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At least 55 records · Page 3

Understanding Geometry and Microstructure Interactions In LPBF By Linking Lab Scale Studies To Real Part Case Examples

The mechanical properties derived from simple tensile tests are uniquely important in the design and qualification of load bearing metallic components. The tensile properties in standards for wrought metallic materials are generally accessible for design and simulation engineers, but this is not the case for additively manufactured metals. This work investigates the influence of tensile specimen geometry on the mechanical properties of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V, particularly in relation to properties measured from specimens excised from an exemplar part. A comprehensive analysis was conducted across various specimen geometries, considering factors such as thermal history, cross-sectional area, shape, and surface roughness. Key findings reveal that sample size, particularly cross-sectional area, significantly affects reported tensile properties, with ASTM E8 flat and round specimens exhibiting differences in elastic modulus (13%), yield strength (17%), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (14%), and elongation to failure (11%). Additionally, surface roughness was found to have a limited impact on ASTM round geometries, but it becomes critical in thin-walled and small high-throughput samples. The ASTM flat samples closely matched the properties of samples excised from the exemplar part, underscoring the necessity of testing witness samples that accurately represent end-use conditions. Furthermore, mechanical properties of samples built within the stitch zone of the exemplar part demonstrated reduced ductility, highlighting the importance of laser alignment and qualification in multi-laser additive manufacturing processes. Overall, this study emphasizes the need for careful consideration of specimen geometry and testing conditions to ensure accurate reporting of mechanical properties in LPBF Ti-6Al-4V.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

INFLUENCE OF SUPPLEMENTARY ARGON GAS SHIELDING ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF SS316L ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED BY DIRECTED ENERGY DEPOSITION

The dissolution of atmospheric gases into parts additively manufactured by directed energy deposition (DED) has long been of concern, and stock shielding solutions have usually proven inadequate at fully removing atmospheric gases from weld beads. The objective of this work was to design a new supplementary argon gas shroud for a specific DED printer and evaluate its effect on microstructure and macroscopic properties of SS316L and the potential for printing more reactive metals such as Ti-6Al-4V. This was investigated by printing four SS316L sample blocks, two with and two without the shroud, each printed in two different orientations. These samples were subsequently evaluated with inert gas fusion (IGF), SEM/EDS imaging, and tensile tests. The shroud reduced oxygen content by 0.019-0.031%, and SEM imaging revealed fewer oxide inclusions. A more dramatic reduction of 0.13% oxygen and 0.171% nitrogen was observed by the inert gas fusion of Ti-6Al-4V samples. Overall, the results indicated the shroud was successful at reducing atmospheric gas uptake within the print region and may enable the printing of reactive metal powders in DED systems.

Helvie, Kyle↗

Active learning using hybrid surrogate tool life modeling for machining process optimization

Here, this paper describes an active learning approach for part-to-part iterative machining process optimization using a hybrid surrogate tool life model. A probabilistic interpolating tool life model is developed by combining the empirical Taylor-type tool life equation and the model fit error. The probabilistic tool life model is then used to calculate the machining cost per part distribution. The optimal machining parameters are selected using an expected improvement in machining cost per part criterion. The method is validated numerically using experimental results; the results show a median convergence error of 2.2% after three tests over 400 simulations. The method is validated experimentally on two industrial applications for Ti-6Al-4V roughing resulting in a cost per part reduction greater than 23% after two tests. The described method is a robust solution for rapid convergence to optimal machining parameters in an industrial production environment.

Active learning↗

Investigating property-porosity relationships for micro-architected lattice structures

Micro-architected structures are increasingly valued for their light weight and tunable mechanical properties; this class of material includes sheet structures like the Schöen gyroid and beam lattices like the octet. For design purposes, it is critical to understand how to tune the relative density (RD) to obtain desired mechanical properties. This study investigates the mechanical response of Ti-6Al-4V gyroid structures, spanning a broad range of RDs (0.03–0.90), unit cell sizes (1–4 cm), and sheet thicknesses (0.2–7.8 mm). Results demonstrate that the classical Gibson-Ashby power law scaling between RD and modulus and yield stress does not adequately capture the response over a wide range of RDs, nor does it extrapolate correctly to the fully dense solid. Analytical models, in concert with experimental results and high-fidelity finite element calculations, show that the deviation from Gibson-Ashby reflects a transition from structure-dominated to material-dominated behavior. Distinctions are drawn between scaling relationships and property-porosity models, and an analytical model is proposed to better capture the evolution of mechanical properties with RD. These observations are mirrored in other architected topologies, like the octet, and highlight the importance of understanding the relationship between mechanical properties and geometry for design purposes.

Materials science↗

Thermodynamics of Bimetallic Joints between Titanium and Tantalum Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LBPF) is currently the most mature metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology. While it does not have the same flexibility as directed energy deposition techniques to produce compositional gradients, LPBF can still be used to generate bimetallic parts by depositing one metal on a build plate made of another. Here, in this study, we print combinations of Ti-6Al-4V with Ta and characterize defects that occur at the interface. We use thermodynamic modeling to explain the formation of keyhole porosity and solidification cracks when Ta is built on a Ti baseplate, and the lack of defects when the materials are reversed. By understanding the mechanisms that lead to defect formation, the methodology demonstrated here can be applied to other material systems to efficiently design bimetallic LPBF processes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Relative susceptibility of titanium alloys to hot-salt stress-corrosion

Susceptibility of titanium alloys to hot-salt stress-corrosion cracking increased as follows: Ti-2Al-11Sn-5Zr-0.2Si(679), Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo(6242), Ti-6Al-4V(64), Ti-6Al-4V-3Co(643), Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V(811), and Ti-13V-11Cr-3A1(13-11-3). The Ti-5Al-6Sn-2Zr-1Mo-0.25Si(5621S) alloy was both the least and most susceptible depending on heat treatment. Such rankings can be drastically altered by heat-to-heat and processing variations. Residual compressive stresses and cyclic exposures also reduce susceptibility to stress-corrosion. Simulated turbine-engine compressor environmental variables such as air velocity, pressure, dewpoint, salt concentration, and salt deposition temperature have only minor effects. Detection of substantial concentrations of hydrogen in all corroded alloys confirmed the existence of a hydrogen embrittlement mechanism.

Gray, H. R.↗

Beryllium heat shield technology in the area of thermal protection devices

For future space applications, it is important that thermal protection systems be reusable for space shuttle flights. Beryllium offers a unique combination of properties for use as a heat shield material (stiffness, lightweight, ability to absorb heat). In order to adequately test these properties, it was necessary to fabricate heat shields. The concept used was a two-section test panel 99.1 x 99.1 cm (39 x 39 inch) with each section made of two 0.051 cm (0.020 inch) thick beryllium corrugations brazed together as a mirror image, with titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) used as standoffs to support the panel structure. The work prior to fabrication included brazability of both beryllium and titanium, forming of beryllium and titanium, machining processes involving beryllium and chem-milling beryllium. Sub-scale samples were made of all details before actual fabrication of the large panel. The full scale test panel was hot-formed at 950 K, chem-milled to 0.041 + or - 0.005 cm (0.016 + or - 0.002 inches), trimmed, vacuum brazed, drilled and assembled.

Muhl, A. E.↗

The degradation of space shuttle TPS metals in dissociated oxygen.

The interaction of space shuttle orbiter Thermal Protection System (TPS) metals with the chemical environment to which it is exposed during reentry is considered with emphasis on the effects of dissociated oxygen. Experimental results comparing the interactions of atomic (dissociated) and molecular oxygen with five candidate shuttle TPS metals, Ni-20Cr-2ThO2, Ni-20Cr-3.5Al-2ThO2, Ni-16Cr-15Fe-2Mn-.5Si-.3La-2ThO2, Haynes Alloy Number 188, and Ti-6Al-4V at their maximum planned use temperature are presented. As measured by metal recession, weight change, rate of oxide scale formation, and scale spalling, the first four metals show enhanced degradation in a dissociated oxygen environment. The enhanced degradation appears to result from differing rates of alloy constituent reactions in the two environments. The dissociated oxygen environmental tests are found to better assess the usefulness of shuttle skin materials for the planned mission than do conventional molecular (either flowing or static) oxidation experiments.-

Gilbreath, W. P.↗

Dimensional stability and micromechanical properties of materials for use in an Orbiting Astronomical Observatory.

This paper considers the problem of irreversible dimensional changes of the order of one thousandth of an inch per inch in several candidate materials for orbiting observatories. Although there are a number of potential sources for such dimensional changes, those given major consideration here are applied stresses and residual stresses. Results of room-temperature microyield strength (MYS) and microcreep tests to detect permanent strains associated with both short- and long-duration loading are reported for several engineering materials, including four aluminum alloys (2024, 5456, 6061, and 2014), I400 beryllium, TZM molybdenum, AZ31 magnesium, two titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-5Al-2.5Sn), 321 stainless steel, a graphite/epoxy composite, and low-expansion glass ceramics. The data indicate that: metallic materials have no true elastic limit; the MYS cannot be predicted reliably from, and is appreciably less than, the conventional yield strength: significant microcreep and stress relaxation can occur at stresses somewhat below the MYS.

Marschall, C. W.↗

Development of the weld-braze joining process

A joining process, designated weld-brazing, was developed which combines resistance spot welding and brazing. Resistance spot welding is used to position and aline the parts, as well as to establish a suitable faying-surface gap for brazing. Fabrication is then completed at elevated temperature by capillary flow of the braze alloy into the joint. The process was used successfully to fabricate Ti-6Al-4V alloy joints by using 3003 aluminum braze alloy and should be applicable to other metal-braze systems. Test results obtained on single-overlap and hat-stiffened panel specimens show that weld-brazed joints were superior in tensile shear, stress rupture, fatigue, and buckling compared with joints fabricated by conventional means. Another attractive feature of the process is that the brazed joint is hermetically sealed by the braze material, which may eliminate many of the sealing problems encountered with riveted or spot welded structures. The relative ease of fabrication associated with the weld-brazing process may make it cost effective over conventional joining techniques.

Bales, T. T.↗

Correlation of creep rate with microstructural changes during high temperature creep

The techniques of electron microscopy were used to examine the microstructural changes which occur during primary creep for two important types of engineering alloys: (1) alloys strengthened by solid-solution additions, and (2) dispersion-strengthened alloys. The metals chosen for study are unalloyed titanium, Ti-6Al-4V, and the cobalt-base alloy, Haynes 188. Results to date on NGR 47-004-108 show that development of prior dislocation substructure in Haynes 188 by 10% prestrain and annealing for one hour at 1800 F increases the time to reach 0.5% creep strain at 1600 F by more than an order of magnitude for creep stresses from 3 to 20 ksi. For creep at 1800 F, similar results were obtaind for stresses above 7 ksi, but the prior substructure decreases creep resistance below 7 ksi. This effect appears to be related to instability of grain structure at 1800 F in prestrained material.

Young, C. T.↗

A study of crack closure in fatigue

Crack closure phenomenon in fatigue was studied by using a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. The occurrence of crack closure was directly measured by an electrical-potential method, and indirectly by load-strain measurement. The experimental results showed that the onset of crack closure depends on both the stress ratio, and the maximum stress intensity factor. No crack closure was observed for stress ratio, greater than 0.3 in this alloy. A two-dimensional elastic model was used to explain the behavior of the recorded load-strain curves. Closure force was estimated by using this model. Yield level stress was found near the crack tip. Based on this estimated closure force, the crack opening displacement was calculated. This result showed that onset of crack closure detected by electrical-potential measurement and crack-opening-displacement measurement is the same. The implications of crack closure on fatigue crack are considered. The experimental results show that crack closure cannot fully account for the effect of stress ratio, on crack growth, and that it cannot be regarded as the sole cause for delay.

Shih, T. T.↗

Effects of hot-salt stress corrosion on titanium alloys.

Susceptibility of titanium alloys to hot-salt stress-corrosion cracking increased as follows: Ti-2Al-11Sn-5Zr-1Mo-0.2Si (679), Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo (6242), Ti-6Al-4V (64), Ti-6Al-4V-3Co (643), Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V (811), and Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al (13-11-3). The Ti-5Al-6Sn-2Zr-1Mo-0.25Si (5621S) alloy was both the least and most susceptible, depending on heat treatment. Such rankings can be drastically altered by heat-to-heat variations and processing conditions. Residual compressive stresses reduce susceptibility to stress-corrosion. Detection of substantial concentrations of hydrogen in all corroded alloys confirmed the generality of a previously proposed hydrogen embrittlement mechanism.

Gray, H. R.↗

NERVA irradiation program. GTR 23, volume 1: Combined effects of reactor radiation and cryogenic temperature on NERVA structural materials

Specimens fabricated from structural materials that were candidates for certain NERVA applications were irradiated in liquid nitrogen (LN2), liquid hydrogen (LH2), water, and air. The specimens irradiated in LN2 were stored in LN2 and finally tested in LN2, or at some higher temperature in a few instances. The specimens irradiated in LH2 underwent an unplanned warmup while in storage so this portion of the test was lost; some specimens were tested in LN2 but none were tested in LH2. The Ground Test Reactor was the radiation source. The test specimens consisted mainly of tensile and fracture toughness specimens of several different materials, but other types of specimens such as tear, flexure, springs, and lubricant were also irradiated. Materials tested include Hastelloy X, Al, Ni steel, steel, Be, ZrC, Ti-6Al-4V, CuB, and Ti-5Al-2.5Sn.

Mcdaniel, R. H.↗