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DOE OSTI2018

The Tail does not Determine the Size of the Giant

The size of the giant component in the configuration model, measured by the asymptotic fraction of vertices in the component, is given by a well-known expression involving the generating function of the degree distribution. In this note, we argue that the distribution over small degrees is more important for the size of the giant component than the precise distribution over very large degrees. In particular, the tail behavior of the degree distribution does not play the same crucial role for the size of the giant as it does for many other properties of the graph. Upper and lower bounds for the component size are derived for an arbitrary given distribution over small degrees d≤L and given expected degree, and numerical implementations show that these bounds are close already for small values of L. On the other hand, examples illustrate that, for a fixed degree tail, the component size can vary substantially depending on the distribution over small degrees.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2017

Characteristics of Non-metallic Inclusions in Steel Obtained from Different-Sized Samplers

To determine the effect of sampler size on the detection of inclusions in liquid steel, four different-sized samplers were designed for industrial sampling from a continuous casting tundish. The samples were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. With increasing sample size, the cooling rate of the sample and velocity for particle engulfment decreased. The extent of encapsulation of complex inclusions increased from 0 pct with the smallest sampler to 48.2 pct with the largest sampler. In the samplers that cooled at 41.2 and 26.7 K s{sup −1}, the major inclusions were calcium aluminates; in the larger samplers, which cooled more slowly at 8.2 and 1.0 K s{sup −1}, the complex inclusions predominately comprised Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} + (Ca, Mn)S and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} + CaS, respectively. The sizes of the sulfides gradually increased with increasing sampler size; for example, the sulfide average diameter increased from 2.5 to 3.5 μm when the sampler inner diameter increased from 50 to 70 mm. The main direction of movement of the inclusions during the sampling process was upward.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2018

Gas Release Behavior of Cu-TiH{sub 2} Composite Powder and Its Application as a Blowing Agent to Fabricate Aluminum Foams with Low Porosity and Small Pore Size

Compared to traditional pore structure with high porosity (≥ 80 pct) and large pore size (≥ 3 mm), aluminum foams with low porosity (60 to 70 pct) and small pore size (≤ 2 mm) possess higher compressive property and formability. In order to achieve the goal of reducing pore size, Cu-TiH{sub 2} composite powder prepared by ball milling preoxidized TiH{sub 2} with Cu powder was used as a blowing agent. Its gas release behavior was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that the ball milling treatment can advance the gas release process and slow the gas release rate at the same time. All these changes are favorable to the reduction of porosity and pore size. Such Cu-TiH{sub 2} composite powder provides an alternative way to fabricate aluminum foams with low porosity and small pore size.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Simulated effects of sample size and grain neighborhood on the modeling of extreme value fatigue response

Assessing the size of representative volume elements (RVEs) for fatigue-related applications is challenging. A RVE relevant to random microstructure requires a volume of material that is sufficiently large to capture the grain/phase heterogeneity that captures all statistical moments of the distribution of the driving force for fatigue crack formation at “hot spot” grains. Consequently, the large size of a microstructure RVE required to study fatigue phenomena is largely computationally intractable and difficult to explore. A more realistic objective in this work is to systematically study, as a function of the size of a statistical sample of microstructure, trends towards convergence of the simulated distribution of driving force for fatigue crack formation. Our present work accordingly leverages the recently developed open-source PRISMS-Fatigue framework to examine the trends in convergence of extreme value distributions (EVD) of Fatigue Indicator Parameters (FIPs) in progressively larger polycrystalline microstructure realizations of FCC Al alloy 7075-T6 using crystal plasticity finite element method simulations. The results are compared to the traditional method in which ensembles of statistical volume elements (SVEs) are simulated to build up statistics intended to approximate those associated with a larger volume of material. The convergence of EVDs with increase of size of a SVE of microstructure is closely related to the extent of grain nearest neighbor (NN) interactions. Accordingly, the sensitivity of the local micromechanical response at hot spot grains is quantitatively investigated by systematically varying the orientations of NN grains. Results indicate that SVEs with cubic crystallographic texture tend towards convergence of the EVD of FIPs with tens of thousands of grains while the random and rolled textures require larger volumes. Simple relationships based on microstructure parameters (e.g., Schmid Factor, grain size, NN misorientation) do not completely correlate to fatigue hot spot grains. Finally, the sensitivity of the extreme value fatigue response at hot spot grains extends to the 3rd NN when a single neighborhood grain orientation is altered.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Investigation of grain size and geometrically necessary dislocation density dependence of flow stress in Mg-4Al by using nanoindentation

Models for grain size dependence of flow stress typically ignore contributions from geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) in the grain boundary regions. Ashby had proposed the following equation for flow stress (τ) as a function of grain size (d) and effective plastic strain ($\bar{ε}$): $τ = τ_{0} + C'G\sqrt{^{b\bar{ε}}_{d}}$ using an unknown empirical coefficient, C’, In this study, the coefficient, C’, and equation for the grain size dependence of flow stress were investigated in Mg-4Al using nanoindentation. C’ ranges from 1.4 to 7.11 that is related to the hardness difference (∆H0) between the adjacent grains as $C' + 0.62\sqrt{ΔH_{0}}$. Ashby equation was used to predict uniaxial stress-strain curves in grain sizes of 55 µm, 187 µm, and 333 µm. The results showed lower flow stress and lower hardening rate compared to experimentally measured tensile stress-strain response. The discrepancy seems to be a result of hardening effect of SSDs. Here, we propose a modified Ashby equation that takes into account the hardening effect of SSDs and GNDs separately, resulting in a better agreement between calculated and experimentally measured values. This analysis demonstrates estimation of uniaxial stress-strain response using nanoindentation measurements that captures effects of grain size, and strain hardening from SSDs and GNDs. The combination of the revised equation and nanoindentation method will enable rapid exploration of stress-strain response of a diverse range of single-phase polycrystalline alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2011

Evaluation of moist processes during intense precipitation in km-scale NWP models using remote sensing and in-situ data: Impact of microphysics size distribution assumptions

This study investigates the sensitivity of moist processes and surface precipitation during three extreme precipitation events over Belgium to the representation of rain, snow and hail size distributions in a bulk one-moment microphysics parameterisation scheme. Sensitivities included the use of empirically derived relations to calculate the slope parameter and diagnose the intercept parameter of the exponential snow and rain size distributions and sensitivities to the treatment of hail/graupel. A detailed evaluation of the experiments against various high temporal resolution and spatially distributed observational data was performed to understand how moist processes responded to the implemented size distribution modifications. Net vapor consumption by microphysical processes was found to be unaffected by snow or rain size distribution modifications, while it was reduced replacing formulations for hail by those typical for graupel, mainly due to intense sublimation of graupel. Cloud optical thickness was overestimated in all experiments and all cases, likely due to overestimated snow amounts. The overestimation slightly deteriorated by modifying the rain and snow size distributions due to increased snow depositional growth, while it was reduced by including graupel. The latter was mainly due to enhanced cloud water collection by graupel and reduced snow depositional growth. Radar reflectivity and cloud optical thickness could only be realistically represented by inclusion of graupel during a stratiform case, while hail was found indispensable to simulate the vertical reflectivity profile and the surface precipitation structure. Precipitation amount was not much altered by any of the modifications made and the general overestimation was only decreased slightly during a supercell convective case.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Ash reduction strategies in corn stover facilitated by anatomical and size fractionation

There is growing interest internationally to produce fuels from renewable biomass resources. Inorganic components of biomass feedstocks, referred to collectively as ash, damage equipment and decrease yields in thermal conversion processes, and decrease feedstock value for biochemical conversion processes. Decreasing the ash content of feedstocks improves conversion efficiency and lowers process costs. Because physiological ash is unevenly distributed in the plant, mechanical processes can be used to separate fractions of the plant based on ash content. This study focuses on the ash separation that can be achieved by separating corn stover by particle size and anatomical fraction. Baled corn stover was hand-separated into anatomical fractions, ground to <19.1 mm, and size separated using six sieves ranging from 9.5 to 0.150 mm. Size fractions were analyzed for total ash content and ash composition. Particle size distributions observed for the anatomical fractions varied considerably. Cob particles were primarily 2.0 mm or greater, while most of the sheath and husk particles were 2.0 mm and smaller. Particles of leaves greater than 0.6 mm contained the greatest amount of total ash, ranging from approximately 8 to 13% dry weight of the total original material, while the fractions with particles smaller than 0.6 mm contained less than 2% of the total ash of the original material. As a result, based on the overall ash content and the elemental ash, specific anatomical and size fractions can be separated to optimize the feedstocks being delivered to biofuels conversion processes and minimize the need for more expensive ash reduction treatments.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Effect of particle size and moisture on flow performance of loblolly pine anatomical fractions: Experimental findings and model predictions

The rising energy demand has highlighted biomass as a promising next-generation energy source. However, commercializing biomass-derived energy faces challenges, particularly in handling biomass feedstock. Factors like particle size, shape, moisture content, and surface roughness significantly impact biomass flowability. This study addresses a crucial knowledge gap by examining the effects of particle size and moisture content on the flow behavior and shear properties of different anatomical fractions of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). The bulk shear behavior was examined using a Schulze ring shear tester, while flow performance was tested through gravity-driven flow experiments in a variable wedge-shape hopper. Results were incorporated into empirical and machine learning-based flow prediction models to evaluate their accuracy and limitations. The study found that samples with higher moisture content show higher unconfined yield strength. The critical arching distance increased with particle size, e.g., from approximately 13 and 33 mm for 2- and 6-mm whole chips, respectively at a 32-degree inclination angle. Conversely, the flow rate decreased for a given hopper opening as particle size increased. For instance, at a 60-mm hopper opening and a 32-degree inclination angle, the mass flow rates for 2- and 6-mm whole chips were 7.83 and 6.42 tonne/h, respectively. The empirical model consistently overpredicted the mass flow rate for all anatomical fractions, while the machine learning model more accurately predicted the central tendency of flow rate but was insensitive to varying tissue proportions. These novel findings provide comprehensive characterization of anatomical fractions, reveal significant combined effects of particle size and moisture content on biomass flow behavior, and demonstrate a better predictive accuracy of a machine learning model, all of which are useful for optimizing material handling strategies and biomass utilization technologies in the industry.

09 - BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2014

Perrhenate incorporation into binary mixed sodalites: The role of anion size and implications for technetium-99 sequestration

Perrhenate (ReO 4 - ), as a TcO 4 - analogue, was incorporated into mixed-anion sodalites from binary solutions containing ReO 4 - and a competing anion X n- (Cl - , CO 3 2- , SO 4 2- , MnO 4 - , or WO 4 2- ). For this study, our objective was to determine the extent of solid solution formation and the dependence of competing ion selectivity on ion size. Using equivalent aqueous concentrations of the anions (ReO 4 - /X n- molar ratio = 1:1), we synthesized mixed-anion sodalites from zeolite and NaOH at 90 °C for 96 h. The resulting solids were characterized by bulk chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy to determine crystal structure, chemical composition, morphology, and rhenium (Re) oxidation state. Rhenium in the solid phase occurred predominately as Re(VII)O 4 - in the sodalites, which have a primitive cubic pattern in the space group P43n. The refined unit-cell parameters of the mixed sodalites ranged from 8.88 to 9.15 Å and showed a linear dependence on the size and mole fraction of the incorporated anion(s). The ReO 4 - selectivity, represented by its distribution coefficient (K d ), increased in the following order: Cl - < NO 3 - < MnO 4 - and CO 3 2- < SO 4 2- < WO 4 2- for the monovalent and divalent anions, respectively. The relationship between the ReO 4 - distribution coefficient and competing anion size was nonlinear. When the difference in ionic radius (DIR) between ReO 4 - and X n - (n = 1 or 2) was greater than ~ 12%, then ReO 4 - incorporation into sodalite was insignificant. The results imply that anion size is the major factor that determines sodalite anion compositions. Given the similarity in chemical behavior and anion size, ReO 4 - serves as a suitable analogue for TcO 4 - under oxidizing conditions where both elements are expected to remain as oxyanions in the + 7 oxidation state.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2023

Effect of particle size on the capture of uranium oxide colloidal particles from aqueous suspensions via high-gradient magnetic filtration

The effectiveness of High Gradient Magnetic Filtration (HGMF) in capturing uranium oxide particles from suspensions was investigated in this study. Two sets of experiments were performed to evaluate the importance of size on the capture of uranium oxide particles. The first considered two batches sieved into size bins of< 5, 5–10, 10–15, and 15–20 µm, while the second was performed using two suspensions with diameters smaller than 1.0 µm and between 1.0 and 1.5 µm. Iron oxide experiments, with particles between 0.3 and 0.8 µm, were performed for calibration purposes. In all experiments, a surfactant (Triton-X100 or sodium dodecyl sulfate) was used to prevent particle aggregation and limit the influence of non-magnetic capture mechanisms. A magnetic field of approximately 1.1 Tesla was generated using a water cooled electromagnet. HGMF was performed using tubular filters packed with ferromagnetic stainless-steel wool. Of the initial four uranium oxide particle sizes, magnetic capture was only observed for particles with a diameter of less than 5 µm, while larger particles experienced no magnetic and minimal total capture. For particles with diameters smaller than 1.0 µm and between 1.0 and 1.5 µm, capture efficiencies increased by 39 ± 9% and 34 ± 6% respectively, solely due to the magnetic field. Although the magnetic force is proportional to particle diameter, the capture efficiency decreased as diameter increased. So these results suggest that Brownian diffusion, which is influential for micron sized particles and increases with decreasing particle size, is acting in conjunction with the magnetic force to influence the efficacy of HGMF for uranium oxide. This important finding underscores the effectiveness of Brownian diffusion in increasing the rate of collision between particles and collector fibers. A stochastic trajectory model was developed to incorporate the influence of Brownian motion on particle behavior and filter removal efficiency. Modeling results are discussed and compared for uranium and iron oxide particles.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2015

Size-segregated emissions and metal content of vehicle-emitted particles as a function of mileage: Implications to population exposure

The study aims at investigating the characteristics (size distribution, active surface and metal content) of particles emitted by cars as a function of mileage using a novel methodology for characterizing particulate emissions captured by Exhaust Gas Suspension (EGS). EGS was obtained by passing the exhaust gases through a container of deionized water. EGS analysis was performed using laser granulometry, electron scanning microscopy, and high resolution mass spectrometry. Implications of the differences in key features of the emitted particles on population exposure were investigated using numerical simulation for estimating size-segregated PM deposition across human respiratory tract (HRT). It was found that vehicle mileage, age and the respective emissions class have almost no effect on the size distribution of the exhaust gas particulate released into the environment; about half of the examined vehicles with low mileage were found to release particles of aerodynamic diameter above 10 μm. The exhaust gas particulate detected in the EGS of all cars can be classified into three major size classes: (1) 0.1–5 µm – soot and ash particles, metals (Au, Pt, Pd, Ir); (2) 10–30 µm – metal (Cr, Fe, Cu, Zr, Ni) and ash particles; (3) 400–1,000 µm – metal (Fe, Cr, Pb) and ash particles. Newer vehicles with low mileage are substantial sources of soot and metal particles with median diameter of 200 nm with a higher surface area (up to 89,871.16 cm{sup 2}/cm{sup 3}). These tend to deposit in the lower part of the human respiratory tract. - Highlights: • Car mileage has virtually no effect on the size of the solid particles released. • Newer diesel vehicles emit particles of lower aerodynamic diameter. • Particle active surface emitted by newer vehicles is on average 3 times higher. • Real-life emissions were translated into actual internal PM exposure.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Tailoring Cu-Zr gradient nanoglass structures: Influence of nanoparticle size and cooling rates on glass-glass interfaces

The study of gradient nanoglasses (GNGs) has gained attention due to their unique mechanical properties and potential applications in advanced materials. This study employs molecular dynamics simulations to synthesize a GNG using Cu-Zr metallic glass nanoparticles (NPs) sized from 3 to 15 nm. The NPs were produced by melting and quenching metallic clusters at a relatively slow quench rate of 10 9 K/s. The synthesis of GNG is elucidated along with the characterization of its heterogeneous metallic glass nanostructure. A seamless GNG structure is formed through cold compression of Cu 64 Zr 36 amorphous NPs of varying sizes. The influence of NP size on the GNG structure is investigated, utilizing deeply relaxed NPs, which exhibit a characteristic Cu segregation pattern on their surfaces. The results highlight an increase in structural heterogeneity due to heterogeneous mass transport and the development of local composition and density variations caused by Cu segregation at glass-glass interfaces (GGIs). A reduction in NP size is correlated with decreased Cu atomic displacements and local density at GGIs, suggesting that larger NPs may produce stronger GGIs. This research presents a novel methodology for synthesizing heterogeneous metallic glasses, demonstrating the capacity to control and customize nanostructure heterogeneity through the manipulation of NP sizes and cooling rates. Furthermore, these findings enhance our understanding of structural evolution during nanoglass synthesis and lay the foundation for further exploration in nanomaterial synthesis and characterization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Exploring the relationship between solvent-assisted ball milling, particle size, and sintering temperature in garnet-type solid electrolytes

Garnet-type solid electrolytes, such as Li 6.4 La 3 Zr 1.4 Ta 0.6 O 12 (LLZTO), are promising materials for solid-state batteries, but processing remains a challenge, in part due to the high sintering temperature required for densification. Additionally, this temperature can be lowered by decreasing the initial particle size via solvent-assisted ball milling, but the relationship between solvent choice, particle properties, sintering behavior, and ionic conductivity is not well understood. In this work, we systematically explore these parameters, showing that milling in commonly used protic solvents, such as alcohols, effectively decreases the particle size but results in lithium loss (through Li + /H + exchange) that leads to poor sintering. By contrast, milling in aprotic solvents with surfactant reduces the particle size to ~220 nm without lithium loss, enabling the fabrication of dense samples (5.1 g/cm 3 ) with good ionic conductivity (0.43 mS/cm at 25 °C) at a lower sintering temperature (1000 °C). We compare ionic conductivities and activation energies for samples prepared with different particle sizes and sintering temperatures and use multiphase-field simulations to identify the mass transport and microstructural mechanisms responsible for the observed sintering dependence on particle size. These results further clarify the relationship between processing parameters and performance and represent important progress toward overcoming fabrication challenges for these materials.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Optical phonons in nanostructured thin films composed by zincblende zinc selenide quantum dots in strong size-quantization regime: Competition between phonon confinement and strain-related effects

Raman scattering in combination with optical spectroscopy and structural studies by X-ray diffraction was employed to investigate the phonon confinement and strain-induced effects in 3D assemblies of variable-size zincblende ZnSe quantum dots close packed in thin film form. Nanostructured thin films were synthesized by colloidal chemical approach, while tuning of the nanocrystal size was enabled by post-deposition thermal annealing treatment. In-depth insights into the factors governing the observed trends of the position and half-width of the 1LO band as a function of the average QD size were gained. The overall shifts in the position of 1LO band were found to result from an intricate compromise between the influence of phonon confinement and lattice strain-induced effects. Both contributions were quantitatively and exactly modeled. Accurate assignments of the bands due to surface optical (SO) modes as well as of the theoretically forbidden transverse optical (TO) modes were provided, on the basis of reliable physical models (such as the dielectric continuum model of Ruppin and Englman). The size-dependence of the ratio of intensities of the TO and LO modes was studied and discussed as well. Relaxation time characterizing the phonon decay processes in as-deposited samples was found to be approximately 0.38 ps, while upon post-deposition annealing already at 200 °C it increases to about 0.50 ps. Both of these values are, however, significantly smaller than those characteristic for a macrocrystalline ZnSe sample. - Graphical abstract: Optical phonons in nanostructured thin films composed by zincblende zinc selenide quantum dots in strong size-quantization regime: competition between phonon confinement and strain-related effects. - Highlights: • Phonon confinement vs. strain-induced effects in ZnSe 3D QD assemblies were studied. • Shifts of the 1LO band result from an intricate compromise between the two effects. • SO and theoretically forbidden TO modes were accurately assigned. • Phonon relaxation time in as-deposited and annealed samples is 0.38 ps and 0.50 ps. • Both values are significantly smaller than in macrocrystalline ZnSe sample.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2024

Influence of porous aluminosilicate grain size materials in experimental and modelling Cs + adsorption kinetics and wastewater column process

This paper focuses on the influence of the grain size of a geopolymer based adsorbent on its Cs + adsorption performances both in batch and fixed-bed process. The geopolymer phase was used as a binder to support NaY zeolite particle in a 20 wt% charged porous composite with 160 m 2 .g –1 of porous surface area. These samples were shaped with three grain sizes (50 /100/500 µm) to remove 80–90 mg/g of Cs + in batch and column operations. After their microstructural and porous characterizations, their efficiency and adsorption characteristics were investigated through adsorption isotherms and kinetic in the two processes. While the grain size has no influence on the maximal extraction capacity of the adsorbent, it strongly affects the sorption kinetic. By coupling experimental data and a modelling approach, the complex sorption mechanism was highlighted, suggesting a new insight of the contaminant sorption kinetic. Then, comparison of batch and column adsorption experiments illustrates the detailed explanation of various process parameters for column study. The results show challenges for fixed-bed column utilization by the choice of the appropriate grain size as a compromise between the material sorption kinetic and hydrodynamic considerations. Furthermore, this is of high importance to more accurately optimize the design of column adsorption to assess the transport of Cs+ in multi-porous tailored grain size materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Impact of mixed grain size sediment input on braided river Morphodynamics: Insights from experimental and numerical modeling

The rate of sediment supply has significant impacts on river morphology, making it crucial to understand the geomorphic changes and grain size distribution dynamics in rivers. However, the effects of varying grain size sediment input on morphological changes in braided channels remain poorly understood. This study is the first to investigate the bar development and sediment sorting processes in braided channels with non-uniform sediment inputs using both numerical and experimental approaches. We applied a two-dimensional numerical model, Nays2DH to confirm and generalize experimental results. The model reproduced key experiment results, including 1) stream elevation changes, and 2) grain size distribution. Using this validated model, we explored the morphological changes and sorting process in a braided river with sediment inputs. The numerical experiments demonstrate that sediment input controls the elevation of the stream bed and the grain size distribution. Notably, both the elevation and grain-size distribution become relatively stable in downstream of the channel. Additionally, the simulation results suggest that an increased sediment supply leads to greater channel complexity, with bed surface armoring decreasing.

Nays2DH↗

DOE OSTI2015

Effects of combined silicon and molybdenum alloying on the size and evolution of microalloy precipitates in HSLA steels containing niobium and titanium

The effects of combined silicon and molybdenum alloying additions on microalloy precipitate formation in austenite after single- and double-step deformations below the austenite no-recrystallization temperature were examined in high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels microalloyed with titanium and niobium. The precipitation sequence in austenite was evaluated following an interrupted thermomechanical processing simulation using transmission electron microscopy. Large (~ 105 nm), cuboidal titanium-rich nitride precipitates showed no evolution in size during reheating and simulated thermomechanical processing. The average size and size distribution of these precipitates were also not affected by the combined silicon and molybdenum additions or by deformation. Relatively fine (< 20 nm), irregular-shaped niobium-rich carbonitride precipitates formed in austenite during isothermal holding at 1173 K. Based upon analysis that incorporated precipitate growth and coarsening models, the combined silicon and molybdenum additions were considered to increase the diffusivity of niobium in austenite by over 30% and result in coarser precipitates at 1173 K compared to the lower alloyed steel. Deformation decreased the size of the niobium-rich carbonitride precipitates that formed in austenite. - Highlights: • We examine combined Si and Mo additions on microalloy precipitation in austenite. • Precipitate size tends to decrease with increasing deformation steps. • Combined Si and Mo alloying additions increase the diffusivity of Nb in austenite.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2018

The effect of cell-size dispersity on the mechanical properties of closed-cell aluminum foam

Highlights: • The effect of cell-size dispersity on the Young’s modulus of foam was investigated through experiments and simulations • Crushing experiments were conducted on 27 foam specimens in order measure the relative Young’s modulus • Three types of numerical models, including monodispersed, bidispersed and polydispersed models were studied • The numerical convergence on the model size for different models was also studied • The difference among numerical results obtained from the three models was insignificant - Abstract: The mechanical properties of open-celled and closed-celled metallic foam are strongly influenced by the cellular microstructure and material properties of the base material from which the foam is made. The present study investigated the microstructure and mechanical properties of ALPORAS closed-cell Al foam. In particular, the effect of cell-size dispersity on the Young's modulus of foam was investigated through crushing experiments and numerical simulations. Crushing experiments were first conducted on two mutually perpendicular directions. Numerical models of varying cell-size dispersity and complexity were subsequently developed, including the monodispersed model that is based on the Kelvin structure, the bidispersed model, and the polydispersed model that is based on the random Laguerre tessellation algorithm. The numerical models were discretized using shell elements, and the simulations were conducted using the ABAQUS finite element method software. Relative Young's moduli with various relative densities were predicted, and the numerical convergence on the model size was studied accordingly. Numerical results obtained from all three numerical models developed were found to overestimate the experimental results by a factor of approximately 3. The difference between the numerical and experimental results can be attributed to the difference in detailed microstructural characteristics. Furthermore, the difference among numerical results obtained from the three models was insignificant.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗