recently, as a comprehensive description of polarization property, the Mueller matrix polarimetry has been applied to various biomedical studies such as cancerous tissues detections. In previous works, it has been found that the structural information encoded in the 2D Mueller matrix images can be presented by other transformed parameters with more explicit relationship to certain microstructural features. In this paper, we present a statistical analyzing method to transform the 2D Mueller matrix images into frequency distribution histograms (FDHs) and their central moments to reveal the dominant structural features of samples quantitatively. The experimental results of porcine heart, intestine, stomach, and liver tissues demonstrate that the transformation parameters and central moments based on the statistical analysis of Mueller matrix elements have simple relationships to the dominant microstructural properties of biomedical samples, including the density and orientation of fibrous structures, the depolarization power, diattenuation and absorption abilities. It is shown in this paper that the statistical analysis of 2D images of Mueller matrix elements may provide quantitative or semi-quantitative criteria for biomedical diagnosis.

Metallurgy and properties of plasma spray formed materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckechnie, T. N.; Liaw, Y. K.; Zimmerman, F. R.; Poorman, R. M.

1992-01-01

Understanding the fundamental metallurgy of vacuum plasma spray formed materials is the key to enhancing and developing full material properties. Investigations have shown that the microstructure of plasma sprayed materials must evolve from a powder splat morphology to a recrystallized grain structure to assure high strength and ductility. A fully, or near fully, dense material that exhibits a powder splat morphology will perform as a brittle material compared to a recrystallized grain structure for the same amount of porosity. Metallurgy and material properties of nickel, iron, and copper base alloys will be presented and correlated to microstructure.

Metallurgical Mechanisms Controlling Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloy 2219 Produced By Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Domack, Marcia S.; Taminger, Karen M. B.; Begley, Matthew

2006-01-01

The electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) layer-additive manufacturing process has been developed to directly fabricate complex geometry components. EBF3 introduces metal wire into a molten pool created on the surface of a substrate by a focused electron beam. Part geometry is achieved by translating the substrate with respect to the beam to build the part one layer at a time. Tensile properties have been demonstrated for electron beam deposited aluminum and titanium alloys that are comparable to wrought products, although the microstructures of the deposits exhibit features more typical of cast material. Understanding the metallurgical mechanisms controlling mechanical properties is essential to maximizing application of the EBF3 process. In the current study, mechanical properties and resulting microstructures were examined for aluminum alloy 2219 fabricated over a range of EBF3 process variables. Material performance was evaluated based on tensile properties and results were compared with properties of Al 2219 wrought products. Unique microstructures were observed within the deposited layers and at interlayer boundaries, which varied within the deposit height due to microstructural evolution associated with the complex thermal history experienced during subsequent layer deposition. Microstructures exhibited irregularly shaped grains, typically with interior dendritic structures, which were described based on overall grain size, morphology, distribution, and dendrite spacing, and were correlated with deposition parameters. Fracture features were compared with microstructural elements to define fracture paths and aid in definition of basic processing-microstructure-property correlations.

Noninvasive Quantitative Imaging of Collagen Microstructure in Three-Dimensional Hydrogels Using High-Frequency Ultrasound

PubMed Central

Mercado, Karla P.; Helguera, María; Hocking, Denise C.

2015-01-01

Collagen I is widely used as a natural component of biomaterials for both tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. The physical and biological properties of fibrillar collagens are strongly tied to variations in collagen fiber microstructure. The goal of this study was to develop the use of high-frequency quantitative ultrasound to assess collagen microstructure within three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels noninvasively and nondestructively. The integrated backscatter coefficient (IBC) was employed as a quantitative ultrasound parameter to detect, image, and quantify spatial variations in collagen fiber density and diameter. Collagen fiber microstructure was varied by fabricating hydrogels with different collagen concentrations or polymerization temperatures. IBC values were computed from measurements of the backscattered radio-frequency ultrasound signals collected using a single-element transducer (38-MHz center frequency, 13–47 MHz bandwidth). The IBC increased linearly with increasing collagen concentration and decreasing polymerization temperature. Parametric 3D images of the IBC were generated to visualize and quantify regional variations in collagen microstructure throughout the volume of hydrogels fabricated in standard tissue culture plates. IBC parametric images of corresponding cell-embedded collagen gels showed cell accumulation within regions having elevated collagen IBC values. The capability of this ultrasound technique to noninvasively detect and quantify spatial differences in collagen microstructure offers a valuable tool to monitor the structural properties of collagen scaffolds during fabrication, to detect functional differences in collagen microstructure, and to guide fundamental research on the interactions of cells and collagen matrices. PMID:25517512

Noninvasive Quantitative Imaging of Collagen Microstructure in Three-Dimensional Hydrogels Using High-Frequency Ultrasound.

PubMed

Mercado, Karla P; Helguera, María; Hocking, Denise C; Dalecki, Diane

2015-07-01

Collagen I is widely used as a natural component of biomaterials for both tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. The physical and biological properties of fibrillar collagens are strongly tied to variations in collagen fiber microstructure. The goal of this study was to develop the use of high-frequency quantitative ultrasound to assess collagen microstructure within three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels noninvasively and nondestructively. The integrated backscatter coefficient (IBC) was employed as a quantitative ultrasound parameter to detect, image, and quantify spatial variations in collagen fiber density and diameter. Collagen fiber microstructure was varied by fabricating hydrogels with different collagen concentrations or polymerization temperatures. IBC values were computed from measurements of the backscattered radio-frequency ultrasound signals collected using a single-element transducer (38-MHz center frequency, 13-47 MHz bandwidth). The IBC increased linearly with increasing collagen concentration and decreasing polymerization temperature. Parametric 3D images of the IBC were generated to visualize and quantify regional variations in collagen microstructure throughout the volume of hydrogels fabricated in standard tissue culture plates. IBC parametric images of corresponding cell-embedded collagen gels showed cell accumulation within regions having elevated collagen IBC values. The capability of this ultrasound technique to noninvasively detect and quantify spatial differences in collagen microstructure offers a valuable tool to monitor the structural properties of collagen scaffolds during fabrication, to detect functional differences in collagen microstructure, and to guide fundamental research on the interactions of cells and collagen matrices.

Key parameters governing the densification of cubic-Li7La3Zr2O12 Li+ conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Eongyu; Wang, Weimin; Kieffer, John; Laine, Richard M.

2017-06-01

Cubic-Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) is regarded as one of the most promising solid electrolytes for the construction of inherently safe, next generation all-solid-state Li batteries. Unfortunately, sintering these materials to full density with controlled grain sizes, mechanical and electrochemical properties relies on energy and equipment intensive processes. In this work, we elucidate key parameters dictating LLZO densification by tracing the compositional and structural changes during processing calcined and ball-milled Al3+ doped LLZO powders. We find that the powders undergo ion (Li+/H+) exchange during room temperature processing, such that on heating, the protonated LLZO lattice collapses and crystallizes to its constituent oxides, leading to reaction driven densification at < 1000 °C, prior to sintering of LLZO grains at higher temperatures. It is shown that small particle sizes and protonation cannot be decoupled, and actually aid densification. We conclude that using fully decomposed nanoparticle mixtures, as obtained by liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis, provides an ideal approach to use high surface and reaction energy to drive densification, resulting in pressureless sintering of Ga3+ doped LLZO thin films (25 μm) at 1130 °C/0.3 h to ideal microstructures (95 ± 1% density, 1.2 ± 0.2 μm average grain size) normally accessible only by pressure-assisted sintering. Such films offer both high ionic conductivity (1.3 ± 0.1 mS cm-1) and record low ionic area specific resistance (2 Ω cm2).

Effect of medium on friction and wear properties of compacted graphite cast iron processed by biomimetic coupling laser remelting process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Qing-chun; Zhou, Hong; Wang, Cheng-tao; Zhang, Wei; Lin, Peng-yu; Sun, Na; Ren, Luquan

2009-04-01

Stimulated by the cuticles of soil animals, an attempt to improve the wear resistance of compact graphite cast iron (CGI) with biomimetic units on the surface was made by using a biomimetic coupled laser remelting process in air and various thicknesses water film, respectively. The microstructures of biomimetic units were examined by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction was used to describe the microstructure and identify the phases in the melted zone. Microhardness was measured and the wear behaviors of biomimetic specimens as functions of different mediums as well as various water film thicknesses were investigated under dry sliding condition, respectively. The results indicated that the microstructure zones in the biomimetic specimens processed with water film are refined compared with that processed in air and had better wear resistance increased by 60%, the microhardness of biomimetic units has been improved significantly. The application of water film provided finer microstructures and much more regular grain shape in biomimetic units, which played a key role in improving the friction properties and wear resistance of CGI.

Grain Cluster Microstructure and Grain Boundary Character Distribution in Alloy 690

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Shuang; Zhou, Bangxin; Chen, Wenjue

2009-12-01

The effects of thermal-mechanical processing (TMP) on microstructure evolution during recrystallization and grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) in aged Alloy 690 were investigated by the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique and optical microscopy. The original grain boundaries of the deformed microstructure did not play an important role in the manipulation of the proportion of the Σ3 n ( n = 1, 2, 3…) type boundaries. Instead, the grain cluster formed by multiple twinning starting from a single nucleus during recrystallization was the key microstructural feature affecting the GBCD. All of the grains in this kind of cluster had Σ3 n mutual misorientations regardless of whether they were adjacent. A large grain cluster containing 91 grains was found in the sample after a small-strain (5 pct) and a high-temperature (1100 °C) recrystallization anneal, and twin relationships up to the ninth generation (Σ39) were found in this cluster. The ratio of cluster size over grain size (including all types of boundaries as defining individual grains) dictated the proportion of Σ3 n boundaries.

Structural white matter asymmetries in relation to functional asymmetries during speech perception and production.

PubMed

Ocklenburg, Sebastian; Hugdahl, Kenneth; Westerhausen, René

2013-12-01

Functional hemispheric asymmetries of speech production and perception are a key feature of the human language system, but their neurophysiological basis is still poorly understood. Using a combined fMRI and tract-based spatial statistics approach, we investigated the relation of microstructural asymmetries in language-relevant white matter pathways and functional activation asymmetries during silent verb generation and passive listening to spoken words. Tract-based spatial statistics revealed several leftward asymmetric clusters in the arcuate fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus that were differentially related to activation asymmetries in the two functional tasks. Frontal and temporal activation asymmetries during silent verb generation were positively related to the strength of specific microstructural white matter asymmetries in the arcuate fasciculus. In contrast, microstructural uncinate fasciculus asymmetries were related to temporal activation asymmetries during passive listening. These findings suggest that white matter asymmetries may indeed be one of the factors underlying functional hemispheric asymmetries. Moreover, they also show that specific localized white matter asymmetries might be of greater relevance for functional activation asymmetries than microstructural features of whole pathways. © 2013.

Microstructure Modeling of 3rd Generation Disk Alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jou, Herng-Jeng

2010-01-01

The objective of this program is to model, validate, and predict the precipitation microstructure evolution, using PrecipiCalc (QuesTek Innovations LLC) software, for 3rd generation Ni-based gas turbine disc superalloys during processing and service, with a set of logical and consistent experiments and characterizations. Furthermore, within this program, the originally research-oriented microstructure simulation tool will be further improved and implemented to be a useful and user-friendly engineering tool. In this report, the key accomplishment achieved during the second year (2008) of the program is summarized. The activities of this year include final selection of multicomponent thermodynamics and mobility databases, precipitate surface energy determination from nucleation experiment, multiscale comparison of predicted versus measured intragrain precipitation microstructure in quench samples showing good agreement, isothermal coarsening experiment and interaction of grain boundary and intergrain precipitates, primary microstructure of subsolvus treatment, and finally the software implementation plan for the third year of the project. In the following year, the calibrated models and simulation tools will be validated against an independently developed experimental data set, with actual disc heat treatment process conditions. Furthermore, software integration and implementation will be developed to provide material engineers valuable information in order to optimize the processing of the 3rd generation gas turbine disc alloys.

Evaluation of an Al-Ce alloy for laser additive manufacturing

DOE PAGES

Plotkowski, A.; Rios, O.; Sridharan, N.; ...

2016-12-27

Our present research in metal additive manufacturing (AM) focuses on designing processing parameters around existing alloys designed for traditional manufacturing. However, to maximize the benefits of AM, alloys should be designed to specifically take advantage of the unique thermal conditions of these processes. Furthermore, our study focuses on the development of a design methodology for alloys in AM, using a newly developed Al-Ce alloy as an initial case study. To evaluate the candidacy of this system for fusion based additive manufacturing, single-line laser melts were made on cast Al-12Ce plates using three different beam velocities (100, 200, and 300 mm/min).more » The microstructure was evaluated in the as-melted and heat treated conditions (24 hrs at 300°C). An extremely fine microstructure was observed within the weld pools, evolving from eutectic at the outer solid-liquid boundaries to a primary Al FCC dendritic/cellular structure nearer the melt-pool centerline. We rationalized the observed microstructures through the construction of a microstructure selection map for the Al-Ce binary system, which will be used to enable future alloy design. Interestingly, the heat treated samples exhibited no microstructural coarsening.« less

Imaging brain microstructure with diffusion MRI: practicality and applications.

PubMed

Alexander, Daniel C; Dyrby, Tim B; Nilsson, Markus; Zhang, Hui

2017-11-29

This article gives an overview of microstructure imaging of the brain with diffusion MRI and reviews the state of the art. The microstructure-imaging paradigm aims to estimate and map microscopic properties of tissue using a model that links these properties to the voxel scale MR signal. Imaging techniques of this type are just starting to make the transition from the technical research domain to wide application in biomedical studies. We focus here on the practicalities of both implementing such techniques and using them in applications. Specifically, the article summarizes the relevant aspects of brain microanatomy and the range of diffusion-weighted MR measurements that provide sensitivity to them. It then reviews the evolution of mathematical and computational models that relate the diffusion MR signal to brain tissue microstructure, as well as the expanding areas of application. Next we focus on practicalities of designing a working microstructure imaging technique: model selection, experiment design, parameter estimation, validation, and the pipeline of development of this class of technique. The article concludes with some future perspectives on opportunities in this topic and expectations on how the field will evolve in the short-to-medium term. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Assessment of MARMOT Grain Growth Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fromm, B.; Zhang, Y.; Schwen, D.

2015-12-01

This report assesses the MARMOT grain growth model by comparing modeling predictions with experimental results from thermal annealing. The purpose here is threefold: (1) to demonstrate the validation approach of using thermal annealing experiments with non-destructive characterization, (2) to test the reconstruction capability and computation efficiency in MOOSE, and (3) to validate the grain growth model and the associated parameters that are implemented in MARMOT for UO 2. To assure a rigorous comparison, the 2D and 3D initial experimental microstructures of UO 2 samples were characterized using non-destructive Synchrotron x-ray. The same samples were then annealed at 2273K for grainmore » growth, and their initial microstructures were used as initial conditions for simulated annealing at the same temperature using MARMOT. After annealing, the final experimental microstructures were characterized again to compare with the results from simulations. So far, comparison between modeling and experiments has been done for 2D microstructures, and 3D comparison is underway. The preliminary results demonstrated the usefulness of the non-destructive characterization method for MARMOT grain growth model validation. A detailed analysis of the 3D microstructures is in progress to fully validate the current model in MARMOT.« less

Influence of friction stir processing on the room temperature fatigue cracking mechanisms of A356 aluminum alloy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nelaturu, Phalgun; Jana, Saumyadeep; Mishra, Rajiv S.

Here, failure by fatigue is a common problem associated with cast aluminum alloys due to defects like shrinkage porosities, non-metallic inclusions, etc. Friction stir processing (FSP) has recently emerged as an effective technique for local modification of microstructure. This study investigates the fatigue crack initiation and growth mechanisms in cast and FSPed A356 aluminum alloy. Two sets of parameters were used to friction stir the cast alloy resulting in the complete modification the cast microstructure to a wrought microstructure. Both the FSPed microstructures exhibited severe abnormal grain growth (AGG) after heat treatment leading to a multimodal grain size distribution –more » the grain sizes ranging from a few microns to a few millimeters. One of the FSP conditions displayed an excellent improvement in fatigue life by an order of magnitude, while the other condition displayed an unexpectedly large scatter in fatigue lives. Detailed study of the fractured fatigue specimens by electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) revealed that both, fatigue crack initiation and propagation, were intimately tied to the grain size as well as the grain misorientations in the microstructure.« less

Influence of friction stir processing on the room temperature fatigue cracking mechanisms of A356 aluminum alloy

DOE PAGES

Nelaturu, Phalgun; Jana, Saumyadeep; Mishra, Rajiv S.; ...

2018-01-11

Here, failure by fatigue is a common problem associated with cast aluminum alloys due to defects like shrinkage porosities, non-metallic inclusions, etc. Friction stir processing (FSP) has recently emerged as an effective technique for local modification of microstructure. This study investigates the fatigue crack initiation and growth mechanisms in cast and FSPed A356 aluminum alloy. Two sets of parameters were used to friction stir the cast alloy resulting in the complete modification the cast microstructure to a wrought microstructure. Both the FSPed microstructures exhibited severe abnormal grain growth (AGG) after heat treatment leading to a multimodal grain size distribution –more » the grain sizes ranging from a few microns to a few millimeters. One of the FSP conditions displayed an excellent improvement in fatigue life by an order of magnitude, while the other condition displayed an unexpectedly large scatter in fatigue lives. Detailed study of the fractured fatigue specimens by electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) revealed that both, fatigue crack initiation and propagation, were intimately tied to the grain size as well as the grain misorientations in the microstructure.« less

Research on the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Ti Micro-Alloyed Cold Rolled Hot-Dip Galvanizing DP980 Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Yun; Kuang, Shuang; Qi, Xiumei; Xie, Chunqian; Liu, Guanghui

Effects of galvanizing simulation parameters on microstructures and mechanical properties of Ti-microalloyed cold rolled hot-dip galvanizing DP980 steel were investigated in this study by optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and tensile test. Moreover, the precipitation behavior of Ti in the experimental steel was also studied. The results show that, as the heating temperature increases, the tensile strength of experimental galvanizing DP980 steel decreases while the yield ratio and elongation of the steel are enhanced. The microstructures of experimental steels exhibit typical dual phase steel character and the volume fractions of MA islands are almost 30%. In addition, lots of nano-sized TiC precipitates can be found in the ferrite grains.

Large area ultraviolet photodetector on surface modified Si:GaN layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anitha, R.; R., Ramesh; Loganathan, R.; Vavilapalli, Durga Sankar; Baskar, K.; Singh, Shubra

2018-03-01

Unique features of semiconductor based heterostructured photoelectric devices have drawn considerable attention in the recent past. In the present work, large area UV photodetector has been fabricated utilizing interesting Zinc oxide microstructures on etched Si:GaN layers. The surface of Si:GaN layer grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition method on sapphire has been modified by chemical etching to control the microstructure. The photodetector exhibits response to Ultraviolet light only. Optimum etching of Si:GaN was required to exhibit higher responsivity (0.96 A/W) and detectivity (∼4.87 × 109 Jones), the two important parameters for a photodetector. Present method offers a tunable functionality of photodetector through modification of top layer microstructure. A comparison with state of art materials has also been presented.

Micro-structural integrity of dental enamel subjected to two tooth whitening regimes.

PubMed

Tanaka, Reina; Shibata, Yo; Manabe, Atsufumi; Miyazaki, Takashi

2010-04-01

Colour modification of tooth enamel has proven successful, but it is unclear how various bleaching applications affect micro-structural integrity of the whitened enamel. To investigate the internal structural integrity of human intact tooth enamel with the application of two commonly used whitening regimes (in-office power bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide and home bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide), evaluations were performed on teeth of identical colour classification. After the bleaching applications, the enamel mineral density was quantified and visualised with micro-computed tomography. The micro-structural differences between the whitened tooth enamel samples were distinctive, though the colour parameter changes within the samples were equivalent. Home bleaching achieved colour modification by demineralisation, whereas in-office bleaching depended on redistribution of the minerals after treatment and subsequent enhanced mineralisation.

Microstructure-sensitive Crystal Viscoplasticity for Ni-base Superalloys Targeting Long-term Creep-Fatigue Interaction Modeling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Neu, Richard W.

The aim of this project is to develop a microstructure-sensitive crystal viscoplasticity (CVP) model for single-crystal Ni-base superalloys to model the behavior of the material and components in the hot gas path sections of industrial gas turbines (IGT). Microstructure degradation associated with aging critical to predicting long-term creep-fatigue interactions will be embedded into the model through the γ' precipitate morphology evolution by coupling the coarsening drivers and kinetics into the constitutive equations of the CVP model. Model parameters will be determined using new experimental protocols that involve systematically artificially aging the alloy under different stress conditions to determine the relationshipmore » between the size and morphology g' precipitates on the creep and thermomechanical fatigue response.« less

Microstructure characterisation of Ti-6Al-4V from different additive manufacturing processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neikter, M.; Åkerfeldt, P.; Pederson, R.; Antti, M.-L.

2017-10-01

The focus of this work has been microstructure characterisation of Ti-6Al-4V manufactured by five different additive manufacturing (AM) processes. The microstructure features being characterised are the prior β size, grain boundary α and α lath thickness. It was found that material manufactured with powder bed fusion processes has smaller prior β grains than the material from directed energy deposition processes. The AM processes with fast cooling rate render in thinner α laths and also thinner, and in some cases discontinuous, grain boundary α. Furthermore, it has been observed that material manufactured with the directed energy deposition processes has parallel bands, except for one condition when the parameters were changed, while the powder bed fusion processes do not have any parallel bands.

Surface tension and contact angles: Molecular origins and associated microstructure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, H. T.

1982-01-01

Gradient theory converts the molecular theory of inhomogeneous fluid into nonlinear boundary value problems for density and stress distributions in fluid interfaces, contact line regions, nuclei and microdroplets, and other fluid microstructures. The relationship between the basic patterns of fluid phase behavior and the occurrence and stability of fluid microstructures was clearly established by the theory. All the inputs of the theory have molecular expressions which are computable from simple models. On another level, the theory becomes a phenomenological framework in which the equation of state of homogeneous fluid and sets of influence parameters of inhomogeneous fluids are the inputs and the structures, stress tensions and contact angles of menisci are the outputs. These outputs, which find applications in the science and technology of drops and bubbles, are discussed.

Microstructure-sensitive Crystal Viscoelasticity for Ni-base Superalloys Targeting Long-term Creep-Fatigue Interaction Modeling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Neu, Richard W

The aim of this project is to develop a microstructure-sensitive crystal viscoplasticity (CVP) model for single-crystal Ni-base superalloys to model the behavior of the material and components in the hot gas path sections of industrial gas turbines (IGT). Microstructure degradation associated with aging critical to predicting long-term creep-fatigue interactions will be embedded into the model through the γ' precipitate morphology evolution by coupling the coarsening drivers and kinetics into the constitutive equations of the CVP model. Model parameters will be determined using new experimental protocols that involve systematically artificially aging the alloy under different stress conditions to determine the relationshipmore » between the size and morphology g' precipitates on the creep and thermomechanical fatigue response.« less

Progress In Developing An In-Pile Acoustically Telemetered Sensor Infrastructure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, James A.; Garrett, Steven L.; Heibel, Michael D.

2016-09-01

A salient grand challenge for a number of Department of Energy programs such as Fuels Cycle Research and Development ( includes Accident Tolerant Fuel research and the Transient Reactor Test Facility Restart experiments), Light Water Sustainability, and Advanced Reactor Technologies is to enhance our fundamental understanding of fuel and materials behavior under irradiation. Robust and accurate in-pile measurements will be instrumental to develop and validate a computationally predictive multi-scale understanding of nuclear fuel and materials. This sensing technology will enable the linking of fundamental micro-structural evolution mechanisms to the macroscopic degradation of fuels and materials. The in situ sensors andmore » measurement systems will monitor local environmental parameters as well as characterize microstructure evolution during irradiation. One of the major road blocks in developing practical robust, and cost effective in-pile sensor systems, are instrument leads. If a wireless telemetry infrastructure can be developed for in-pile use, in-core measurements would become more attractive and effective. Thus to be successful in accomplishing effective in-pile sensing and microstructure characterization an interdisciplinary measurement infrastructure needs to be developed in parallel with key sensing technology. For the discussion in this research, infrastructure is defined as systems, technology, techniques, and algorithms that may be necessary in the delivery of beneficial and robust data from in-pile devices. The architecture of a system’s infrastructure determines how well it operates and how flexible it is to meet future requirements. The limiting path for the effective deployment of the salient sensing technology will not be the sensors themselves but the infrastructure that is necessary to communicate data from in-pile to the outside world in a non-intrusive and reliable manner. This article gives a high level overview of a promising telemetry infrastructure based on acoustic wireless transmission of data that is being developed and tested by the INL, Penn State and Westinghouse.« less

Quantitative 3D analysis of the canal network in cortical bone by micro-computed tomography.

PubMed

Cooper, D M L; Turinsky, A L; Sensen, C W; Hallgrímsson, B

2003-09-01

Cortical bone is perforated by an interconnected network of porous canals that facilitate the distribution of neurovascular structures throughout the cortex. This network is an integral component of cortical microstructure and, therefore, undergoes continual change throughout life as the cortex is remodeled. To date, the investigation of cortical microstructure, including the canal network, has largely been limited to the two-dimensional (2D) realm due to methodological hurdles. Thanks to continuing improvements in scan resolution, micro-computed tomography (muCT) is the first nondestructive imaging technology capable of resolving cortical canals. Like its application to trabecular bone, muCT provides an efficient means of quantifying aspects of 3D architecture of the canal network. Our aim here is to introduce the use of muCT for this application by providing examples, discussing some of the parameters that can be acquired, and relating these to research applications. Although several parameters developed for the analysis of trabecular microstructure are suitable for the analysis of cortical porosity, the algorithm used to estimate connectivity is not. We adapt existing algorithms based on skeletonization for this task. We believe that 3D analysis of the dimensions and architecture of the canal network will provide novel information relevant to many aspects of bone biology. For example, parameters related to the size, spacing, and volume of the canals may be particularly useful for investigation of the mechanical properties of bone. Alternatively, parameters describing the 3D architecture of the canal network, such as connectivity between the canals, may provide a means of evaluating cumulative remodeling related change. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A phase quantification method based on EBSD data for a continuously cooled microalloyed steel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, H.; Wynne, B.P.; Palmiere, E.J., E-mail: e.j

2017-01-15

Mechanical properties of steels depend on the phase constitutions of the final microstructures which can be related to the processing parameters. Therefore, accurate quantification of different phases is necessary to investigate the relationships between processing parameters, final microstructures and mechanical properties. Point counting on micrographs observed by optical or scanning electron microscopy is widely used as a phase quantification method, and different phases are discriminated according to their morphological characteristics. However, it is difficult to differentiate some of the phase constituents with similar morphology. Differently, for EBSD based phase quantification methods, besides morphological characteristics, other parameters derived from the orientationmore » information can also be used for discrimination. In this research, a phase quantification method based on EBSD data in the unit of grains was proposed to identify and quantify the complex phase constitutions of a microalloyed steel subjected to accelerated coolings. Characteristics of polygonal ferrite/quasi-polygonal ferrite, acicular ferrite and bainitic ferrite on grain averaged misorientation angles, aspect ratios, high angle grain boundary fractions and grain sizes were analysed and used to develop the identification criteria for each phase. Comparing the results obtained by this EBSD based method and point counting, it was found that this EBSD based method can provide accurate and reliable phase quantification results for microstructures with relatively slow cooling rates. - Highlights: •A phase quantification method based on EBSD data in the unit of grains was proposed. •The critical grain area above which GAM angles are valid parameters was obtained. •Grain size and grain boundary misorientation were used to identify acicular ferrite. •High cooling rates deteriorate the accuracy of this EBSD based method.« less

A critical assessment of in-flight particle state during plasma spraying of YSZ and its implications on coating properties and process reliability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srinivasan, Vasudevan

Air plasma spray is inherently complex due to the deviation from equilibrium conditions, three dimensional nature, multitude of interrelated (controllable) parameters and (uncontrollable) variables involved, and stochastic variability at different stages. The resultant coatings are complex due to the layered high defect density microstructure. Despite the widespread use and commercial success for decades in earthmoving, automotive, aerospace and power generation industries, plasma spray has not been completely understood and prime reliance for critical applications such as thermal barrier coatings on gas turbines are yet to be accomplished. This dissertation is aimed at understanding the in-flight particle state of the plasma spray process towards designing coatings and achieving coating reliability with the aid of noncontact in-flight particle and spray stream sensors. Key issues such as the phenomena of optimum particle injection and the definition of spray stream using particle state are investigated. Few strategies to modify the microstructure and properties of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia coatings are examined systematically using the framework of process maps. An approach to design process window based on design relevant coating properties is presented. Options to control the process for enhanced reproducibility and reliability are examined and the resultant variability is evaluated systematically at the different stages in the process. The 3D variability due to the difference in plasma characteristics has been critically examined by investigating splats collected from the entire spray footprint.

Microstructure, soft magnetic properties and applications of amorphous Fe-Co-Si-B-Mo-P alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasiak, Mariusz; Miglierini, Marcel; Łukiewski, Mirosław; Łaszcz, Amadeusz; Bujdoš, Marek

2018-05-01

DC thermomagnetic properties of Fe51Co12Si16B8Mo5P8 amorphous alloy in the as-quenched and after annealing below crystallization temperature are investigated. They are related to deviations in the microstructure as revealed by Mössbauer spectrometry. Study of AC magnetic properties, i.e. hysteresis loops, relative permeability and core losses versus maximum induction was aimed at obtaining optimal initial parameters for simulation process of a resonant transformer for a rail power supply converter. The results obtained from numerical analyses including core losses, winding losses, core mass, and dimensions were compared with the same parameters calculated for Fe-Si alloy and ferrite. Moreover, Steinmetz coefficients were also calculated for the as-quenched Fe51Co12Si16B8Mo5P8 amorphous alloy.

An investigation of squeeze-cast alloy 718

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gamwell, W. R.

1993-01-01

Alloy 718 billets produced by the squeeze-cast process have been evaluated for use as potential replacements for propulsion engine components which are normally produced from forgings. Alloy 718 billets were produced using various processing conditions. Structural characterizations were performed on 'as-cast' billets. As-cast billets were then homogenized and solution treated and aged according to conventional heat-treatment practices for this alloy. Mechanical property evaluations were performed on heat-treated billets. As-cast macrostructures and microstructures varied with squeeze-cast processing parameters. Mechanical properties varied with squeeze-cast processing parameters and heat treatments. One billet exhibited a defect free, refined microstructure, with mechanical properties approaching those of wrought alloy 718 bar, confirming the feasibility of squeeze-casting alloy 718. However, further process optimization is required, and further structural and mechanical property improvements are expected with process optimization.

In Vivo Precision of Digital Topological Skeletonization Based Individual Trabecula Segmentation (ITS) Analysis of Trabecular Microstructure at the Distal Radius and Tibia by HR-pQCT.

PubMed

Zhou, Bin; Zhang, Zhendong; Wang, Ji; Yu, Y Eric; Liu, Xiaowei Sherry; Nishiyama, Kyle K; Rubin, Mishaela R; Shane, Elizabeth; Bilezikian, John P; Guo, X Edward

2016-06-01

Trabecular plate and rod microstructure plays a dominant role in the apparent mechanical properties of trabecular bone. With high-resolution computed tomography (CT) images, digital topological analysis (DTA) including skeletonization and topological classification was applied to transform the trabecular three-dimensional (3D) network into surface and curve skeletons. Using the DTA-based topological analysis and a new reconstruction/recovery scheme, individual trabecula segmentation (ITS) was developed to segment individual trabecular plates and rods and quantify the trabecular plate- and rod-related morphological parameters. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) is an emerging in vivo imaging technique to visualize 3D bone microstructure. Based on HR-pQCT images, ITS was applied to various HR-pQCT datasets to examine trabecular plate- and rod-related microstructure and has demonstrated great potential in cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical applications. However, the reproducibility of ITS has not been fully determined. The aim of the current study is to quantify the precision errors of ITS plate-rod microstructural parameters. In addition, we utilized three different frequently used contour techniques to separate trabecular and cortical bone and to evaluate their effect on ITS measurements. Overall, good reproducibility was found for the standard HR-pQCT parameters with precision errors for volumetric BMD and bone size between 0.2%-2.0%, and trabecular bone microstructure between 4.9%-6.7% at the radius and tibia. High reproducibility was also achieved for ITS measurements using all three different contour techniques. For example, using automatic contour technology, low precision errors were found for plate and rod trabecular number (pTb.N, rTb.N, 0.9% and 3.6%), plate and rod trabecular thickness (pTb.Th, rTb.Th, 0.6% and 1.7%), plate trabecular surface (pTb.S, 3.4%), rod trabecular length (rTb.ℓ, 0.8%), and plate-plate junction density (P-P Junc.D, 2.3%) at the tibia. The precision errors at the radius were similar to those at the tibia. In addition, precision errors were affected by the contour technique. At the tibia, precision error by the manual contour method was significantly different from automatic and standard contour methods for pTb.N, rTb.N and rTb.Th. Precision error using the manual contour method was also significantly different from the standard contour method for rod trabecular number (rTb.N), rod trabecular thickness (rTb.Th), rod-rod and plate-rod junction densities (R-R Junc.D and P-R Junc.D) at the tibia. At the radius, the precision error was similar between the three different contour methods. Image quality was also found to significantly affect the ITS reproducibility. We concluded that ITS parameters are highly reproducible, giving assurance that future cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical HR-pQCT studies are feasible in the context of limited sample sizes.

Monitoring microstructural evolution of alloy 617 with non-linear acoustics for remaining useful life prediction; multiaxial creep-fatigue and creep-ratcheting

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lissenden, Cliff; Hassan, Tasnin; Rangari, Vijaya

The research built upon a prior investigation to develop a unified constitutive model for design-­by-­analysis of the intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) for a very high temperature reactor (VHTR) design of next generation nuclear plants (NGNPs). Model development requires a set of failure data from complex mechanical experiments to characterize the material behavior. Therefore uniaxial and multiaxial creep-­fatigue and creep-­ratcheting tests were conducted on the nickel-­base Alloy 617 at 850 and 950°C. The time dependence of material behavior, and the interaction of time dependent behavior (e.g., creep) with ratcheting, which is an increase in the cyclic mean strain under load-­controlled cycling,more » are major concerns for NGNP design. This research project aimed at characterizing the microstructure evolution mechanisms activated in Alloy 617 by mechanical loading and dwell times at elevated temperature. The acoustic harmonic generation method was researched for microstructural characterization. It is a nonlinear acoustics method with excellent potential for nondestructive evaluation, and even online continuous monitoring once high temperature sensors become available. It is unique because it has the ability to quantitatively characterize microstructural features well before macroscale defects (e.g., cracks) form. The nonlinear acoustics beta parameter was shown to correlate with microstructural evolution using a systematic approach to handle the complexity of multiaxial creep-­fatigue and creep-­ratcheting deformation. Mechanical testing was conducted to provide a full spectrum of data for: thermal aging, tensile creep, uniaxial fatigue, uniaxial creep-­fatigue, uniaxial creep-ratcheting, multiaxial creep-fatigue, and multiaxial creep-­ratcheting. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Optical Microscopy were conducted to correlate the beta parameter with individual microstructure mechanisms. We researched application of the harmonic generation method to tubular mechanical test specimens and pipes for nondestructive evaluation. Tubular specimens and pipes act as waveguides, thus we applied the acoustic harmonic generation method to guided waves in both plates and shells. Magnetostrictive transducers were used to generate and receive guided wave modes in the shell sample and the received signals were processed to show the sensitivity of higher harmonic generation to microstructure evolution. Modeling was initiated to correlate higher harmonic generation with the microstructure that will lead to development of a life prediction model that is informed by the nonlinear acoustics measurements.« less

Microstructured bicontinuous phase formulations: their characterization and application in dermal and transdermal drug delivery.

PubMed

Lapteva, Maria; Kalia, Yogeshvar N

2013-08-01

The development of approaches to increase drug solubility and partitioning into the skin is an active area of research in topical and transdermal delivery. In addition to forming spherical aggregates, e.g., conventional oil in water or water in oil microemulsions, the combination of an oil, surfactant and water can create bicontinuous structures where the self-assembly properties of surfactants mean that the boundaries between oil and water are no longer random. This leads to the formation of specific microstructures whose intrinsic properties and interactions with the drug will determine the ability to formulate a given drug, its stability once formulated and its subsequent delivery. The review explores the relationship between the microstructure of biphasic formulations, present in microemulsions and liquid crystalline phases, and drug delivery into the skin. An overview of possible internal microstructures is followed by a summary of the methods used for structure characterization. The final section presents the work to-date and discusses the efficacy of such vehicles in enhancing dermal and transdermal delivery. The combination of water, surface agent and oil generates a broad range of three dimensional structures differing in both chemical and physical proprieties. Knowledge of the microstructure is important in understanding the behavior of a formulation and its effect on drug delivery into the skin. Microstructure complexity, interactions between the drug and the vehicle (i.e., location and mobility) and those between the vehicle and the skin are key determinants of drug delivery.

Novel Directional Solidification Processing of Hypermonotectic Alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grugel, Richard N.

1999-01-01

Gravity driven separation precludes uniform microstructural development during controlled directional solidification (DS) processing of hypermonotectic alloys. It is well established that liquid/liquid suspensions, in which the respective components are immiscible and have significant density differences, can be established and maintained by utilizing ultrasound. A historical introduction to this work is presented with the intent of establishing the basis for applying the phenomena to promote microstructural uniformity during controlled directional solidification processing of immiscible mixtures. Experimental work based on transparent organics, as well as salt systems, will be presented in view of the processing parameters.

Non Destructive Analysis of Fsw Welds using Ultrasonic Signal Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavan Kumar, T.; Prabhakar Reddy, P.

2017-08-01

Friction Stir Welding is an evolving metal joining technique and is mostly used in joining materials which cannot be easily joined by other available welding techniques. It is a technique which can be used for welding dissimilar materials also. The strength of the weld joint is determined by the way in which these material are mixing with each other, since we are not using any filler material for the welding process the intermixing has a significant importance. The complication with the friction stir welding process is that there are many process parameters which effect this intermixing process such as tool geometry, rotating speed of the tool, transverse speed etc., In this study an attempt is made to compare the material flow and weld quality of various weldments by changing the parameters. Ultrasonic signal Analysis is used to characterize the microstructure of the weldments. use of ultrasonic waves is a non destructive, accurate and fast way of characterization of microstructure. In this method the relationship between the ultrasonic measured parameters and microstructures are evaluated using background echo and backscattered signal process techniques. The ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements are dependent on the elastic modulus and any change in the microstructure is reflected in the ultrasonic velocity. An insight into material flow is essential to determine the quality of the weld. Hence an attempt is made in this study to know the relationship between tool geometry and the pattern of material flow and resulting weld quality the experiments are conducted to weld dissimilar aluminum alloys and the weldments are characterized using and ultra Sonic signal processing. Characterization is also done using Scanning Electron Microscopy. It is observed that there is a good correlation between the ultrasonic signal processing results and Scanning Electron Microscopy on the observed precipitates. Tensile tests and hardness tests are conducted on the weldments and compared for determining the weld quality.

Modeling the Effects of Coolant Application in Friction Stir Processing on Material Microstructure Using 3D CFD Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aljoaba, Sharif; Dillon, Oscar; Khraisheh, Marwan; Jawahir, I. S.

2012-07-01

The ability to generate nano-sized grains is one of the advantages of friction stir processing (FSP). However, the high temperatures generated during the stirring process within the processing zone stimulate the grains to grow after recrystallization. Therefore, maintaining the small grains becomes a critical issue when using FSP. In the present reports, coolants are applied to the fixture and/or processed material in order to reduce the temperature and hence, grain growth. Most of the reported data in the literature concerning cooling techniques are experimental. We have seen no reports that attempt to predict these quantities when using coolants while the material is undergoing FSP. Therefore, there is need to develop a model that predicts the resulting grain size when using coolants, which is an important step toward designing the material microstructure. In this study, two three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are reported which simulate FSP with and without coolant application while using the STAR CCM+ CFD commercial software. In the model with the coolant application, the fixture (backing plate) is modeled while is not in the other model. User-defined subroutines were incorporated in the software and implemented to investigate the effects of changing process parameters on temperature, strain rate and material velocity fields in, and around, the processed nugget. In addition, a correlation between these parameters and the Zener-Holloman parameter used in material science was developed to predict the grain size distribution. Different stirring conditions were incorporated in this study to investigate their effects on material flow and microstructural modification. A comparison of the results obtained by using each of the models on the processed microstructure is also presented for the case of Mg AZ31B-O alloy. The predicted results are also compared with the available experimental data and generally show good agreement.

Effect of microwave radiation on Jayadhar cotton fibers: WAXS studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Niranjana, A. R., E-mail: arnphysics@gmail.com; Mahesh, S. S., E-mail: arnphysics@gmail.com; Divakara, S., E-mail: arnphysics@gmail.com

Thermal effect in the form of micro wave energy on Jayadhar cotton fiber has been investigated. Microstructural parameters have been estimated using wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) data and line profile analysis program developed by us. Physical properties like tensile strength are correlated with X-ray results. We observe that the microwave radiation do affect significantly many parameters and we have suggested a multivariate analysis of these parameters to arrive at a significant result.

The effect of spraying parameters on micro-structural properties of WC-12%Co coating deposited on copper substrate by HVOF process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sathwara, Nishit, E-mail: nishit-25@live.in; Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Department, Indus University, Ahmedabad-382115; Jariwala, C., E-mail: chetanjari@yahoo.com

High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) thermal sprayed coatingmade from Tungsten Carbide (WC) isconsidered as one of the most durable materials as wear resistance for industrial applications at room temperature. WC coating offers high wear resistance due to its high hardness and tough matrix imparts. The coating properties strongly depend on thermal spray processing parameters, surface preparation and surface finish. In this investigation, the effect of variousHVOF process parameters was studied on WC coating properties. The WC-12%Co coating was produced on Copper substrate. Prior to coating, theCopper substrate surface was prepared by grit blasting. WC-12%Co coatings were deposited on Coppersubstrates with varyingmore » process parameters such as Oxygen gas pressure, Air pressure, and spraying distance. Microstructure of coating was examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and characterization of phasespresentin the coating was examined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Microhardness of all coatingswas measured by VickerMicrohardness tester. At low Oxygen Pressure(10.00 bar), high Air pressure (7bar) and short nozzle to substrate distance of 170mm, best coating adhesion and porosity less structure isachieved on Coppersubstrate.« less

Influence of Annealing on the Depth Microstructure of the Shot Peened Duplex Stainless Steel at Elevated Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Qiang; She, Jia; Xiang, Yong; Wu, Xianyun; Wang, Chengxi; Jiang, Chuanhai

The depth profiles of residual stresses and lattice parameters in the surface layers of shot peened duplex stainless steel at elevated temperature were investigated utilizing X-ray diffraction analysis. At each deformation depth, residual stress distributions in both ferrite and austenite were studied by X-ray diffraction stress analysis which is performed on the basis of the sin2ψ method and the lattice parameters were explored by Rietveld method. The results reveal that difference changes of depth residual compressive stress profiles between ferrite and austenite under the same annealing condition are resulted from the diverse coefficient of thermal expansion, dislocation density, etc. for different phases in duplex stainless steel. The relaxations of depth residual stresses in austenite are more obvious than those in ferrite. The lattice parameters decrease in the surface layer with the extending of annealing time, however, they increase along the depth after annealing for 16min. The change of the depth lattice parameters can be ascribed to both thermal expansion and the relaxation of residual stress. The different changes of microstructure at elevated temperature between ferrite and austenite are discussed.

The effect of spraying parameters on micro-structural properties of WC-12%Co coating deposited on copper substrate by HVOF process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sathwara, Nishit; Jariwala, C.; Chauhan, N.; Raole, P. M.; Basa, D. K.

2015-08-01

High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) thermal sprayed coatingmade from Tungsten Carbide (WC) isconsidered as one of the most durable materials as wear resistance for industrial applications at room temperature. WC coating offers high wear resistance due to its high hardness and tough matrix imparts. The coating properties strongly depend on thermal spray processing parameters, surface preparation and surface finish. In this investigation, the effect of variousHVOF process parameters was studied on WC coating properties. The WC-12%Co coating was produced on Copper substrate. Prior to coating, theCopper substrate surface was prepared by grit blasting. WC-12%Co coatings were deposited on Coppersubstrates with varying process parameters such as Oxygen gas pressure, Air pressure, and spraying distance. Microstructure of coating was examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and characterization of phasespresentin the coating was examined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Microhardness of all coatingswas measured by VickerMicrohardness tester. At low Oxygen Pressure(10.00 bar), high Air pressure (7bar) and short nozzle to substrate distance of 170mm, best coating adhesion and porosity less structure isachieved on Coppersubstrate.

Confocal arthroscopy-based patient-specific constitutive models of cartilaginous tissues - II: prediction of reaction force history of meniscal cartilage specimens.

PubMed

Taylor, Zeike A; Kirk, Thomas B; Miller, Karol

2007-10-01

The theoretical framework developed in a companion paper (Part I) is used to derive estimates of mechanical response of two meniscal cartilage specimens. The previously developed framework consisted of a constitutive model capable of incorporating confocal image-derived tissue microstructural data. In the present paper (Part II) fibre and matrix constitutive parameters are first estimated from mechanical testing of a batch of specimens similar to, but independent from those under consideration. Image analysis techniques which allow estimation of tissue microstructural parameters form confocal images are presented. The constitutive model and image-derived structural parameters are then used to predict the reaction force history of the two meniscal specimens subjected to partially confined compression. The predictions are made on the basis of the specimens' individual structural condition as assessed by confocal microscopy and involve no tuning of material parameters. Although the model does not reproduce all features of the experimental curves, as an unfitted estimate of mechanical response the prediction is quite accurate. In light of the obtained results it is judged that more general non-invasive estimation of tissue mechanical properties is possible using the developed framework.

Statistical Optimization of Reactive Plasma Cladding to Synthesize a WC-Reinforced Fe-Based Alloy Coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Miqi; Zhou, Zehua; Wu, Lintao; Ding, Ying; Xu, Feilong; Wang, Zehua

2018-04-01

A new compound Fe-W-C powder for reactive plasma cladding was fabricated by precursor carbonization process using sucrose as a precursor. The application of quadratic general rotary unitized design was highlighted to develop a mathematical model to predict and accomplish the desired surface hardness of plasma-cladded coating. The microstructure and microhardness of the coating with optimal parameters were also investigated. According to the developed empirical model, the optimal process parameters were determined as follows: 1.4 for C/W atomic ratio, 20 wt.% for W content, 130 A for scanning current and 100 mm/min (1.67 mm/s) for scanning rate. The confidence level of the model was 99% according to the results of the F-test and lack-of-fit test. Microstructural study showed that the dendritic structure was comprised of a mechanical mixture of α-Fe and carbides, while the interdendritic structure was a eutectic of α-Fe and carbides in the composite coating with optimal parameters. WC phase generation can be confirmed from the XRD pattern. Due to good preparation parameters, the average microhardness of cladded coating can reach 1120 HV0.1, which was four times the substrate microhardness.

Sensitivity of acoustic nonlinearity parameter to the microstructural changes in cement-based materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Gun; Kim, Jin-Yeon; Kurtis, Kimberly E.; Jacobs, Laurence J.

2015-03-01

This research experimentally investigates the sensitivity of the acoustic nonlinearity parameter to microcracks in cement-based materials. Based on the second harmonic generation (SHG) technique, an experimental setup using non-contact, air-coupled detection is used to receive the consistent Rayleigh surface waves. To induce variations in the extent of microscale cracking in two types of specimens (concrete and mortar), shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA), is used in one set, while a companion specimen is prepared without SRA. A 50 kHz wedge transducer and a 100 kHz air-coupled transducer are implemented for the generation and detection of nonlinear Rayleigh waves. It is shown that the air-coupled detection method provides more repeatable fundamental and second harmonic amplitudes of the propagating Rayleigh waves. The obtained amplitudes are then used to calculate the relative nonlinearity parameter βre, the ratio of the second harmonic amplitude to the square of the fundamental amplitude. The experimental results clearly demonstrate that the nonlinearity parameter (βre) is highly sensitive to the microstructural changes in cement-based materials than the Rayleigh phase velocity and attenuation and that SRA has great potential to avoid shrinkage cracking in cement-based materials.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Pei-quan; Li, Leijun, E-mail: leijun.li@ualberta.ca; Zhang, Chunbo

The as-welded microstructure of laser-welded Ti-6Al-4V is characterized as a function of CO2 key-hole mode laser welding speed. Martensitic α′ is the predominant phase, with some α and retained β. Phase transformation is affected by the cooling rate through laser welding speed. A higher welding speed of 1.6 to 2.0 m/min produced more martensite α′ and less retained β in the welds. 1.4 m/min welding speed produced small amounts of α, besides the martensite α′. A trace of δ titanium hydride phase seems to have formed in the weld fusion zone. Moiré fringes are a common feature in the TEMmore » microstructure, due to abundance of multi-phase interfaces. Tensile twins and clusters of dislocations indicate that plastic deformation has happened in the as-welded microstructure, indicating the local stress levels to be approaching the yield stress on-cooling during laser welding.« less

Synthesis and microstructure of electrodeposited and sputtered nanotwinned face-centered-cubic metals

DOE PAGES

Bufford, Daniel C.; Wang, Morris; Liu, Yue; ...

2016-04-01

The remarkable properties of nanotwinned (NT) face-centered-cubic (fcc) metals arise directly from twin boundaries, the structures of which can be initially determined by growth twinning during the deposition process. When we understand the synthesis process and its relation to the resulting microstructure, and ultimately to material properties, we realize how key it is to understanding and utilizing these materials. Furthermore, our article presents recent studies on electrodeposition and sputtering methods that produce a high density of nanoscale growth twins in fcc metals. Nanoscale growth twins tend to form spontaneously in monolithic and alloyed fcc metals with lower stacking-fault energies, whilemore » engineered approaches are necessary for fcc metals with higher stacking-fault energies. Finally, growth defects and other microstructural features that influence nanotwin behavior and stability are introduced here, and future challenges in fabricating NT materials are highlighted.« less

Damascus Steel Revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verhoeven, J. D.; Pendray, A. H.; Dauksch, W. E.; Wagstaff, S. R.

2018-05-01

A review is given of the work we presented in the 1990s that successfully developed a technique for reproducing the surface patterns and internal microstructure of genuine Damascus steel blades. That work showed that a key factor in making these blades was the addition of quite small levels of carbide-forming elements, notably V. Experiments are presented for blades made from slow- and fast-cooled ingots, and the results support our previous hypothesis that the internal banded microstructure results from microsegregation of V between dendrites during ingot solidification. A hypothetical model was presented for the mechanism causing the unique internal microstructure that gives rise to the surface pattern forming during the forging of the ingots from which the blades are made. This article attempts to explain the model more clearly and presents some literature data that offer support to the model. It also discusses an alternate model recently proposed by Foll.

Synthesis and microstructure of electrodeposited and sputtered nanotwinned face-centered-cubic metals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bufford, Daniel C.; Wang, Morris; Liu, Yue

The remarkable properties of nanotwinned (NT) face-centered-cubic (fcc) metals arise directly from twin boundaries, the structures of which can be initially determined by growth twinning during the deposition process. When we understand the synthesis process and its relation to the resulting microstructure, and ultimately to material properties, we realize how key it is to understanding and utilizing these materials. Furthermore, our article presents recent studies on electrodeposition and sputtering methods that produce a high density of nanoscale growth twins in fcc metals. Nanoscale growth twins tend to form spontaneously in monolithic and alloyed fcc metals with lower stacking-fault energies, whilemore » engineered approaches are necessary for fcc metals with higher stacking-fault energies. Finally, growth defects and other microstructural features that influence nanotwin behavior and stability are introduced here, and future challenges in fabricating NT materials are highlighted.« less

Analysis of Radiation Damage in Light Water Reactors: Comparison of Cluster Analysis Methods for the Analysis of Atom Probe Data.

PubMed

Hyde, Jonathan M; DaCosta, Gérald; Hatzoglou, Constantinos; Weekes, Hannah; Radiguet, Bertrand; Styman, Paul D; Vurpillot, Francois; Pareige, Cristelle; Etienne, Auriane; Bonny, Giovanni; Castin, Nicolas; Malerba, Lorenzo; Pareige, Philippe

2017-04-01

Irradiation of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels causes the formation of nanoscale microstructural features (termed radiation damage), which affect the mechanical properties of the vessel. A key tool for characterizing these nanoscale features is atom probe tomography (APT), due to its high spatial resolution and the ability to identify different chemical species in three dimensions. Microstructural observations using APT can underpin development of a mechanistic understanding of defect formation. However, with atom probe analyses there are currently multiple methods for analyzing the data. This can result in inconsistencies between results obtained from different researchers and unnecessary scatter when combining data from multiple sources. This makes interpretation of results more complex and calibration of radiation damage models challenging. In this work simulations of a range of different microstructures are used to directly compare different cluster analysis algorithms and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Structure of anodized Al-Zr sputter deposited coatings and effect on optical appearance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gudla, Visweswara Chakravarthy; Canulescu, Stela; Shabadi, Rajashekhara; Rechendorff, Kristian; Dirscherl, Kai; Ambat, Rajan

2014-10-01

The mechanism of interaction of light with the microstructure of anodized layer giving specific optical appearance is investigated using Al-Zr sputter deposited coating as a model system on an AA6060 substrate. Differences in the oxidative nature of various microstructural components result in the evolution of typical features in the anodized layer, which are investigated as a function of microstructure and correlated with its optical appearance. The Zr concentration in the coating was varied from 6 wt.% to 23 wt.%. Heat treatment of the coated samples was carried out at 550 °C for 4 h in order to evolve Al-Zr based second phase precipitates in the microstructure. Anodizing was performed using 20 wt.% sulphuric acid at 18 °C with an intention to study the effect of anodizing on the Al-Zr based precipitates in the coating. Detailed microstructural characterization of the coating and anodized layer was carried out using high resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction analysis, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, and optical appearance using spectrophotometry. The evolution of microstructure in the anodized layer as a function of anodizing parameters and their influence on the interaction of light is investigated and the results in general are applicable to discolouration of anodized layer on recycled aluminium alloys due to intermetallics.

Secondary pool boiling effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kruse, C.; Tsubaki, A.; Zuhlke, C.; Anderson, T.; Alexander, D.; Gogos, G.; Ndao, S.

2016-02-01

A pool boiling phenomenon referred to as secondary boiling effects is discussed. Based on the experimental trends, a mechanism is proposed that identifies the parameters that lead to this phenomenon. Secondary boiling effects refer to a distinct decrease in the wall superheat temperature near the critical heat flux due to a significant increase in the heat transfer coefficient. Recent pool boiling heat transfer experiments using femtosecond laser processed Inconel, stainless steel, and copper multiscale surfaces consistently displayed secondary boiling effects, which were found to be a result of both temperature drop along the microstructures and nucleation characteristic length scales. The temperature drop is a function of microstructure height and thermal conductivity. An increased microstructure height and a decreased thermal conductivity result in a significant temperature drop along the microstructures. This temperature drop becomes more pronounced at higher heat fluxes and along with the right nucleation characteristic length scales results in a change of the boiling dynamics. Nucleation spreads from the bottom of the microstructure valleys to the top of the microstructures, resulting in a decreased surface superheat with an increasing heat flux. This decrease in the wall superheat at higher heat fluxes is reflected by a "hook back" of the traditional boiling curve and is thus referred to as secondary boiling effects. In addition, a boiling hysteresis during increasing and decreasing heat flux develops due to the secondary boiling effects. This hysteresis further validates the existence of secondary boiling effects.

Replication of engine block cylinder bridge microstructure and mechanical properties with lab scale 319 Al alloy billet castings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lombardi, A., E-mail: a2lombar@ryerson.ca; D'Elia, F.; Ravindran, C.

2014-01-15

In recent years, aluminum alloy gasoline engine blocks have in large part successfully replaced nodular cast iron engine blocks, resulting in improved vehicle fuel efficiency. However, because of the inadequate wear resistance properties of hypoeutectic Al–Si alloys, gray iron cylinder liners are required. These liners cause the development of large tensile residual stress along the cylinder bores and necessitate the maximization of mechanical properties in this region to prevent premature engine failure. The aim of this study was to replicate the engine cylinder bridge microstructure and mechanical properties following TSR treatment (which removes the sand binder to enable easy castingmore » retrieval) using lab scale billet castings of the same alloy composition with varying cooling rates. Comparisons in microstructure between the engine block and the billet castings were carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopy, while mechanical properties were assessed using tensile testing. The results suggest that the microstructure at the top and middle of the engine block cylinder bridge was successfully replicated by the billet castings. However, the microstructure at the bottom of the cylinder was not completely replicated due to variations in secondary phase morphology and distribution. The successful replication of engine block microstructure will enable the future optimization of heat treatment parameters. - Highlights: • A method to replicate engine block microstructure was developed. • Billet castings will allow cost effective optimization of heat treatment process. • The replication of microstructure in the cylinder region was mostly successful. • Porosity was more clustered in the billet castings compared to the engine block. • Mechanical properties were lower in billet castings due to porosity and inclusions.« less

Image-Based Macro-Micro Finite Element Models of a Canine Femur with Implant Design Implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Somnath; Krishnan, Ganapathi; Dyce, Jonathan

2006-06-01

In this paper, a comprehensive model of a bone-cement-implant assembly is developed for a canine cemented femoral prosthesis system. Various steps in this development entail profiling the canine femur contours by computed tomography (CT) scanning, computer aided design (CAD) reconstruction of the canine femur from CT images, CAD modeling of the implant from implant blue prints and CAD modeling of the interface cement. Finite element analysis of the macroscopic assembly is conducted for stress analysis in individual components of the system, accounting for variation in density and material properties in the porous bone material. A sensitivity analysis is conducted with the macroscopic model to investigate the effect of implant design variables on the stress distribution in the assembly. Subsequently, rigorous microstructural analysis of the bone incorporating the morphological intricacies is conducted. Various steps in this development include acquisition of the bone microstructural data from histological serial sectioning, stacking of sections to obtain 3D renderings of void distributions, microstructural characterization and determination of properties and, finally, microstructural stress analysis using a 3D Voronoi cell finite element method. Generation of the simulated microstructure and analysis by the 3D Voronoi cell finite element model provides a new way of modeling complex microstructures and correlating to morphological characteristics. An inverse calculation of the material parameters of bone by combining macroscopic experiments with microstructural characterization and analysis provides a new approach to evaluating properties without having to do experiments at this scale. Finally, the microstructural stresses in the femur are computed using the 3D VCFEM to study the stress distribution at the scale of the bone porosity. Significant difference is observed between the macroscopic stresses and the peak microscopic stresses at different locations.

Joint Multi-Fiber NODDI Parameter Estimation and Tractography Using the Unscented Information Filter

PubMed Central

Reddy, Chinthala P.; Rathi, Yogesh

2016-01-01

Tracing white matter fiber bundles is an integral part of analyzing brain connectivity. An accurate estimate of the underlying tissue parameters is also paramount in several neuroscience applications. In this work, we propose to use a joint fiber model estimation and tractography algorithm that uses the NODDI (neurite orientation dispersion diffusion imaging) model to estimate fiber orientation dispersion consistently and smoothly along the fiber tracts along with estimating the intracellular and extracellular volume fractions from the diffusion signal. While the NODDI model has been used in earlier works to estimate the microstructural parameters at each voxel independently, for the first time, we propose to integrate it into a tractography framework. We extend this framework to estimate the NODDI parameters for two crossing fibers, which is imperative to trace fiber bundles through crossings as well as to estimate the microstructural parameters for each fiber bundle separately. We propose to use the unscented information filter (UIF) to accurately estimate the model parameters and perform tractography. The proposed approach has significant computational performance improvements as well as numerical robustness over the unscented Kalman filter (UKF). Our method not only estimates the confidence in the estimated parameters via the covariance matrix, but also provides the Fisher-information matrix of the state variables (model parameters), which can be quite useful to measure model complexity. Results from in-vivo human brain data sets demonstrate the ability of our algorithm to trace through crossing fiber regions, while estimating orientation dispersion and other biophysical model parameters in a consistent manner along the tracts. PMID:27147956

Joint Multi-Fiber NODDI Parameter Estimation and Tractography Using the Unscented Information Filter.

PubMed

Reddy, Chinthala P; Rathi, Yogesh

2016-01-01

Tracing white matter fiber bundles is an integral part of analyzing brain connectivity. An accurate estimate of the underlying tissue parameters is also paramount in several neuroscience applications. In this work, we propose to use a joint fiber model estimation and tractography algorithm that uses the NODDI (neurite orientation dispersion diffusion imaging) model to estimate fiber orientation dispersion consistently and smoothly along the fiber tracts along with estimating the intracellular and extracellular volume fractions from the diffusion signal. While the NODDI model has been used in earlier works to estimate the microstructural parameters at each voxel independently, for the first time, we propose to integrate it into a tractography framework. We extend this framework to estimate the NODDI parameters for two crossing fibers, which is imperative to trace fiber bundles through crossings as well as to estimate the microstructural parameters for each fiber bundle separately. We propose to use the unscented information filter (UIF) to accurately estimate the model parameters and perform tractography. The proposed approach has significant computational performance improvements as well as numerical robustness over the unscented Kalman filter (UKF). Our method not only estimates the confidence in the estimated parameters via the covariance matrix, but also provides the Fisher-information matrix of the state variables (model parameters), which can be quite useful to measure model complexity. Results from in-vivo human brain data sets demonstrate the ability of our algorithm to trace through crossing fiber regions, while estimating orientation dispersion and other biophysical model parameters in a consistent manner along the tracts.

Novel superconducting phases of Tl-based compounds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kostadinov, I. Z.; Mateev, M.; Michov, M.; Skumriev, V.; Tsakin, E.

1991-01-01

Researchers report the measurements of the I(sub c)(T) of the 102 K phase. They also discuss briefly the composition of the lattice parameters and the ac susceptibility relation to the grain size and microstructure.

Quantitative analysis of microstructure deformation in creep fenomena of ferritic SA-213 T22 and austenitic SA-213 TP304H material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulyana, Cukup; Taufik, Ahmad; Gunawan, Agus Yodi; Siregar, Rustam Efendi

2013-09-01

The failure of critical component of fossil fired power plant that operated in creep range (high stress, high temperature and in the long term) depends on its microstructure characteristics. Ferritic low carbon steel (2.25Cr-1Mo) and Austenitic stainless alloy (18Cr-8Ni) are used as a boiler tube in the secondary superheater outlet header to deliver steam before entering the turbin. The tube failure is occurred in a form of rupture, resulting trip that disrupts the continuity of the electrical generation. The research in quantification of the microstructure deformation has been done in predicting the remaining life of the tube through interrupted accelerated creep test. For Austenitic Stainless Alloy (18Cr-8Ni), creep test was done in 550°C with the stress 424.5 MPa and for Ferritic Low Carbon Steel (2.25Cr-1Mo) in 570°C with the stress 189 MPa. The interrupted accelerated creep test was done by stopping the observation in condition 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of remaining life, the creep test fracture was done before. Then the micro hardness test, photo micro, SEM and EDS were obtained from those samples. Refer to ASTM E122, microstructure parameters were calculated. The results indicated that there are a consistency of decreasing their grain diameters, increasing their grain size numbers, micro hardness, and the length of crack or void number per unit area with the decreasing of remaining life. While morphology of grain (stated in parameter α=LV/LH) relatively constant for austenitic. However, for ferritic the change of morphology revealed significantly. Fracture mode propagation of ferritic material is growth with voids transgranular and intergranular crack, and for austenitic material the fracture growth with intergranular creep fracture void and wedge crack. In this research, it was proposed a formulation of mathematical model for creep behavior corresponding their curve fitting resulted for the primary, secondary and tertiary in accelerated creep test. In addition, it was also developed a new method for predicting the remaining life using quantification of microstructure and using expansion of parameter Larson Miller from Taylor series for critical component in high temperature in industry. It was found that the proposed method was easier to be applied in field with the results more accurate then Larson Miller Method.

Transient rheology of stimuli responsive hydrogels: Integrating microrheology and microfluidics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Jun

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have diverse potential applications in the field of drug delivery, tissue engineering, agriculture, cosmetics, gene therapy, and as sensors and actuators due to their unique responsiveness to external signals, such as pH, temperature, and ionic strength. Understanding the responsiveness of hydrogel structure and rheology to these stimuli is essential for designing materials with desirable performance. However, no instrumentation and well-defined methodology are available to characterize the structural and rheological responses to rapid solvent changes. In this thesis, a new microrheology set-up is described, which allows us to quantitatively measure the transient rheological properties and microstructure of a variety of solvent-responsive complex fluids. The device was constructed by integrating particle tracking microrheology and microfluidics and offers unique experimental capabilities for performing solvent-reponse measurements on soft fragile materials without applying external shear forces. Transient analysis methods to quantitatively obtain rheological properties were also constructed, and guidelines for the trade-off between statistical validity and temporal resolution were developed to accurately capture physical transitions. Employing the new device and methodology, we successfully quantified the transient rheological and microstructural responses during gel formation and break-up, and viscosity changes of solvent-responsive complex fluids. The analysis method was expanded for heterogeneous samples, incorporating methods to quantify the microrheology of samples with broad distributions of individual particle dynamics. Transient microrheology measurements of fragile, heterogeneous, self-assembled block copolypeptide hydrogels revealed that solvent exchange via convective mixing and dialysis can lead to significantly different gel properties and that commonly applied sample preparation protocols for the characterization of soft biomaterials could lead to erroneous conclusions about microstructural dynamics. Systematic investigations by varying key parameters, like molecular structure, gel concentration, salt concentration, and tracer particle size for microrheology, revealed that subtle variations in molecular architecture can cause major changes in response dynamics. Moreover, the results showed that the method can be applied for studying gel formation and breakup kinetics. The research in this thesis facilitates the design of solvent-responsive soft materials with appropriate microstructural dynamics for in vivo applications like tissue engineering and drug delivery, and can also be applied to study the effect of solvents on self-assembly mechanisms in other responsive soft materials, such as polymer solutions and colloidal dispersions.

Microstructure alterations in the hypothalamus in cranially radiated childhood leukaemia survivors but not in craniopharyngioma patients unaffected by hypothalamic damage.

PubMed

Follin, Cecilia; Fjalldal, Sigridur; Svärd, Daniel; van Westen, Danielle; Gabery, Sanaz; Petersén, Åsa; Lätt, Jimmy; Rylander, Lars; Erfurth, Eva Marie

2017-10-01

Metabolic complications are frequent in childhood leukaemia (ALL) survivors treated with cranial radiotherapy (CRT). These complications are potentially mediated by damage to the hypothalamus (HT), as childhood onset (CO) craniopharyngioma (CP) survivors without HT involvement are spared overt obesity. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) shows brain tissue microstructure alterations, by fractional anisotrophy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD). We used DTI to determine the integrity of the microstructure of the HT in ALL survivors. Case-control study. Three groups were included: (i) 27 CRT treated ALL survivors on hormone supplementation, (ii) 17 CO-CP survivors on hormone supplementation but without HT involvement and (iii) 27 matched controls. DTI parameters of the HT were measured and body composition. Microstructural alterations in the HT were more severe in ALL survivors with a BMI ≥25 than with BMI <25. Compared to controls, ALL survivors had reduced FA (P=.04), increased MD (P<.001), AD (P<.001) and RD (P<.001) in the right and left HT. In the right HT, ALL survivors with a BMI ≥25 showed elevated MD (P=.03) and AD (P=.02) compared to ALL survivors with BMI <25. In contrast, DTI parameters did not differ between CP survivors and controls. Long-term follow-up after CRT for ALL DTI measures were affected in the HT despite complete hormone replacement. The present data suggest that ALL survivors have demyelination and axonal loss in the HT. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Production of Selected Key Ductile Iron Castings Used in Large-Scale Windmills

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yung-Ning; Lin, Hsuan-Te; Lin, Chi-Chia; Chang, Re-Mo

Both the optimal alloy design and microstructures that conform to the mechanical properties requirements of selected key components used in large-scale windmills have been established in this study. The target specifications in this study are EN-GJS-350-22U-LT, EN-GJS-350-22U-LT and EN-GJS-700-2U. In order to meet the impact requirement of spec. EN-GJS-350-22U-LT, the Si content should be kept below 1.97%, and also the maximum pearlite content shouldn't exceed 7.8%. On the other hand, Si content below 2.15% and pearlite content below 12.5% were registered for specification EN-GJS-400-18U-LT. On the other hand, the optimal alloy designs that can comply with specification EN-GJS-700-2U include 0.25%Mn+0.6%Cu+0.05%Sn, 0.25%Mn+0.8%Cu+0.01%Sn and 0.45%Mn+0.6%Cu+0.01%Sn. Furthermore, based upon the experimental results, multiple regression analyses have been performed to correlate the mechanical properties with chemical compositions and microstructures. The derived regression equations can be used to attain the optimal alloy design for castings with target specifications. Furthermore, by employing these regression equations, the mechanical properties can be predicted based upon the chemical compositions and microstructures of cast irons.

Complete volumetric decomposition of individual trabecular plates and rods and its morphological correlations with anisotropic elastic moduli in human trabecular bone.

PubMed

Liu, X Sherry; Sajda, Paul; Saha, Punam K; Wehrli, Felix W; Bevill, Grant; Keaveny, Tony M; Guo, X Edward

2008-02-01

Trabecular plates and rods are important microarchitectural features in determining mechanical properties of trabecular bone. A complete volumetric decomposition of individual trabecular plates and rods was used to assess the orientation and morphology of 71 human trabecular bone samples. The ITS-based morphological analyses better characterize microarchitecture and help predict anisotropic mechanical properties of trabecular bone. Standard morphological analyses of trabecular architecture lack explicit segmentations of individual trabecular plates and rods. In this study, a complete volumetric decomposition technique was developed to segment trabecular bone microstructure into individual plates and rods. Contributions of trabecular type-associated morphological parameters to the anisotropic elastic moduli of trabecular bone were studied. Seventy-one human trabecular bone samples from the femoral neck (FN), tibia, and vertebral body (VB) were imaged using muCT or serial milling. Complete volumetric decomposition was applied to segment trabecular bone microstructure into individual plates and rods. The orientation of each individual trabecula was determined, and the axial bone volume fractions (aBV/TV), axially aligned bone volume fraction along each orthotropic axis, were correlated with the elastic moduli. The microstructural type-associated morphological parameters were derived and compared with standard morphological parameters. Their contributions to the anisotropic elastic moduli, calculated by finite element analysis (FEA), were evaluated and compared. The distribution of trabecular orientation suggested that longitudinal plates and transverse rods dominate at all three anatomic sites. aBV/TV along each axis, in general, showed a better correlation with the axial elastic modulus (r(2) = 0.95 approximately 0.99) compared with BV/TV (r(2) = 0.93 approximately 0.94). The plate-associated morphological parameters generally showed higher correlations with the corresponding standard morphological parameters than the rod-associated parameters. Multiple linear regression models of six elastic moduli with individual trabeculae segmentation (ITS)-based morphological parameters (adjusted r(2) = 0.95 approximately 0.98) performed equally well as those with standard morphological parameters (adjusted r(2) = 0.94 approximately 0.97) but revealed specific contributions from individual trabecular plates or rods. The ITS-based morphological analyses provide a better characterization of the morphology and trabecular orientation of trabecular bone. The axial loading of trabecular bone is mainly sustained by the axially aligned trabecular bone volume. Results suggest that trabecular plates dominate the overall elastic properties of trabecular bone.

Physical properties, vitrinite reflectance, and microstructure of coal, Taiyuan Formation, Qinshui Basin, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qiong; Chen, Jie; He, Jian-Jun

2017-12-01

In this study, we experimentally established the relationship between physical properties, vitrinite reflectance, and microstructure of coal, Taiyuan Formation, Qinshui Basin, China using representative coal samples collected from three different mines via the rock mechanics testing system (MTS). We analyzed the organic macerals, vitrinite reflectance, and microstructure of 11 coal samples using petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results suggest that (1) the elastic parameters can be described by linear equations, (2) both P-and S-wave velocities display anisotropy, (3) the anisotropy negatively correlates with vitrinite reflectance, and (4) the acoustic velocities and Young's modulus are negatively correlated with the volume of micropores. The derived empirical equations can be used in the forward modeling and seismic inversion of physical properties of coal for improving the coal-bed methane (CBM) reservoir characterization.

One-step fabrication of BaMoO4 microstructures with controlled morphologies via a simple EDTA-mediated route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Yongkui; Li, Ying; Zhang, Haifeng; Ren, Fengyun; Zhang, Dawei; Feng, Wenxu; Shao, Lili; Li, Kaijun; Liu, Yang; Sun, Zhanpeng; Li, Miaojing; Song, Gaochen; Wang, Guan

2013-03-01

A facile strategy has been developed to synthesize BaMoO4 microcrystals with different morphologies, such as octopus-like, flower-like, and Chinese-cabbage-like, by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as chelating and capping reagent at room temperature. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy were introduced to characterize the composition, morphology, and chemical information of the as-obtained products. The effects of a series of experimental parameters, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid quantity and the reagent concentrations, on the morphology and photoluminescence properties of the consequential BaMoO4 microcrystals were investigated in detail. The photoluminescence spectra of the obtained BaMoO4 microstructures exhibited different emission intensities. This method could be readily extended to synthesize BaWO4 microstructures with various morphologies.

PVA/NaCl/MgO nanocomposites-microstructural analysis by whole pattern fitting method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prashanth, K. S.; Mahesh, S. S.; Prakash, M. B. Nanda; Somashekar, R.; Nagabhushana, B. M.

2018-04-01

The nanofillers in the macromolecular matrix have displayed noteworthy changes in the structure and reactivity of the polymer nanocomposites. Novel functional materials usually consist of defects and are largely disordered. The intriguing properties of these materials are often attributed to defects. X-ray line profiles from powder diffraction reveal the quantitative information about size distribution and shape of diffracting domains which governs the contribution from small conventional X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques to enumerate the microstructural information. In this study the MgO nanoparticles were prepared by solution combustion method and PVA/NaCl/MgO nanocomposite films were synthesized by the solvent cast method. Microstructural parameters viz crystal defects like stacking faults and twin faults, compositional inhomogeneity, crystallite size and lattice strain (g in %), were extracted using whole pattern fitting method.

One-step patterning of hollow microstructures in paper by laser cutting to create microfluidic analytical devices.

PubMed

Nie, Jinfang; Liang, Yuanzhi; Zhang, Yun; Le, Shangwang; Li, Dunnan; Zhang, Songbai

2013-01-21

In this paper, we report a simple, low-cost method for rapid, highly reproductive fabrication of paper-based microfluidics by using a commercially available, minitype CO(2) laser cutting/engraving machine. This method involves only one operation of cutting a piece of paper by laser according to a predesigned pattern. The hollow microstructures formed in the paper are used as the 'hydrophobic barriers' to define the hydrophilic flowing paths. A typical paper device on a 4 cm × 4 cm piece of paper can be fabricated within ∼7-20 s; it is ready for use once the cutting process is finished. The main fabrication parameters such as the applied current and cutting rate of the laser were optimized. The fabrication resolution and multiplexed analytical capability of the hollow microstructure-patterned paper were also characterized.

Study of Cold Coiling Spring Steel on Microstructure and Cold Forming Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Y.; Liang, Y. L.; Ming, Y.; Zhao, F.

2017-09-01

Medium-carbon cold-coiling locomotive spring steels were treated by a novel Q-P-T (quenching-partitioning-tempering) process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the relevant parameters of the steel. Results show that the microstructure of tested steel treated by Q-P-T process is a complex microstructures composed of martensite, bainite and retained austenite. The volume fraction of retained austenite (wt.%) is up to 31%. After pre-deforming and tempering again at 310°C, the plasticity of samples treated by Q-P-T process is still well. Fracture images show that the Q-P-T samples are ductile fracture. It is attributed to the higher volume fraction of the retained austenite and the interactions between the multi-phases in Q-P-T processed sample.

Scaling, Microstructure and Dynamic Fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minich, Roger W.; Kumar, Mukul; Schwarz, Adam; Cazamias, James

2006-07-01

The relationship between pullback velocity and impact velocity is studied for different microstructures in Cu. A size distribution of potential nucleation sites is derived under the conditions of an applied stochastic stress field. The size distribution depends on the amplitude of the stress fluctuations, which may be proportional to the flow stress thereby providing a connection between plastic flow and microvoid nucleation rate. The pullback velocity in turn depends on the nucleation rate resulting in a prediction for the relationship between pullback velocity and flow stress. The theory is compared to results from Cu on Cu gas-gun experiments (10-50 GPa) with different microstructures. The scaling law relating pullback velocity and impact velocity is incorporated into a 1D finite difference code and is shown to reproduce the experimental data with one adjustable parameter, the nucleation exponent, Γ.

Influence of neutron irradiation on the microstructure of nuclear graphite: An X-ray diffraction study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Z.; Bouwman, W. G.; Schut, H.; van Staveren, T. O.; Heijna, M. C. R.; Pappas, C.

2017-04-01

Neutron irradiation effects on the microstructure of nuclear graphite have been investigated by X-ray diffraction on virgin and low doses (∼ 1.3 and ∼ 2.2 dpa), high temperature (750° C) irradiated samples. The diffraction patterns were interpreted using a model, which takes into account the turbostratic disorder. Besides the lattice constants, the model introduces two distinct coherent lengths in the c-axis and the basal plane, that characterise the volumes from which X-rays are scattered coherently. The methodology used in this work allows to quantify the effect of irradiation damage on the microstructure of nuclear graphite seen by X-ray diffraction. The results show that the changes of the deduced structural parameters are in agreement with previous observations from electron microscopy, but not directly related to macroscopic changes.

Sputtered deposited nanocrystalline ZnO films: A correlation between electrical, optical and microstructural properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, J.; Gao, W.; Li, Z.; Hodgson, M.; Metson, J.; Gong, H.; Pal, U.

2005-05-01

Zinc oxide thin films were prepared by dc (direct current) and rf (radio frequency) magnetron sputtering on glass substrates. ZnO films produced by dc sputtering have a high resistance, while the films produced using rf sputtering are significantly more conductive. While the conductive films have a compact nodular surface morphology, the resistive films have a relatively porous surface with columnar structures in cross section. Compared to the dc sputtered films, rf sputtered films have a microstructure with smaller d spacing, lower internal stress, higher band gap energy and higher density. Dependence of conductivity on the deposition technique and the resulting d spacing , stress, density, band gap, film thickness and Al doping are discussed. Correlations between the electrical conductivity, microstructural parameters and optical properties of the films have been made.

Effect of Process Variables on the Inertia Friction Welding of Superalloys LSHR and Mar-M247

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahaffey, D. W.; Senkov, O. N.; Shivpuri, R.; Semiatin, S. L.

2016-08-01

The effect of inertia friction welding process parameters on microstructure evolution, weld plane quality, and the tensile behavior of welds between dissimilar nickel-base superalloys was established. For this purpose, the fine-grain, powder metallurgy alloy LSHR was joined to coarse-grain cast Mar-M247 using a fixed level of initial kinetic energy, but different combinations of the flywheel moment of inertia and initial rotation speed. It was found that welds made with the largest moment of inertia resulted in a sound bond with the best microstructure and room-temperature tensile strength equal to or greater than that of the parent materials. A relationship between the moment of inertia and weld process efficiency was established. The post-weld tensile behavior was interpreted in the context of observed microstructure gradients and weld-line defects.

X-ray investigation of cross-breed silk in cocoon, yarn and fabric forms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Radhalakshmi, Y. C.; Kariappa,; Siddaraju, G. N.

2012-06-05

Recently Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute, Mysore developed many improved cross breeds and bivoltine hybrids. Newly developed cross breeds recorded fibre characteristics which are significantly superior over existing control hybrids. This aspect has been investigated using X-ray diffraction technique. We have employed line profile analysis to compute microstructural parameters. These parameters are compared with physical parameters of newly developed cross breed silk fibers for a better understanding of structure-property relation in these samples.

Novel multiform morphologies of hydroxyapatite: Synthesis and growth mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mary, I. Reeta; Sonia, S.; Viji, S.; Mangalaraj, D.; Viswanathan, C.; Ponpandian, N.

2016-01-01

Morphological evolution of materials becomes a prodigious challenge due to their key role in defining their functional properties and desired applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) microstructures with multiform morphologies, such as spheres, cubes, hexagonal rods and nested bundles constructed from their respective nanoscale building blocks via a simple cost effective hydro/solvothermal method. A possible formation mechanism of diverse morphologies of HAp has been presented. Structural analysis based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms the purity of the HAp microstructures. The multiform morphologies of HAp were corroborated by using Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM).

Grayscale photomask fabricated by laser direct writing in metallic nano-films.

PubMed

Guo, Chuan Fei; Cao, Sihai; Jiang, Peng; Fang, Ying; Zhang, Jianming; Fan, Yongtao; Wang, Yongsheng; Xu, Wendong; Zhao, Zhensheng; Liu, Qian

2009-10-26

The grayscale photomask plays a key role in grayscale lithography for creating 3D microstructures like micro-optical elements and MEMS structures, but how to fabricate grayscale masks in a cost-effective way is still a big challenge. Here we present novel low cost grayscale masks created in a two-step method by laser direct writing on Sn nano-films, which demonstrate continuous-tone gray levels depended on writing powers. The mechanism of the gray levels is due to the coexistence of the metal and the oxides formed in a laser-induced thermal process. The photomasks reveal good technical properties in fabricating 3D microstructures for practical applications.

Concurrent topological design of composite structures and materials containing multiple phases of distinct Poisson's ratios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, Kai; Yuan, Philip F.; Xu, Shanqing; Xie, Yi Min

2018-04-01

Most studies on composites assume that the constituent phases have different values of stiffness. Little attention has been paid to the effect of constituent phases having distinct Poisson's ratios. This research focuses on a concurrent optimization method for simultaneously designing composite structures and materials with distinct Poisson's ratios. The proposed method aims to minimize the mean compliance of the macrostructure with a given mass of base materials. In contrast to the traditional interpolation of the stiffness matrix through numerical results, an interpolation scheme of the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio using different parameters is adopted. The numerical results demonstrate that the Poisson effect plays a key role in reducing the mean compliance of the final design. An important contribution of the present study is that the proposed concurrent optimization method can automatically distribute base materials with distinct Poisson's ratios between the macrostructural and microstructural levels under a single constraint of the total mass.

Strong Nanocomposites with Ca, PO4, and F Release for Caries Inhibition

PubMed Central

Xu, H.H.K.; Weir, M.D.; Sun, L.; Moreau, J.L.; Takagi, S.; Chow, L.C.; Antonucci, J.M.

2010-01-01

This article reviews recent studies on: (1) the synthesis of novel calcium phosphate and calcium fluoride nanoparticles and their incorporation into dental resins to develop nanocomposites; (2) the effects of key microstructural parameters on Ca, PO4, and F ion release from nanocomposites, including the effects of nanofiller volume fraction, particle size, and silanization; and (3) mechanical properties of nanocomposites, including water-aging effects, flexural strength, fracture toughness, and three-body wear. This article demonstrates that a major advantage of using the new nanoparticles is that high levels of Ca, PO4, and F release can be achieved at low filler levels in the resin, because of the high surface areas of the nanoparticles. This leaves room in the resin for substantial reinforcement fillers. The combination of releasing nanofillers with stable and strong reinforcing fillers is promising to yield a nanocomposite with both stress-bearing and caries-inhibiting capabilities, a combination not yet available in current materials. PMID:19948941

Effect of process parameters on microstructure and electrical conductivity during FSW of Al-6101 and Pure Copper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Nidhi; Khan, Zahid A.; Siddiquee, Arshad Noor; Shihab, Suha K.; Atif Wahid, Mohd

2018-04-01

Copper (Cu) is predominantly used material as a conducting element in electrical and electronic components due to its high conductivity. Aluminum (Al) being lighter in weight and more conductive on weight basis than that of Cu is able to replace or partially replace Cu to make lighter and cost effective electrical components. Conventional methods of joining Al to Cu, such as, fusion welding process have many shortcomings. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid state welding process which overcomes the shortcoming of the fusion welding. FSW parameters affect the mechanical and electrical properties of the joint. This study aims to evaluate the effect of different process parameters such as shoulder diameter, pin offset, welding and rotational speed on the microstructure and electrical conductivity of the dissimilar Al-Cu joint. FSW is performed using cylindrical pin profile, and four process parameters. Each parameter at different levels is varied according to Taguchi’s L18 standard orthogonal array. It is found that the electrical conductivity of the FSWed joints are equal to that of aluminum at all the welded sections. FSW is found to be an effective technique to join Al to Cu without compromising with the electrical properties. However, the electrical conductivity gets influenced by the process parameters in the stir zone. The optimal combination of the FSW parameters for maximum electrical conductivity is determined. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique applied on stir zone suggests that the rotational speed and tool pin offset are the significant parameters to influence the electrical conductivity.

Yb-fibre Laser Welding of 6 mm Duplex Stainless Steel 2205

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bolut, M.; Kong, C. Y.; Blackburn, J.; Cashell, K. A.; Hobson, P. R.

Duplex stainless steel (DSS) is one of the materials of choice for structural and nuclear applications, having high strength and good corrosion resistance when compared with other grades of stainless steel. The welding process used to join these materials is critical as transformation of the microstructure during welding directly affects the material properties. High power laser welding has recently seen an increase in research interest as it offers both speed and flexibility. This paper presents an investigation into the important parameters affecting laser welding of DSS grade 2205, with particular focus given to the critical issue of phase transformation during welding. Bead-on-plate melt-run trials without filler material were performed on 6mm thick plates using a 5 kW Yb-fibre laser. The laser beam was characterized and a Design of Experiment approach was used to quantify the impact of the process parameters. Optical metallographic methods were used to examine the resulting microstructures.

Full-Field Strain Measurement On Titanium Welds And Local Elasto-Plastic Identification With The Virtual Fields Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tattoli, F.; Pierron, F.; Rotinat, R.; Casavola, C.; Pappalettere, C.

2011-01-01

One of the main problems in welding is the microstructural transformation within the area affected by the thermal history. The resulting heterogeneous microstructure within the weld nugget and the heat affected zones is often associated with changes in local material properties. The present work deals with the identification of material parameters governing the elasto—plastic behaviour of the fused and heat affected zones as well as the base material for titanium hybrid welded joints (Ti6Al4V alloy). The material parameters are identified from heterogeneous strain fields with the Virtual Fields Method. This method is based on a relevant use of the principle of virtual work and it has been shown to be useful and much less time consuming than classical finite element model updating approaches applied to similar problems. The paper will present results and discuss the problem of selection of the weld zones for the identification.

Influence of Lanthanum on Solidification, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of Eutectic Al-Si Piston Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, R.; Asmael, M. B. A.

2016-07-01

The effects of Lanthanum (La) concentration on the solidification parameters of the α-Al, Al-Si, and Al-Cu phases and on the microstructure, tensile, and hardness properties of eutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy were systematically investigated. The solidification parameters were examined using computer-aided cooling curve thermal analysis (CA-CCTA). The cooling curve and microstructure analysis showed that La altered the Si structure. The nucleation and growth temperatures of eutectic Si decreased when 0.3 wt.% La was added, and a high depression temperature was obtained with 1.0 wt.% La. High amounts of La considerably modified the Si structure and decreased the area and aspect ratio by 69.9 and 51%, respectively. The thermal analysis result recorded a faster freezing time with the La addition and a 36% alteration in the secondary dendrite arm spacing. Two secondary or ternary La-rich intermetallic phases were formed with needle- and plate-like structures. Furthermore, the mechanical properties were investigated by hardness and tensile tests with different La concentrations. The addition of small amounts of La (0.1 wt.%) significantly improved the ultimate tensile strength and quality index of the Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy. In addition, the hardness value of Al-11Si-Cu increased by 7-8% with the increasing amount of La added.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANT LUNG: INSIGHTS FROM IN VIVO LUNG MORPHOMETRY WITH HYPERPOLARIZED 3HE MRI (WHAT MAKES A GOOD PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANT LUNG)

PubMed Central

Fishman, Emily F.; Quirk, James D.; Sweet, Stuart C.; Woods, Jason C.; Gierada, David S.; Conradi, Mark S.; Siegel, Marilyn J.; Yablonskiy, Dmitriy A.

2016-01-01

Background Obtaining information on transplanted lung microstructure is an important part of the current care for monitoring transplant recipients. However, until now this information was only available from invasive lung biopsy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of an innovative non-invasive technique in vivo lung morphometry with hyperpolarized 3He MRI - to characterize lung microstructure in the pediatric lung transplant population. This technique yields quantitative measurements of acinar airways’ (alveolar ducts and sacs) parameters, such as acinar airways radii and alveolar depth. Methods Six pediatric lung transplant recipients with cystic fibrosis underwent in vivo lung morphometry MRI, pulmonary function testing, and quantitative CT. Results We found a strong correlation between lung lifespan and alveolar depth - patients with more shallow alveoli were likely to have a negative outcome sooner than those with larger alveolar depth. Combining morphometric results with CT we also determined mean alveolar wall thickness and found substantial increases in this parameter in some patients that negatively correlated with DLCO. Conclusion In vivo lung morphometry uniquely provides previously unavailable information on lung microstructure that may be predictive of a negative outcome and has a potential to aid in lung selection for transplantation. PMID:28120553

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Friction Tapered Stud Overlap Welding for X65 Pipeline Steel Under Wet Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Y. C.; Jing, H. Y.; Han, Y. D.; Xu, L. Y.

2017-08-01

This paper exhibits a novel in situ remediation technique named friction tapered stud overlap welding (FTSOW) to repair a through crack in structures and components in extremely harsh environments. Furthermore, this paper presents variations in process data, including rotational speed, stud displacement, welding force, and torque for a typical FTSOW weld. In the present study, the effects of welding parameters on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the welding joints were investigated. Inapposite welding parameters consisted of low rotational speeds and welding forces, and when utilized, they increased the occurrence of a lack of bonding and unfilled defects within the weld. The microstructures with a welding zone and heat-affected zone mainly consisted of upper bainite. The hardness value was highest in the welding zone and lowest in the base material. During the pull-out tests, all the welds failed in the stud. Moreover, the defect-free welds broke at the interface of the lap plate and substrate during the cruciform uniaxial tensile test. The best tensile test results at different depths and shear tests were 721.6 MPa and 581.9 MPa, respectively. The favorable Charpy impact-absorbed energy was 68.64 J at 0 °C. The Charpy impact tests revealed a brittle fracture characteristic with a large area of cleavage.

Microstructure based procedure for process parameter control in rolling of aluminum thin foils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johannes, Kronsteiner; Kabliman, Evgeniya; Klimek, Philipp-Christoph

2018-05-01

In present work, a microstructure based procedure is used for a numerical prediction of strength properties for Al-Mg-Sc thin foils during a hot rolling process. For this purpose, the following techniques were developed and implemented. At first, a toolkit for a numerical analysis of experimental stress-strain curves obtained during a hot compression testing by a deformation dilatometer was developed. The implemented techniques allow for the correction of a temperature increase in samples due to adiabatic heating and for the determination of a yield strength needed for the separation of the elastic and plastic deformation regimes during numerical simulation of multi-pass hot rolling. At the next step, an asymmetric Hot Rolling Simulator (adjustable table inlet/outlet height as well as separate roll infeed) was developed in order to match the exact processing conditions of a semi-industrial rolling procedure. At each element of a finite element mesh the total strength is calculated by in-house Flow Stress Model based on evolution of mean dislocation density. The strength values obtained by numerical modelling were found in a reasonable agreement with results of tensile tests for thin Al-Mg-Sc foils. Thus, the proposed simulation procedure might allow to optimize the processing parameters with respect to the microstructure development.

Lamb wave extraction of dispersion curves in micro/nano-plates using couple stress theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghodrati, Behnam; Yaghootian, Amin; Ghanbar Zadeh, Afshin; Mohammad-Sedighi, Hamid

2018-01-01

In this paper, Lamb wave propagation in a homogeneous and isotropic non-classical micro/nano-plates is investigated. To consider the effect of material microstructure on the wave propagation, three size-dependent models namely indeterminate-, modified- and consistent couple stress theories are used to extract the dispersion equations. In the mentioned theories, a parameter called 'characteristic length' is used to consider the size of material microstructure in the governing equations. To generalize the parametric studies and examine the effect of thickness, propagation wavelength, and characteristic length on the behavior of miniature plate structures, the governing equations are nondimensionalized by defining appropriate dimensionless parameters. Then the dispersion curves for phase and group velocities are plotted in terms of a wide frequency-thickness range to study the lamb waves propagation considering microstructure effects in very high frequencies. According to the illustrated results, it was observed that the couple stress theories in the Cosserat type material predict more rigidity than the classical theory; so that in a plate with constant thickness, by increasing the thickness to characteristic length ratio, the results approach to the classical theory, and by reducing this ratio, wave propagation speed in the plate is significantly increased. In addition, it is demonstrated that for high-frequency Lamb waves, it converges to dispersive Rayleigh wave velocity.

Characterisations Of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-13% Wt TiO{sub 2} Deposition On Mild Steel Via Plasma Spray Method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yusoff, N. H.; Isa, M. C.; Ghazali, M. J.

2011-01-17

To date, plasma sprayed alumina titania have been widely used as wear resistance coatings in textile, machinery and printing industries. Previous studies showed that the coating microstructures and properties were strongly depended on various parameters such as ceramic composition, grain size powders and spray parameters, thus, influencing the melting degree of the alumina titania during the deposition process. The aim of this study focuses on the evolution of the micron sizes of alumina-13%wt titania at different plasma spray power, ranging from 20kW to 40kW. It was noted that the coating porosity of alumina-13%wt titania were decreased from 6.2% to 4%more » by increasing the plasma power from 20 to 40 kW. At lower power value, partially melted powders were deposited, generating over 6% porosity within the microstructures. Percentage of porosity about 5.6% gave the best ratio of bi-modal structures, providing the highest microhardness value. Furthermore, the effect of microstructure and porosity formation on wear resistance was also discussed. Coatings with less porosity exhibited better resistance to wear, in which the wear resistance of coated mild steel possessed only {approx}5 x 10{sup -4} cm{sup 3}/Nm with 4% of porosity.« less

Studies on densification, mechanical, micro-structural and structure–properties relationship of magnesium aluminate spinel refractory aggregates prepared from Indian magnesite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ghosh, Chandrima; Ghosh, Arup; Haldar, Manas Kamal, E-mail: manashaldar@cgcri.res.in

The present work intends to study the development of magnesium aluminate spinel aggregates from Indian magnesite in a single firing stage. The raw magnesite has been evaluated in terms of chemical analysis, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The experimental batch containing Indian magnesite and calcined alumina has been sintered in the temperature range of 1550 °C–1700 °C. The sintered material has been characterized in terms of physico-chemical properties like bulk density, apparent porosity, true density, relative density and thermo-mechanical/mechanical properties like hot modulus of rupture, thermal shock resistance, cold modulus of rupture and structural propertiesmore » by X-ray diffraction in terms of phase identification and evaluation of crystal structure parameters of corresponding phases by Rietveld analysis. The microstructures developed at different temperatures have been analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope study and compositional analysis of the developed phase has been carried out by energy dispersive X-ray study. - Highlights: • The studies have been done to characterize the developed magnesium aluminate spinel. • The studies reveal correlation between refractory behavior of spinel and developed microstructures. • The studies show the values of lattice parameters of developed phases.« less

Report on the Synchrotron Characterization of U-Mo and U-Zr Alloys and the Modeling Results

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Okuniewski, Maria A.; Ganapathy, Varsha; Hamilton, Brenden

2016-09-01

ABSTRACT Uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo) and uranium-zirconium (U-Zr) are two promising fuel candidates for nuclear transmutation reactors which burn long-lived minor actinides and fission products within fast spectrum reactors. The objectives of this research are centered on understanding the early stages of fuel performance through the examination of the irradiation induced microstructural changes in U-Zr and U-Mo alloys subjected to low neutron fluences. Specimens that were analyzed include those that were previously irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor at INL. This most recent work has focused on a sub-set of the irradiated specimens, specifically U-Zr and U-Mo alloys that were irradiated tomore » 0.01 dpa at temperatures ranging from (150-800oC). These specimens were analyzed with two types of synchrotron techniques, including X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray diffraction. These techniques provide non-destructive microstructural analysis, including phase identification and quantitation, lattice parameters, crystallite sizes, as well as bonding, structure, and chemistry. Preliminary research has shown changes in the phase fractions, crystallite sizes, and lattice parameters as a function of irradiation and temperature. Future data analyses will continue to explore these microstructural changes.« less

The AlSi10Mg samples produced by selective laser melting: single track, densification, microstructure and mechanical behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Pei; Wei, Zhengying; Chen, Zhen; Du, Jun; He, Yuyang; Li, Junfeng; Zhou, Yatong

2017-06-01

This densification behavior and attendant microstructural characteristics of the selective laser melting (SLM) processed AlSi10Mg alloy affected by the processing parameters were systematically investigated. The samples with a single track were produced by SLM to study the influences of laser power and scanning speed on the surface morphologies of scan tracks. Additionally, the bulk samples were produced to investigate the influence of the laser power, scanning speed, and hatch spacing on the densification level and the resultant microstructure. The experimental results showed that the level of porosity of the SLM-processed samples was significantly governed by energy density of laser beam and the hatch spacing. The tensile properties of SLM-processed samples and the attendant fracture surface can be enhanced by decreasing the level of porosity. The microstructure of SLM-processed samples consists of supersaturated Al-rich cellular structure along with eutectic Al/Si situated at the cellular boundaries. The Si content in the cellular boundaries increases with increasing the laser power and decreasing the scanning speed. The hardness of SLM-processed samples was significantly improved by this fine microstructure compared with the cast samples. Moreover, the hardness of SLM-processed samples at overlaps was lower than the hardness observed at track cores.

Development of dispersion-strengthened XD (trademark) Cu alloys for high heat-flux applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, K. Sharvan

1993-01-01

In a previous effort sponsored by NASA LeRC, the XD(trademark) process was used to produce ZrB2 particulate reinforcements in Cu and the resulting extruded material was microstructurally characterized and evaluated in tension over a range of temperatures. A problem that was encountered in that study was microstructural inhomogeneity resulting from the frequent presence of 'ZrB2 agglomerates' that were several microns in size. The presence of these agglomerates was attributed to improper mixing of powders in the green compact used in the XD process for elemental boron powder segregation. In this program, several milling parameters were examined in an effort to optimize this processing step; two levels of ZrB2 reinforcements were considered (7 vol. percent and 15 vol. percent). Microstructures of the reacted powder mass were examined to verify the absence of these agglomerates. Larger bathes of powder were then mixed, reacted, machined to size, canned, and extruded. The microstructure and tensile properties of these extrusions were examined, and the measured properties were correlated with the observed microstructure. Large unreacted or partially reacted Zr particles were present. These particles affected the mechanical properties deleteriously, and their presence is attributed to insufficient heat of reaction during XD synthesis. Alternate processing routes are recommended.

Cryomilled and spark plasma sintered titanium: the evolution of microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozlík, Jiří; Becker, Hanka; Harcuba, Petr; Stráský, Josef; Janeček, Milos

2017-05-01

Bulk ultra-fine grained (UFG) commercially pure Ti was prepared by cryogenic milling in liquid argon and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS). During cryogenic milling, individual powder particles are repetitively severely deformed by attrition forces. Powder particles were not significantly refined, but due to severe repetitive plastic deformation, ultra-fine grained microstructure emerges within each powder particle. Cryogenic milling can be therefore considered as a specific severe plastic deformation (SPD) method. Compactization of cryomilled powder by SPS technique (also referred to as field assisted sintering technique - FAST) requires significantly lower sintering temperatures and shorter sintering times for successful compaction when compared to any other sintering technique. This is crucial for maintaining the UFG microstructure due to its limited thermal stability. Several specimens were prepared by varying processing parameters, in particular the sintering temperature. The microstructure of powders and compacted samples was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Increased sintering temperature results in recrystallization and grain growth. A trade-off relationship between the density of compacted material and grain size was identified. Microhardness of the material was found to depend on residual porosity rather than grain size. This contribution presents cryogenic milling and spark plasma sintering as a viable alternative for achieving UFG microstructure in commercially pure Ti.

Thermal stability of the microstructure of an aged Nb-Zr-C alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Uz, Mehmet; Titran, Robert H.

1990-01-01

The effects of thermal aging with and without an applied stress on the microstructure of a Nb-Zr-C alloy containing 0.9 wt percent Zr and 0.06 wt percent C were studied. Chemical analysis, metallographic examination, energy dispersive x-ray spectra of the bulk material, and chemical and x-ray analyses of the phase-extracted residue were used to characterize the microstructure. The samples examined were from a creep strength study involving hot and cold working, and various combinations of exposure to temperatures ranging from 1350 to 1755 K with and without applied load for times as long as 34,000 plus hours. The results showed that the initial microstructure consisted primarily of orthorombic precipitates of Nb sub 2 C which were partially or completely transformed to face-centered cubic carbides of nb and Zr, (Zr, Nb)C, upon prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures. Furthermore, it was found that the microstructure of the alloy is extremely stable owing to the very finely distributed precipitates throughout its matrix and along the grain boundaries. The lattice parameters of the cubic carbides were determed to vary from 0.458 to 0.465 nm as the Zr/Nb ratio varied from 38/62 to 75/25.

Thermal Microstructural Stability of AZ31 Magnesium after Severe Plastic Deformation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Young, John P.; Askari, Hesam A.; Hovanski, Yuri

2015-03-01

Both equal channel angular pressing and friction stir processing have the ability to refine the grain size of twin roll cast AZ31 magnesium and potentially improve its superplastic properties. This work used isochronal and isothermal heat treatments to investigate the microstructural stability of twin roll cast, equal channel angular pressed and friction stir processed AZ31 magnesium. For both heat treatment conditions, it was found that the twin roll casted and equal channel angular pressed materials were more stable than the friction stir processed material. Calculations of the grain growth kinetics showed that severe plastic deformation processing decreased the activation energymore » for grain boundary motion with the equal channel angular pressed material having the greatest Q value of the severely plastically deformed materials and that increasing the tool travel speed of the friction stir processed material improved microstructural stability. The Hollomon-Jaffe parameter was found to be an accurate means of identifying the annealing conditions that will result in substantial grain growth and loss of potential superplastic properties in the severely plastically deformed materials. In addition, Humphreys’s model of cellular microstructural stability accurately predicted the relative microstructural stability of the severely plastically deformed materials and with some modification, closely predicted the maximum grain size ratio achieved by the severely plastically deformed materials.« less

Optimization of consolidation parameters of 18Cr-ODS ferritic steel through microstructural and microtexture characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dash, Manmath Kumar; Mythili, R.; Dasgupta, Arup; Saroja, S.

2018-04-01

This paper reports the optimization of consolidation process based on the evolution of microstructure, microtexture and densification in 18%-Cr Oxide Dispersion Strengthened steel. The steel powder of composition Fe-18Cr-0.01C-2W-0.25Ti-0.35Y2O3 has been consolidated by cold isostatic pressing (CIP) for green compaction after mechanical milling. Sintering (1000-1250 °C) and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) at 1150 °C has been employed to achieve good densification on compacted CIP specimen. The effect of sintering temperatures on densification behavior was evaluated and sintering at 1150°C was identified to be optimum for achieving good compaction (92% density) and homogeneous polygonal microstructure with a uniform distribution of fine pores. In addition, HIP of CIP product at 1150°C was found to yield a more homogeneous microstructure as compared to sintered product with 97% density. A static/dynamic recrystallization associated with (1 1 1) texture is observed during consolidation process. A statistical comparison has been made based on frequency of grain boundary distribution and associated texture with its theoretical attributes.

The Prediction of Microstructure Evolution of 6005A Aluminum Alloy in a P-ECAP Extrusion Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Shi; Jiu-Ba, Wen; Chang, Ren

2018-05-01

Finite element modeling (FEM) was applied for predicting the recrystallized structure in extruded 6005 aluminum alloy, and simulated results were experimentally validated. First, microstructure evolution of 6005 aluminum alloy during deformation was studied by means of isothermal compression test, where the processing parameters were chosen to reproduce the typical industrial conditions. Second, microstructure evolution was analyzed, and the obtained information was used to fit a dynamic recrystallization model implementing inside the DEFORM-3D FEM code environment. FEM of deformation of 6005 aluminum has been established and validated by microstructure comparison. Finally, the obtained dynamic recrystallization model was applied to tube extrusion by using a portholes-equal channel angular pressing die. The finite element analysis results showed that coarse DRX grains occur in the extruded tube at higher temperature and in the extruded tube at the faster speed of the stem. The test results showed material from the front end of the extruded tube has coarse grains (60 μm) and other extruded tube has finer grains (20 μm).

The Prediction of Microstructure Evolution of 6005A Aluminum Alloy in a P-ECAP Extrusion Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Shi; Jiu-Ba, Wen; Chang, Ren

2018-04-01

Finite element modeling (FEM) was applied for predicting the recrystallized structure in extruded 6005 aluminum alloy, and simulated results were experimentally validated. First, microstructure evolution of 6005 aluminum alloy during deformation was studied by means of isothermal compression test, where the processing parameters were chosen to reproduce the typical industrial conditions. Second, microstructure evolution was analyzed, and the obtained information was used to fit a dynamic recrystallization model implementing inside the DEFORM-3D FEM code environment. FEM of deformation of 6005 aluminum has been established and validated by microstructure comparison. Finally, the obtained dynamic recrystallization model was applied to tube extrusion by using a portholes-equal channel angular pressing die. The finite element analysis results showed that coarse DRX grains occur in the extruded tube at higher temperature and in the extruded tube at the faster speed of the stem. The test results showed material from the front end of the extruded tube has coarse grains (60 μm) and other extruded tube has finer grains (20 μm).

Microstructural and micromechanical characterization of IN718 theta shaped specimens built with electron beam melting

DOE PAGES

Cakmak, Ercan; Kirka, Michael M.; Watkins, Thomas R.; ...

2016-02-23

Theta-shaped specimens were additively manufactured out of Inconel 718 powders using an electron beam melting technique, as a model complex load bearing structure. We employed two different build strategies; producing two sets of specimens. Microstructural and micro-mechanical characterizations were performed using electron back-scatter, synchrotron x-ray and in-situ neutron diffraction techniques. In particular, the cross-members of the specimens were the focus of the synchrotron x-ray and in-situ neutron diffraction measurements. The build strategies employed resulted in the formation of distinct microstructures and crystallographic textures, signifying the importance of build-parameter manipulation for microstructural optimization. Large strain anisotropy of the different lattice planesmore » was observed during in-situ loading. Texture was concluded to have a distinct effect upon both the axial and transverse strain responses of the cross-members. In particular, the (200), (220) and (420) transverse lattice strains all showed unexpected overlapping trends in both builds. This was related to the strong {200} textures along the build/loading direction, providing agreement between the experimental and calculated results.« less

Microstructure, Composition, and Impact Toughness Across the Fusion Line of High-Strength Bainitic Steel Weldments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lan, Liangyun; Kong, Xiangwei; Chang, Zhiyuan; Qiu, Chunlin; Zhao, Dewen

2017-09-01

This paper analyzed the evolution of microstructure, composition, and impact toughness across the fusion line of high-strength bainitic steel weldments with different heat inputs. The main purpose was to develop a convenient method to evaluate the HAZ toughness quickly. The compositions of HAZ were insensitive to higher contents of alloy elements ( e.g., Ni, Mo) in the weld metal because their diffusion distance is very short into the HAZ. The weld metal contained predominantly acicular ferrite at any a heat input, whereas the main microstructures in the HAZ changed from lath martensite/bainite to upper bainite with the increasing heat input. The evolution of HAZ toughness in relation to microstructural changes can be revealed clearly combined with the impact load curve and fracture morphology, although the results of impact tests do not show an obvious change with heat input because the position of Charpy V notch contains the weld metal, HAZ as well as a part of base metal. As a result, based on the bead-on-plate welding tests, the welding parameter affecting the HAZ toughness can be evaluated rapidly.

Microstructures, Mechanical Properties, and Strain Hardening Behavior of an Ultrahigh Strength Dual Phase Steel Developed by Intercritical Annealing of Cold-Rolled Ferrite/Martensite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazaheri, Y.; Kermanpur, A.; Najafizadeh, A.

2015-07-01

A dual phase (DP) steel was produced by a new process utilizing an uncommon cold-rolling and subsequent intercritical annealing of a martensite-ferrite duplex starting structure. Ultrafine grained DP steels with an average grain size of about 2 μm and chain-networked martensite islands were achieved by short intercritical annealing of the 80 pct cold-rolled duplex microstructure. The strength of the low carbon steel with the new DP microstructure was reached about 1300 MPa (140 pct higher than that of the as-received state, e.g., 540 MPa), without loss of ductility. Tensile testing revealed good strength-elongation balance for the new DP steels (UTS × UE ≈ 11,000 to 15,000 MPa pct) in comparison with the previous works and commercially used high strength DP steels. Two strain hardening stages with comparable exponents were observed in the Holloman analysis of all DP steels. The variations of hardness, strength, elongation, and strain hardening behavior of the specimens with thermomechanical parameters were correlated to microstructural features.

A tissue-like culture system using microstructures: influence of extracellular matrix material on cell adhesion and aggregation.

PubMed

Knedlitschek, G; Schneider, F; Gottwald, E; Schaller, T; Eschbach, E; Weibezahn, K F

1999-02-01

Special microenvironmental conditions are required to induce and/or maintain specific qualities of differentiated cells. An important parameter is the three-dimensional tissue architecture that cannot be reproduced in conventional monolayer systems. Advanced tissue culture systems will meet many of these demands, but may reach their limits, especially when gradients of specific substances over distinct tissue layers must be established for long-term culture. These limitations may be overcome by incorporating microstructures into tissue-like culture systems. The microstructured cell support presented consists of a flat array of 625 cubic microcontainers with porous bottoms, in which cells can be supplied with specific media from both sides of the tissue layer. Permanent cell lines and primary rat hepatocytes have been used to test the culture system. In order to define reproducible conditions for tissue formation and for cell adherence to the structure, several ECM (extracellular matrix) components were tested for coating of microstructured substrata. The described tissue culture system offers great flexibility in adapting the cell support to specific needs.

Computational simulation of weld microstructure and distortion by considering process mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mochizuki, M.; Mikami, Y.; Okano, S.; Itoh, S.

2009-05-01

Highly precise fabrication of welded materials is in great demand, and so microstructure and distortion controls are essential. Furthermore, consideration of process mechanics is important for intelligent fabrication. In this study, the microstructure and hardness distribution in multi-pass weld metal are evaluated by computational simulations under the conditions of multiple heat cycles and phase transformation. Because conventional CCT diagrams of weld metal are not available even for single-pass weld metal, new diagrams for multi-pass weld metals are created. The weld microstructure and hardness distribution are precisely predicted when using the created CCT diagram for multi-pass weld metal and calculating the weld thermal cycle. Weld distortion is also investigated by using numerical simulation with a thermal elastic-plastic analysis. In conventional evaluations of weld distortion, the average heat input has been used as the dominant parameter; however, it is difficult to consider the effect of molten pool configurations on weld distortion based only on the heat input. Thus, the effect of welding process conditions on weld distortion is studied by considering molten pool configurations, determined by temperature distribution and history.

Microstructural changes in a cementitious membrane due to the application of a DC electric field.

PubMed

Covelo, Alba; Diaz, Belen; Freire, Lorena; Novoa, X Ramon; Perez, M Consuelo

2008-07-01

The use of electromigration techniques to accelerate chloride ions motion is commonly employed to characterise the permeability of cementitious samples to chlorides, a relevant parameter in reinforced concrete corrosion. This paper is devoted to the study of microstructure's changes occurring in mortar samples when submitted to natural diffusion and migration experiments. The application of an electric field reduces testing time in about one order of magnitude with respect to natural diffusion experiments. Nevertheless, the final sample's microstructure differs in both tests. Impedance Spectroscopy is employed for real time monitoring of microstructural changes. During migration experiments the global impedance undergoes important increase in shorter period of time compared to natural diffusion tests. So, the forced motion of ions through the concrete membrane induces significant variations in the porous structure, as confirmed by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry. After migration experiments, an important increase in the capillary pore size (10-100 nm) was detected. Conversely, no relevant variations are found after natural diffusion tests. Results presented in this work cast doubt on the significance of diffusion coefficient values obtained under accelerated conditions.

New Development in Selective Laser Melting of Ti-6Al-4V: A Wider Processing Window for the Achievement of Fully Lamellar α + β Microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lui, E. W.; Xu, W.; Pateras, A.; Qian, M.; Brandt, M.

2017-12-01

Recent progress has shown that Ti-6Al-4V fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) can achieve a fully lamellar α + β microstructure using 60 µm layer thickness in the as-built state via in situ martensite decomposition by manipulating the processing parameters. The potential to broaden the processing window was explored in this study by increasing the layer thickness to the less commonly used 90 µm. Fully lamellar α + β microstructures were produced in the as-built state using inter-layer times in the range of 1-12 s. Microstructural features such as the α-lath thickness and morphology were sensitive to both build height and inter-layer time. The α-laths produced using the inter-layer time of 1 s were much coarser than those produced with the inter-layer time of 12 s. The fine fully lamellar α + β structure resulted in tensile ductility of 11% and yield strength of 980 MPa. The tensile properties can be further improved by minimizing the presence of process-induced defects.

Designed microstructure based on color filter and metallic nanoslit for multiband spectral compatible control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, Zhigang; Han, Yuge

2018-01-01

Controlling the spectral characteristics by regulating the geometry of microstructure has become an effective method to meet the requirements of various applications. To mediate the spectral characteristics, metallic subwavelength slits with different structures and color filters consisting of diverse materials were discussed, and then a designed microstructure composed of color filter and metallic slits, which were surrounded by grooves, was put forward for a compatible effect of controlling the spectral characteristics. Afterward, the spectral characteristics of the proposed structure were simulated by finite-difference time-domain method in the wavelength range of 300 to 10,000 nm. Additionally, the effects of geometric parameters on the spectral characteristics were studied. The results show that the presented microstructure can reflect a monochromatic color at the wavelength of 600 nm and its reflectance is ˜40%. The average absorptance near the wavelength of 1060 nm is more than 95%, and the average reflectance in the infrared band exceeds 80%. In conclusion, the compatible spectrum control in three bands (i.e., visible, near-infrared, and mid-infrared) was realized.

Effect of Rare Earth Cerium Addition on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Low Carbon High Manganese Steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, M. Z.; Yu, Y. C.; Li, H.; Ren, X.; Wang, S. B.

2017-02-01

Low carbon high manganese steels with different Ce contents were melted in medium frequency vacuum induction furnace. The microstructures and mechanical properties of steels were studied by OM, SEM, EDS and mechanical property testing. The results showed that the microstructures of experimental steels were refined remarkably, inclusions distributed more finely and uniformly, the tensile strength and impact toughness of tested steels both improved greatly after the addition of Ce. Thermodynamic calculation results demonstrated that Ce contained inclusions were Ce2O3 and Ce3S4, which agreed well with the results observed by SEM and EDS. By analysis of two-dimensional lattice disregistry, it was shown that the lattice misfit parameter between δ-Fe and Ce2O3, Ce3S4 are less than 6 %, which indicated that Ce2O3 and Ce3S4 could effectively act as the heterogeneous nuclei of initial δ-Fe. Therefore, the microstructures were refined significantly and the mechanical properties were improved correspondingly in Ce-added low carbon high manganese steels.

Microstructure and composition analysis of low-Z/low-Z multilayers by combining hard and resonant soft X-ray reflectivity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rao, P. N., E-mail: pnrao@rrcat.gov.in; Rai, S. K.; Srivastava, A. K.

2016-06-28

Microstructure and composition analysis of periodic multilayer structure consisting of a low electron density contrast (EDC) material combination by grazing incidence hard X-ray reflectivity (GIXR), resonant soft X-ray reflectivity (RSXR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are presented. Measurements of reflectivity at different energies allow combining the sensitivity of GIXR data to microstructural parameters like layer thicknesses and interfacing roughness, with the layer composition sensitivity of RSXR. These aspects are shown with an example of 10-period C/B{sub 4}C multilayer. TEM observation reveals that interfaces C on B{sub 4}C and B{sub 4}C on C are symmetric. Although GIXR provides limited structural informationmore » when EDC between layers is low, measurements using a scattering technique like GIXR with a microscopic technique like TEM improve the microstructural information of low EDC combination. The optical constants of buried layers have been derived by RSXR. The derived optical constants from the measured RSXR data suggested the presence of excess carbon into the boron carbide layer.« less

Microstructure and electroluminescent performance of chemical vapor deposited zinc sulfide doped with manganese films for integration in thin film electroluminescent devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Topol, Anna Wanda

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) doped with manganese (Mn), ZnS:Mn, is widely recognized as the brightest and most effective electroluminescent (EL) phosphor used in current thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) devices. ZnS acts as a host lattice for the luminescent activator, Mn, leading to a highly efficient yellow-orange EL emission, and resulting in a wide array of applications in monochrome, multi-color and full color displays. Although this wide band dap (3.7 eV) material can be prepared by several deposition techniques, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is the most promising for TFEL applications in terms of viable deposition rates, high thickness and composition uniformity, and excellent yield over large area panels. This study describes the development and optimization of a CVD ZnS:Mn process using diethylzinc [(C2H5)2Zn, DEZ], di-pi-cyclopentadienylmanganese [(C5H5)2Mn, CPMn], and hydrogen sulfide [H2S] as the chemical sources for, respectively, Zn, Mn, and S. The effects of key deposition parameters on resulting Film microstructure and performance are discussed, primarily in the context of identifying an optimized process window for best electroluminescence behavior. In particular, substrate temperature was observed to play a key role in the formation of high quality crystalline ZnS:Mn films leading to improved brightness and EL efficiency. Further investigations of the influence of temperature treatment on the structural characteristics and EL performance of the CVD ZnS:Mn film were carried out. In this study, the influence of post-deposition annealing both in-situ and ex-situ annealing processes, on chemical, structural, and electroluminescent characteristics of the phosphor layer are described. The material properties of the employed dielectric are among the key factors determining the performance, stability and reliability of the TFEL display and therefore, the choice of dielectric material for use in ACTFEL displays is crucial. In addition, the luminous efficiency depends on the density of the interface states and their depth at the insulator-phosphor interfaces. Hence, critical integration issues are discussed in terms of the incorporation of ZnS:Mn films in dielectricsemiconductor-dielectric (DSD) structures with silicon nitride (SiNx) and aluminum titanium oxide (ATO) as top and bottom insulators.

Effect of surfactants on the deformation of single droplet in shear flow studied by dissipative particle dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yuzhou; Xu, Junbo; He, Xianfeng

2018-07-01

The behaviour of a single droplet in shear flow is a fundamental problem in immiscible liquid-liquid multiphase fluid systems. In this article, the deformation and inclination angle of single droplet covered with surfactants in shear flow at moderate Reynolds number, when both the inertial effects and interfacial tension are the key governing factors, were simulated by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD). Weber number We was adopted to indicate the force state of the droplet and a linear relationship between the deformation parameter D and We was found when Reynolds number Re is about 1-10, which is similar to the relation of D and Capillary number Ca when Re ≪ 1. When the surfactant concentration is lower than the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the distribution of surfactants, the droplet inclination angle θ and the droplet deformation parameter D were investigated at different surfactant density at interface ds and shear rate ?. When the droplet size is close to the characteristic size of surfactant molecules, phase interfaces of water in oil (W/O) and oil in water (O/W) systems have different microstructures, which result in differences in the surfactant distribution, the droplet inclination angle and deformation of the two systems.

Microstructural analysis of mass transport phenomena in gas diffusion media for high current density operation in PEM fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotaka, Toshikazu; Tabuchi, Yuichiro; Mukherjee, Partha P.

2015-04-01

Cost reduction is a key issue for commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). High current density operation is a solution pathway. In order to realize high current density operation, it is necessary to reduce mass transport resistance in the gas diffusion media commonly consisted of gas diffusion layer (GDL) and micro porous layer (MPL). However, fundamental understanding of the underlying mass transport phenomena in the porous components is not only critical but also not fully understood yet due to the inherent microstructural complexity. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of electron and oxygen transport in the GDL and MPL is conducted experimentally and numerically with three-dimensional (3D) microstructural data to reveal the structure-transport relationship. The results reveal that the mass transport in the GDL is strongly dependent on the local microstructural variations, such as local pore/solid volume fractions and connectivity. However, especially in the case of the electrical conductivity of MPL, the contact resistance between carbon particles is the dominant factor. This suggests that reducing the contact resistance between carbon particles and/or the number of contact points along the transport pathway can improve the electrical conductivity of MPL.

Individual differences in white matter microstructure predict semantic control.

PubMed

Nugiel, Tehila; Alm, Kylie H; Olson, Ingrid R

2016-12-01

In everyday conversation, we make many rapid choices between competing concepts and words in order to convey our intent. This process is termed semantic control, and it is thought to rely on information transmission between a distributed semantic store in the temporal lobes and a more discrete region, optimized for retrieval and selection, in the left inferior frontal gyrus. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging in a group of neurologically normal young adults to investigate the relationship between semantic control and white matter tracts that have been implicated in semantic memory retrieval. Participants completed a verb generation task that taps semantic control (Snyder & Munakata, 2008; Snyder et al., 2010) and underwent a diffusion imaging scan. Deterministic tractography was performed to compute indices representing the microstructural properties of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), the uncinate fasciculus (UF), and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). Microstructural measures of the UF failed to predict semantic control performance. However, there was a significant relationship between microstructure of the left IFOF and ILF and individual differences in semantic control. Our findings support the view put forth by Duffau (2013) that the IFOF is a key structural pathway in semantic retrieval.

Optimization of residual stresses in MMC's through the variation of interfacial layer architectures and processing parameters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pindera, Marek-Jerzy; Salzar, Robert S.

1996-01-01

The objective of this work was the development of efficient, user-friendly computer codes for optimizing fabrication-induced residual stresses in metal matrix composites through the use of homogeneous and heterogeneous interfacial layer architectures and processing parameter variation. To satisfy this objective, three major computer codes have been developed and delivered to the NASA-Lewis Research Center, namely MCCM, OPTCOMP, and OPTCOMP2. MCCM is a general research-oriented code for investigating the effects of microstructural details, such as layered morphology of SCS-6 SiC fibers and multiple homogeneous interfacial layers, on the inelastic response of unidirectional metal matrix composites under axisymmetric thermomechanical loading. OPTCOMP and OPTCOMP2 combine the major analysis module resident in MCCM with a commercially-available optimization algorithm and are driven by user-friendly interfaces which facilitate input data construction and program execution. OPTCOMP enables the user to identify those dimensions, geometric arrangements and thermoelastoplastic properties of homogeneous interfacial layers that minimize thermal residual stresses for the specified set of constraints. OPTCOMP2 provides additional flexibility in the residual stress optimization through variation of the processing parameters (time, temperature, external pressure and axial load) as well as the microstructure of the interfacial region which is treated as a heterogeneous two-phase composite. Overviews of the capabilities of these codes are provided together with a summary of results that addresses the effects of various microstructural details of the fiber, interfacial layers and matrix region on the optimization of fabrication-induced residual stresses in metal matrix composites.

Tailoring the Microstructure of Sol–Gel Derived Hydroxyapatite/Zirconia Nanocrystalline Composites

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

In this study, we tailor the microstructure of hydroxyapatite/zirconia nanocrystalline composites by optimizing processing parameters, namely, introducing an atmosphere of water vapor during sintering in order to control the thermal stability of hydroxyapatite, and a modified sol–gel process that yields to an excellent intergranular distribution of zirconia phase dispersed intergranularly within the hydroxyapatite matrix. In terms of mechanical behavior, SEM images of fissure deflection and the presence of monoclinic ZrO2 content on cracked surface indicate that both toughening mechanisms, stress-induced tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation and deflection, are active for toughness enhancement. PMID:24764458

Heat treatment study 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Workman, Gary L.

1990-01-01

The microstructural variations in nickel based superalloys that result from modifications in processing were examined. These superalloys include MAR-M246(HF) and PWA1480. Alternate heat treatments for equiaxed as-cast specimens were studied and a sample matrix of 42 variations in the heat treatments were processed, as well as different directional solidification parameters. Variation in temperature and times for both solution and aging were performed. Photomicrographs were made of the microstructure and volume fraction analysis of primary gamma-prime and aged gamma-prime precipitates were performed. The results of the heat treatment, cooling rate, and directional solidification experiments are discussed.