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At least 397 records · Page 22

Determination of permeability for hydrocarbon release due to excavation-induced stress redistribution in rock salt

Due to a stress redistribution after the excavation of an underground tunnel for radioactive waste disposal, an Ed/DZ (excavation disturbed/damaged zone) will be generated in the near field of the opening, resulting in significant changes in the hydraulic and mechanical properties of the rock mass in the zone. Initially more or less randomly distributed hydrocarbons at grain boundaries in rock salt, which sometimes can only be observed with ultraviolet light, can then be mobilised and migrate at a potentially significant rate towards the excavation. Within the international cooperative project DECOVALEX 2019, the migration mechanism of such fluid inclusions in rock salt is being studied intensively. Specifically, a multi-scale modelling strategy has been developed. A macroscale coupled hydro-mechanical modelling of an underground excavation was performed to determine hydraulic and time-dependent deviatoric stress conditions, by taking into account the rock salt creep behaviour. Under the obtained macro-scale constraints, micro-scale modelling of a pathway dilation along halite grain boundaries was performed using different model strategies: a) coupled hydromechanical modelling with a consideration of hydraulic pressure-induced dilatant deformation, b) nonlinear dynamic model taking account of fluid migration, stress-dependent grain boundary wetting and shear-induced dilatancy of salt, and c) phase-field modelling of flow pathway propagation. The permeability increase resulting from the pathway dilation is estimated to be as high as two orders of magnitude. Based on the permeability determined, a series of pressure buildups measured from a borehole with a high hydrocarbon release rate, a total of 430 build-ups within a monitoring time of 938 days, can be simulated with a macro-scale compressible flow model accounting for different zones around the opening.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Dual-precipitates enhance fatigue resistance in an additively manufactured high-entropy alloy

To accomplish the intense desire of high-strength materials for enhanced energy-efficiency, recent research applies a combined strategy of additive-manufacturing and precipitation-strengthening in high entropy alloys. In a context, Al 0.2 Co 1.5 CrFeNi 1.5 Ti 0.3 nanoprecipitation-strengthened system was developed, demonstrating very convincing strength and toughness. Moreover, additive-manufacturing facilitated additional strength by well-decorated cell-boundaries with blocky L2 1 precipitates and homogeneously distributed L1 2 precipitates. However, fatigue research of this alloy remained unexplored despite being the main precursor for structural applications. In this study low-cycle fatigue behavior of this alloy in both as-built and precipitation-strengthened (aged) conditions has been explored, combined with in-situ neutron diffraction investigation. Findings revealed a substantial cyclic-stress profile and a notable fatigue-life below ±0.50% strain-amplitude, exceeding 10 5 cycles at ±0.30% strain-amplitude. These demonstrate the potential to carry higher payloads with marked engineering-reliability. Residual-stress estimation revealed strain-compatibility between the matrix and L1 2 precipitate, indicating a crack-initiation immune interface. A comparative examination of dislocation character revealed shifting towards pure edge-character in aged alloy indicates precipitates promoted planar-slip during deformation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Report Summarizing the Mechanical Properties of a Large ODS Ferritic Alloy Ingot by Forging at High Temperatures for Future Mother Tube Production

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic alloys are considered the benchmark fuel cladding and core structural material in advanced nuclear energy reactors that require high-temperature strength and creep properties and resistance to radiation damage. The ODS ferritic alloys including 14YWT are produced by mechanical alloying (MA), which is time-consuming and is associated with high manufacturing costs that are not beneficial to being used in advanced nuclear energy reactors. This report summarizes the accomplishments in FY24 in the INM program for producing an ODS ferritic alloy by high-deformation, high-temperature processing of reactive and ferritic alloy powders for advanced reactor fuel cladding applications. Following four hot forging experiments, it was concluded that several significant challenges were encountered that were difficult to overcome. These challenges were related to using high annealing temperatures for pressure assisted sintering processes to produce dense microstructures, but the high annealing temperatures result in long range diffusion of Ti through the bcc Fe lattice and react with the YIG particles that are distributed on the prior surfaces of the ferritic alloy powders. In addition, it was determined that the high deformations induced by forging at high temperatures were not very effective for fracturing the reactive YIG particles into smaller particles and distributing them into the interior of the ferritic alloy powders. Spark plasma sintering was attempted for shortening the time at high temperatures, which led to full densification but the microstructure characterization results still showed that Ti atoms diffused over long distances in the bcc Fe lattice and reacted with the YIG particles. Finally, a short 30 minute high intensity ball milling experiment was conducted on blended 14WT and YIG powders for inducing severe deformations that caused the initially spherical powders of 14WT decorated with the YIG particles on the surfaces to transform to flakes and fracturing of YIG particles into smaller particles that were incorporated into the bcc Fe lattice. Two forgings were performed with the high intensity milled powders: first annealing for 20 minutes at 850ºC followed by forging and second annealing for 20 minutes at 1,100ºC followed by forging. At 850ºC, Ti atoms are effectively immobile, thus allowing for densification albeit incomplete. The deformation by forging after annealing for 20 minutes at 1,100ºC favored dynamic recrystallization processes that led to nano-size grains with very high stored energy due to high dislocation density. The corresponding VH data showed significant hardening that correlated with estimated strengthening of ~1650 MPa. This hybrid processing approach combining high intensity ball milling of powder with annealing and forging showed the most promise for producing an oxide dispersing strengthened ferritic alloy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A theory for creep crack growth

The paper derives an analytical expression for creep crack growth rate based on a model in which the higher and concentrated stresses ahead of the crack tip enhance creep deformation, thus progressively causing stress rupture and continuous crack advance. The equation derived for creep crack growth rate is expressed in terms of a geometrical factor in the stress intensity expression and in terms of the crack tip radius whose lower limit estimate is the fracture mechanics crack-tip opening displacement. The functional features of the derived creep crack growth rate equation can be compared with those of a pertinent empirical equation. The analytical expression provides some guidelines for alloy and microstructure design.

Purushothaman, S.↗

Involute Working Group – FSI Analysis of Fuel Plates Using Finite Volume and Finite Element Methods

The three involute plate research reactors RHF, HFIR, and FRM II have expressed an interest in using computational software to carry their steady-state safety analysis. Since these tools represent a significant departure from the methods used currently (one-dimensional), the acceptability of the new approach by regulators requires thorough verification and validation of these tools. Therefore, Argonne National Laboratory and the three involute-plate reactors formed an informal group called the Involute Working Group aiming at qualifying computational tools to perform steady-state safety analysis. The present report focuses on a comparison of finite volume and finite element methods to model solids in fluid-structure interaction problems with the goal to estimate the coolant flow-induced fuel plate deflections obtained with the two methods. The finite volume method will be obsoleted in STARCCM+ by the end of 2021, nevertheless, this evaluation is important because the method was used by ANL researchers to model the response of the fuel plates, despite its drawbacks, which are discussed in the report. It was essential to check how those estimates compare to the results obtained with the finite element method that is considered superior for structural analysis. Various geometries, i.e., flat, cylindrical and circle-involute fuel plates, as well as coolant flow speed, were considered. The comparison shows that, independently of the plate geometry, the finite volume method significantly underestimates the deflection as compared to finite element method for coarser meshes. When the discretization is developed as a result of a mesh sensitivity study using finite element method, the result obtained using finite volume method can be a few times smaller than the corresponding finite element method solution. A code-to-code comparison , between STAR-CCM+ and LS-DYNA was included in the analysis. Within the LS-DYNA models, two types of finite element formulations were used: solid and shell finite elements. Mesh sensitivity study showed that both approaches converge to a similar value that was obtained with STAR-CCM+ finite element solver. The evaluation of the computational solvers was extended by adding two benchmark cases from the STAR-CCM+ Verification Suite and presented in the Appendix A. The selected cases are: (1) bending of a cantilever beam under external load, and (2) cylindrical shell deformation analysis, known in the literature as ‘Scordelis-Lo roof’. The problems were solved with finite volume, and finite element methods, and the results confirmed the previously discussed findings. The analysis shows that the finite element solver is superior to the finite volume solver in terms of representation of model geometry and estimating the structural behavior of fuel plates. Depending on the ratio of the load to the flexibility of the plate, the finite volume solver can greatly under- or overestimate the structural response if a very carefully selected mesh is not used.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Frequencies and Flutter Speed Estimation for Damaged Aircraft Wing Using Scaled Equivalent Plate Analysis

Equivalent plate analysis is often used to replace the computationally expensive finite element analysis in initial design stages or in conceptual design of aircraft wing structures. The equivalent plate model can also be used to design a wind tunnel model to match the stiffness characteristics of the wing box of a full-scale aircraft wing model while satisfying strength-based requirements An equivalent plate analysis technique is presented to predict the static and dynamic response of an aircraft wing with or without damage. First, a geometric scale factor and a dynamic pressure scale factor are defined to relate the stiffness, load and deformation of the equivalent plate to the aircraft wing. A procedure using an optimization technique is presented to create scaled equivalent plate models from the full scale aircraft wing using geometric and dynamic pressure scale factors. The scaled models are constructed by matching the stiffness of the scaled equivalent plate with the scaled aircraft wing stiffness. It is demonstrated that the scaled equivalent plate model can be used to predict the deformation of the aircraft wing accurately. Once the full equivalent plate geometry is obtained, any other scaled equivalent plate geometry can be obtained using the geometric scale factor. Next, an average frequency scale factor is defined as the average ratio of the frequencies of the aircraft wing to the frequencies of the full-scaled equivalent plate. The average frequency scale factor combined with the geometric scale factor is used to predict the frequency response of the aircraft wing from the scaled equivalent plate analysis. A procedure is outlined to estimate the frequency response and the flutter speed of an aircraft wing from the equivalent plate analysis using the frequency scale factor and geometric scale factor. The equivalent plate analysis is demonstrated using an aircraft wing without damage and another with damage. Both of the problems show that the scaled equivalent plate analysis can be successfully used to predict the frequencies and flutter speed of a typical aircraft wing.

Krishnamurthy, Thiagarajan↗

Magellan stereo images and Venusian geology

Areas of Venus imaged by Magellan radar with multiple viewing conditions provide unique data that will contribute to the solution of venusian geologic problems and provide a basis for quantitative comparison of venusian landforms with those on other planetary bodies. Three sets of images with different viewing conditions have been acquired: (1) left-looking with variable incidence angles (cycle 1 profile), (2) right-looking with nearly constant incidence angles (cycle 2 profile), and (3) left-looking with variable incidence angles that are almost always smaller than those in (1) (cycle 3 profiles). The unique data provided by paired images of the same scene with different incidence angles arises from image displacements caused by the relief of individual landforms at scales comparable to the ground-range and azimuth resolutions of the images. There are two aspects of the data: (1) Stereopsis achieved by simultaneous viewing of paired left-looking images of the same scene permits three-dimensional perception and interpretation of the morphologies of landforms at resolutions much finer than the altimetry footprints. (2) Measurements of differences of image displacements (parallax) on paired images with known imaging geometries provide quantitative estimates of the relief and shapes of landforms. The potential scientific contributions of the data can be grouped into two interrelated classes: (A) geologic mapping, analysis, and interpretation and (B) topical studies that involve topographic measurements. Stereopsis, without quantitative measurements, enhances geologic mapping, analysis, and interpretation of the rock units of Venus to a degree that cannot be overestimated. In geologic mapping, assemblages of landforms, assessments of backscatter and variations in backscatter, and fine-scale topography are used to define and characterize geologic map units that represent laterally continuous deposits or rock units. Stereopsis adds the important dimension of local relief for characterization of geologic units at a scale that is not possible with Magellan altimetry or products derived from the altimetry. Relative ages of the geologic units are determined using the well-known principles of superposition and intersection. Here, the perception of relief is invaluable because superposition relations among the geological units are more readily and clearly established. The recognition of folds, faults, and fault systems, regardless of their orientations, is facilitated with stereopsis so that sequences of deformation of the geologic units can be determined and structural analyses vastly improved. Shapes of landforms are readily perceived so that they can be properly interpreted. The end result of the mapping, analyses, and interpretations is a geologic history of Venus that includes the sequences of formation and deformation of various geologic units. Measurements of relief at the finest scale possible are necessary for numerous topical studies. Standard altimetry will provide the necessary information on the relief of most large landforms, but it tends to underestimate the relief of small landforms and distorts their shapes. Although special processing of the altimeter echoes improves the estimates of the relief and shapes of some landforms, there are uncertainties in the interpretations of the echoes. Examples of topical studies requiring measurements of relief are given.

Moore, H. J.↗

A viscoelastic viscoplastic damage model (VPVD)

This report documents the development, implementation, and parameter estimation procedures for aviscoelastic-viscoplastic-viscodamage model. This model is being developed to improve the predictive accuracy of simulations involving plastic bonded explosives (PBX). A representative PBX is PBX9501, which is 95% by weight HMX, 2.5% estane binder and 2.5% nitroplasticizer. Mechanical deformation of this material is primarily accommodated by straining of the polymer binder and rearranging the relatively rigid HMX crystals.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

Post-explosion Evolution of Core-collapse Supernovae

Here we investigate the post-explosion phase in core-collapse supernovae with 2D hydrodynamical simulations and a simple neutrino treatment. The latter allows us to perform 46 simulations and follow the evolution of the 32 explosion models during several seconds. We present a broad study based on three progenitors (11.2, 15, and 27 M ⊙ ), different neutrino heating efficiencies, and various rotation rates. We show that the first seconds after shock revival determine the final explosion energy, remnant mass, and properties of ejected matter. Our results suggest that a continued mass accretion increases the explosion energy even at late times. We link the late-time mass accretion to initial conditions such as rotation strength and shock deformation at explosion time. Only some of our simulations develop a neutrino-driven wind (NDW) that survives for several seconds. This indicates that NDWs are not a standard feature expected after every successful explosion. Even if our neutrino treatment is simple, we estimate the nucleosynthesis of the exploding models for the 15 M ⊙ progenitor after correcting the neutrino energies and luminosities to get a more realistic electron fraction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Intraplate deformation, stress in the lithosphere and the driving mechanism for plate motions

During this period work was carried out on three fronts relevant to the understanding of intraplate deformation, stress in the lithosphere, and the driving mechanisms for plate motions: (1) observational constraints, using GPS geodesy on the deformation in the region of the boundry between the Pacific and North American plates in central and southern California; (2) numerical modeling of the effects of temperature dependent lithospheric viscosity on the stress and strain history of extensional regimes; and (3) improvement of estimates of mantle viscosity variation, the long-wave-length density variations in the mantle, and the topography of the core-mantel boundary from modeling of geoid anomalies, nutation, and changes in length of day. These projects are described in more detail, followed by a discussion of meetings attended and a list of abstracts and papers submitted and/or published.

Hager, Bradford H.↗

Possible breakup of dark terrain on Ganymede by large-scale shear faulting

The questions of relative motions of large segments of Ganymede's lithosphere and of the effect of any motions on grooved terrain formation are reexamined. Resolvable furrows in both hemispheres were mapped in great detail using Voyager 1 and 2 images and U.S. Geological Survey controlled shaded-relief quadrangle maps. Estimates of the Galileo Regio and Marius Regio poles of furrow concentricity indicate a considerable westward offset of the Galileo Regio pole, suggesting the possibility of about 500-km of left-lateral offset of the two areas. There is evidence that shear deformation was concentrated along a major structural lineament which follows a small circle and encloses Galileo Regio, and that a smaller amount of distributed shear occurred across an adjacent 500- to 1500-km-wide band. The results indicate that either widespread shear strain or the shear's driving mechanism may have had a long-term effect on patterns of deformation of Ganymede's lithosphere.

Murchie, Scott L.↗

Gravity and suspension effects on the dynamics of controlled structures

The effects of gravity on the actuators, sensors and structural plant of a controlled flexible structure are investigated. These influences include gravity stiffening, gravity induced deformations, gravity influence on inertial sensors and actuators, and the interaction with the suspension system. For each of the four influences, a simplified model is derived, from which the appropriate non-dimensional parameter can be identified, and the magnitude of the influence estimated. The construction of a detailed numerical model, which includes the four gravity influences, is outlined. This modeling procedure is then applied to a simplified model of the Middeck Active Control Eperiment (MACE). The influence on the poles and input-output transfer function is examined for several variations in the plant. The modeling procedure is also applied to the MACE experimental hardware. Experimental and model-based transfer functions are compared to demonstrate the significant improvement by incorporating gravity effects.

Rey, Daniel A.↗

The torsional stiffness of thin duralumin shells subjected to large torques

This report gives a simple method of estimating the torsional stiffness of thin shells, such as box beams or stressed-skin wings under large torque loads. A general efficiency chart for shells in torsion is established, based on the assumption that the efficiency of the web sheet in resisting deformation decreases linearly with the average stress. The chart is used to calculate the torsional deflections of eight box beams, a test wing panel, and a complete wing; the results of the calculations are shown in comparison with the test results. The agreement is probably as good as might be expected considering the empirical nature of the method and the well-known dispersion between results of tests on thin sheet-metal structures.

Kuhn, Paul↗

NASA Tech Briefs, March 2004

Topics covered include: 1) Advanced Signal Conditioners for Data-Acquisition Systems; 2) Downlink Data Multiplexer; 3) Viewing ISS Data in Real Time via the Internet; 4) Autonomous Environment-Monitoring Networks; 5) Readout of DSN Monitor Data; 6) Parallel-Processing Equalizers for Multi-Gbps Communications; 7) AIN-Based Packaging for SiC High-Temperature Electronics; 8) Software for Optimizing Quality Assurance of Other Software; 9) The TechSat 21 Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment; 10) Software for Analyzing Laminar-to-Turbulent Flow Transitions; 11) Elastomer Filled With Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes; 12) Modifying Ship Air-Wake Vortices for Aircraft Operations; 13) Strain-Gauge Measurement of Weight of Fluid in a Tank; 14) Advanced Docking System With Magnetic Initial Capture; 15) Blade-Pitch Control for Quieting Tilt-Rotor Aircraft; 16) Solar Array Panels With Dust-Removal Capability; 17) Aligning Arrays of Lenses and Single-Mode Optical Fibers; 18) Automatic Control of Arc Process for Making Carbon Nanotubes; 19) Curved-Focal-Plane Arrays Using Deformed-Membrane Photodetectors; 20) Role of Meteorology in Flights of a Solar-Powered Airplane; 21) Model of Mixing Layer With Multicomponent Evaporating Drops; 22) Solution-Assisted Optical Contacting; 23) Improved Discrete Approximation of Laplacian of Gaussian; 24) Utilizing Expert Knowledge in Estimating Future STS Costs; 25) Study of Rapid-Regression Liquefying Hybrid Rocket Fuels; and 26) More About the Phase-Synchronized Enhancement Method.

Source record↗

Understanding Friction Stir Welding

This Technical Memorandum explains the friction stir welding process in terms of two basic concepts: the concentration of deformation in a shear surface enveloping the tool and the composition of the overall plastic flow field around the tool from simple flow field components. It is demonstrated how weld structure may be understood and torque, drag, and lateral tool forces may be estimated using these concepts. Some discrepancies between computations and accompanying empirical data are discussed in the text. This work is intended to be helpful to engineers in diagnosing problems and advancing technology.

Nunes, A. C., Jr.↗

Constraining Venus and Mars Internal Structures from the Gravity Response to Atmospheric Loading

The gravity fields of celestial bodies that possess an atmosphere are periodically perturbed by the redistribution of fluid mass associated with the atmospheric dynamics. A component of this perturbation is due to the gravitational response of the body to the deformation of its surface induced by the atmospheric pressure loading. The magnitude of this effect depends on the relation between the loading and the response in terms of geopotential variations measured by the load Love numbers. In this work, we simulate and analyze the gravity field generated by the atmospheres of Venus and Mars by accounting for different models of their internal structure. By precisely characterizing the phenomena that drive the mass transportation in the atmosphere through general circulation models, we determine the effect of the interior structure on the response to the atmospheric loading. An accurate estimation of the time-varying gravity field, which measures the atmospheric contribution, may provide significant constraints on the interior structure through the measurement of the load Love numbers. A combined determination of tidal and load Love numbers would enhance our knowledge of the interior of planetary bodies, providing further geophysical constraints in the inversion of internal structure models.The gravity fields of celestial bodies that possess an atmosphere are periodically perturbed by the redistribution of fluid mass associated with the atmospheric dynamics. A component of this perturbation is due to the gravitational response of the body to the deformation of its surface induced by the atmospheric pressure loading. The magnitude of this effect depends on the relation between the loading and the response in terms of geopotential variations measured by the load Love numbers. In this work, we simulate and analyze the gravity field generated by the atmospheres of Venus and Mars by accounting for different models of their internal structure. By precisely characterizing the phenomena that drive the mass transportation in the atmosphere through general circulation models, we determine the effect of the interior structure on the response to the atmospheric loading. An accurate estimation of the time-varying gravity field, which measures the atmospheric contribution, may provide significant constraints on the interior structure through the measurement of the load Love numbers. A combined determination of tidal and load Love numbers would enhance our knowledge of the interior of planetary bodies, providing further geophysical constraints in the inversion of internal structure models.

Mars↗

Communications: Mechanical Deformation of Dendrites by Fluid Flow

It is generally accepted that liquid agitation during alloy solidification assists in crystal multiplication, as in dendrite fragmentation and the detachment of side arms in the mushy region of a casting. Even without deliberate stirring by electromagnetic or mechanical means, there is often vigorous interdendritic fluid flow promoted by natural thermosolutal convection. In this analysis, we shall estimate the stress at the root of a secondary dendrite arm of aluminum arising from the action of a flow of molten metal past the dendrite arm.

Pilling, J.↗

Probing the Pulsar Explanation of the Galactic-Center GeV Excess Using Continuous Gravitational-Wave Searches

Over 10 years ago, Fermi observed an excess of GeV gamma rays from the Galactic Center whose origin is still under debate. One explanation for this excess involves annihilating dark matter, another requires an unresolved population of millisecond pulsars concentrated at the Galactic Center. In this work, we use the results from LIGO and Virgo’s most recent all-sky search for quasimonochromatic, persistent gravitational-wave signals from isolated neutron stars, which is estimated to be about 20%–50% of the population, to determine whether unresolved millisecond pulsars could actually explain this excess. First, we choose a luminosity function that determines the number of millisecond pulsars required to explain the observed excess. Then, we consider two models for deformations on millisecond pulsars to determine their ellipticity distributions, which are directly related to their gravitational-wave radiation. Lastly, based on null results from the O3 frequency-Hough all-sky search for continuous gravitational waves, we find that a large set of the parameter space in the pulsar luminosity function can be excluded. We also evaluate how these exclusion regions may change with respect to various model choices. Further, our results are the first of their kind and represent a bridge between gamma-ray astrophysics, gravitational-wave astronomy, and dark-matter physics.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗