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Comparing non-destructive 3D X-ray computed tomography with destructive optical microscopy for microstructural characterization of fiber reinforced composites
Due to their lightweight, relatively high stiffness properties, and formability into complex shapes, discontinuous fiber composites are advantageous for producing small and medium size components. Improved characterization techniques and post-processing methodologies are required for more reliable quantification of the microstructure and defect distributions in these materials, in order to employ model-based approaches to assess their structural integrity. This work compares a non-destructive X-ray approach with a destructive optical microscopy approach for characterizing the microstructural attributes, specifically the fiber volume fraction, porosity volume fraction, fiber orientation distribution, and fiber length distribution of discontinuous glass fibers in a polypropylene matrix. Additionally, a method for destructively determining the ambiguous components of the orientation tensor (related to the sign ambiguity of the out-of-plane angle in a destructive cross-sectional cut of a fiber) over a large surface area is included. It was found that fiber volume fraction and average fiber aspect ratio matched well, while fiber orientation and porosity detection had small but notable differences. The differences in the detection capabilities of each technique are quantified and discussed shedding light on the specific advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and enabling engineers to quantify uncertainty in their microstructural characterization measurements especially as they relate to model based structural integrity activities.
In-situ imaging of advanced materials subjected to in-plane biaxial loading using X-ray micro-computed tomography
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Plastic strain gradients and transient fatigue crack growth: A computational study
Not Available
Computational simulation of a 100 kW dual circulating fluidized bed reactor processing coal by chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling
Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) is a promising carbon capture technology that utilizes two interconnected fluidized-bed reactors to separate oxygen from air using a metal oxide, and then to use that oxygen to combust fuel in a nitrogen-free environment. CLOU is particularly well suited for solid fuels such as coal since released O 2 will readily combust with solid char. This study presents simulations of the University of Utah's dual fluidized bed chemical looping process development unit (PDU) operating as a CLOU system at 100 kW th , using CPFD Software's Barracuda-VR™ CFD modeling program. A full 3D model of the PDU was used including both reactors, as well as loop seals and cyclone separators. Hydrodynamic settings and the drag model are based on previous cold-flow validation experiments. Mechanisms describing CLOU reaction kinetics for cuprous oxide oxidation in the air reactor and cupric oxide reduction in the fuel reactor were adapted from previously completed experimental work. Coal char kinetics were based on the carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen-sulfur, CHNOS, method. Submodels for devolatilization, gasification, and homogenous gas-phase reactions used relationships from the literature. Results predict volatile burnout almost immediately, though coal combustion continues into the upper portions of the fuel reactor and cyclone. Lastly, nitrogen gas leakage into the fuel reactor is shown to be mostly carryover from the air reactor
Computation of total hemispherical emissivity from directional spectral models
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A combined experimental and computational study of water-gas shift reaction over rod-shaped Ce 0.75 M 0.25 O 2 (M=Ti, Zr, and Mn) supported Cu catalysts
Water-gas shift (WGS) reaction over a series of ceria-based mixed oxides supported Cu catalysts was investigated using a combined experimental and theoretical method. The mixed rod-shaped Ce 0.75 M 0.25 O 2 (M = Ti 4+ , Zr 4+ , Mn 4+ ) solid solutions, which majorly expose the (110) and (100) facets, are synthesized by hydrothermal method and used to prepare supported Cu catalysts. We found that the Cu/Ce0.75Ti 0.25 O 2 (Cu-CT) exhibits the highest CO conversion in the temperature range of 150-250 °C among all supported Cu catalysts. This is mainly attributed to (i) good dispersion of Cu; (ii) largest amount of moderate copper oxide; and (iii) strongest Cu-support interaction of Cu-CT. And compared to other mixed metals, periodic density functional theory calculations performed, this work further suggest that the introduction of Ti into CeO 2 not only promotes oxygen vacancy formation and CO adsorption, but also facilitates the carboxyl (COOH) formation at the interface of the Cu cluster and the support, which leads to the enhanced catalytic activity of the Cu-CT toward WGS reaction.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Internal Motion Tracking Should Be Used to Validate 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography for Abdominal Radiation Therapy Patients
Purpose: To demonstrate that fiducial tracking during pretreatment Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) can accurately measure tumor motion and that this method should be used to validate 4-dimensional CT (4DCT) margins before each treatment fraction. Methods and Materials: For 31 patients with abdominal tumors and implanted fiducial markers, tumor motion was measured daily with CBCT and fluoroscopy for 202 treatment fractions. Fiducial tracking and maximum-likelihood algorithms extracted 3-dimensional fiducial trajectories from CBCT projections. The daily internal margin (IM) (ie, range of fiducial motion) was calculated for CBCT and fluoroscopy as the 5th-95th percentiles of displacement in each cardinal direction. The planning IM from simulation 4DCT (IM{sub 4DCT}) was considered adequate when within ±1.2 mm (anterior–posterior, left–right) and ±3 mm (superior–inferior) of the daily measured IM. We validated CBCT fiducial tracking as an accurate predictive measure of intrafraction motion by comparing the daily measured IM{sub CBCT} with the daily IM measured by pretreatment fluoroscopy (IM{sub pre-fluoro}); these were compared with pre- and posttreatment fluoroscopy (IM{sub fluoro}) to identify those patients who could benefit from imaging during treatment. Results: Four-dimensional CT could not accurately predict intrafractional tumor motion for ≥80% of fractions in 94% (IM{sub CBCT}), 97% (IM{sub pre-fluoro}), and 100% (IM{sub fluoro}) of patients. The IM{sub CBCT} was significantly closer to IM{sub pre-fluoro} than IM{sub 4DCT} (P<.01). For patients with median treatment time t < 7.5 minutes, IM{sub CBCT} was in agreement with IM{sub fluoro} for 93% of fractions (superior–inferior), compared with 63% for the t > 7.5 minutes group, demonstrating the need for patient-specific intratreatment imaging. Conclusions: Tumor motion determined from 4DCT simulation does not accurately predict the daily motion observed on CBCT or fluoroscopy. Cone-beam CT could replace fluoroscopy for pretreatment verification of simulation IM{sub 4DCT}, reducing patient setup time and imaging dose. Patients with treatment time t > 7.5 minutes could benefit from the addition of intratreatment imaging.
Spherical harmonics method for computing the image stress due to a spherical void
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Computer-aided tuning of silica/poly(dimethylsiloxane) composites for 3D printing process: A computational and experimental study
Not Available
Development of computational framework for titanium alloy phase transformation prediction in laser powder-bed fusion additive manufacturing
Not Available