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At least 19 records

Software Performs Complex Design Analysis

Designers use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to gain greater understanding of the fluid flow phenomena involved in components being designed. They also use finite element analysis (FEA) as a tool to help gain greater understanding of the structural response of components to loads, stresses and strains, and the prediction of failure modes. Automated CFD and FEA engineering design has centered on shape optimization, which has been hindered by two major problems: 1) inadequate shape parameterization algorithms, and 2) inadequate algorithms for CFD and FEA grid modification. Working with software engineers at Stennis Space Center, a NASA commercial partner, Optimal Solutions Software LLC, was able to utilize its revolutionary, one-of-a-kind arbitrary shape deformation (ASD) capability-a major advancement in solving these two aforementioned problems-to optimize the shapes of complex pipe components that transport highly sensitive fluids. The ASD technology solves the problem of inadequate shape parameterization algorithms by allowing the CFD designers to freely create their own shape parameters, therefore eliminating the restriction of only being able to use the computer-aided design (CAD) parameters. The problem of inadequate algorithms for CFD grid modification is solved by the fact that the new software performs a smooth volumetric deformation. This eliminates the extremely costly process of having to remesh the grid for every shape change desired. The program can perform a design change in a markedly reduced amount of time, a process that would traditionally involve the designer returning to the CAD model to reshape and then remesh the shapes, something that has been known to take hours, days-even weeks or months-depending upon the size of the model.

Source record↗

Arbitrary Shape Deformation in CFD Design

Sculptor(R) is a commercially available software tool, based on an Arbitrary Shape Design (ASD), which allows the user to perform shape optimization for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) design. The developed software tool provides important advances in the state-of-the-art of automatic CFD shape deformations and optimization software. CFD is an analysis tool that is used by engineering designers to help gain a greater understanding of the fluid flow phenomena involved in the components being designed. The next step in the engineering design process is to then modify, the design to improve the components' performance. This step has traditionally been performed manually via trial and error. Two major problems that have, in the past, hindered the development of an automated CFD shape optimization are (1) inadequate shape parameterization algorithms, and (2) inadequate algorithms for CFD grid modification. The ASD that has been developed as part of the Sculptor(R) software tool is a major advancement in solving these two issues. First, the ASD allows the CFD designer to freely create his own shape parameters, thereby eliminating the restriction of only being able to use the CAD model parameters. Then, the software performs a smooth volumetric deformation, which eliminates the extremely costly process of having to remesh the grid for every shape change (which is how this process had previously been achieved). Sculptor(R) can be used to optimize shapes for aerodynamic and structural design of spacecraft, aircraft, watercraft, ducts, and other objects that affect and are affected by flows of fluids and heat. Sculptor(R) makes it possible to perform, in real time, a design change that would manually take hours or days if remeshing were needed.

Landon, Mark↗

Complete Equations of State for Cyclotetramethylene Tetranitramine

Complete equations of state for the volumetric deformation of the β-polymorph of cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (β-HMX) have been derived from its Helmholtz free energy. Dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations were used to compute the dependence of the frequencies of the vibrational normal modes on specific volume. Here, the normal mode frequencies were used directly to generate both a tabular equation of state and an approximate model where the sum over normal mode frequencies is replaced by a set of five Debye models.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Cohesive instability in elastomers: insights from a crosslinked Van der Waals fluid model

Abstract The resistance to volumetric deformations displayed by polymer networks is largely due to secondary and tertiary interactions between neighboring polymer chains. These interactions are both entropic and enthalpic in nature but are fundamentally different from the entropic forces that resist shearing in these networks. In this paper, we introduce a new depiction of elastomers as a crosslinked Van der Waals fluid. Starting from first principles, we develop constitutive equations that are implemented in a continuum model as well as a discrete network model. Our models predict that the failure of polymer networks may be driven by an instability in the underlying polymer bulk ‘fluid’ or by the breaking of polymer chains, depending on the loading path taken. The results of this study indicate that material failure in elastomers exposed to a purely triaxial state, such as in a poker chip experiment, may be driven by an entirely different mode of instability than those deformed in pure shear, such as in a uniaxial tension experiment.

Lamont, Samuel C.↗

Stress-Dependent Chemo-Mechanical Performance of Amorphous Si Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries upon Lithiation

Alloying-type anodes are significantly governed by their chemo-mechanical performance during the electrochemical cycling. The reaction-induced huge volumetric change of these anodes may cause material degradation and failure under mechanical constraints. Here, we investigate the stress-dependent lithiation behavior of amorphous Si (a-Si) anodes using molecular dynamics simulations. It is indicated that a-Si anodes can sustain higher hydrostatic stress than biaxial/uniaxial ones without the occurrence of mechanical failure. Thermodynamic and electrochemical calculations demonstrate that although the lithiation procedure also affects the thermodynamic stability of a-Si anodes, it is mainly dominated by the external mean stresses. Compressive stress is confirmed to destabilize a-Si anodes and further trigger their capacity fading. Compared with our atomistic simulations, previous continuum models underestimate the open-cell potentials of a-Si anodes, due to their ignored large volumetric deformation at higher stresses and Li concentrations. Finally, this computational study provides the intensive atomic-level understanding of the stress-dependent lithiation behavior of a-Si anodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Toughening mechanism in elastometer-modified epoxy resins: Part 1

Several plaques of Epon 828, cured with piperidine, modified with hycar(r) CTBN 1300X8, Hycar(R) CTBN 1300X13, and Hycar(R) CTBN 1300x15, and in some cases modified with biphenol A (BPA), yielded properly toughened epoxies with rubber particle diameters ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns. Fracture toughness experiments indicate that toughness was more a function of rubber content than the rubber particle size. Tensile volumetric behavior of the near resin exhibits two regions: an initial region where the increase in volume strain was due to the Poisson's effect, and a second region where a slower rate of increase in volume strain was due to shear deformation. Tensile volumetric deformation of an elastomer-modified epoxy exhibits the same type of behavior to that of the neat resin at low rates ( 3.2x0.01 sec(-1)). But at very high strain rates, which correspond more closely to the strain rates at the crack tip, there exists an increase in volume strain beyond the Poisson's effect. TEM, SEM and OM studies indicate that the rubber particles had voided. When a thin section from the deformed region is viewed under crossed-polarized light, shear bands are seen connecting voided rubber particles. From this information cavitation and enhanced shear band formation is proposed as the toughening mechanism.

Yee, A. F.↗

GRACE and GRACE Follow-On Gravity Observations of Intermediate-Depth Earthquakes Contrasted with Those of Shallow Events

Earthquakes involve mass redistribution within the solid Earth and the ocean, and as a result, perturb the Earth's gravitational field. For most of the shallow (<60 km) earthquakes with Mw > 8.0, the GRACE satellite gravity measurements suggest considerable volumetric disturbance of rocks. At a spatial scale of hundreds of km, the effect of volumetric change exceeds gravity change by vertical deformation; for example, negative gravity anomalies associated with volumetric expansion are characteristic patterns after shallow thrust events. In this study, however, we report contrasting observations of gravity change from two intermediate-depth (100–150 km) earthquakes of 2016 & 2017 Mw 8.0 (two combined) Papua New Guinea thrust faulting events and 2019 Mw 8.0 Peru normal faulting and highlight the importance of compressibility in earthquake deformation. The combined 2016/17 thrust events resulted in a positive gravity anomaly of 5–6 microGal around the epicenter, while the 2019 normal faulting produced a negative gravity anomaly of 3–4 microGal. Our modeling found that these gravity changes are manifestation of vertical deformation with limited volumetric change, distinct from gravity changes after the shallow earthquakes. The stronger resistance of rocks to volume change at intermediate-depth results in largely incompressible deformation and thus in a gravity change dominated by vertical deformation. In addition, malleable rocks under high pressure and temperature at depth facilitated substantial afterslip and/or fast viscoelastic relaxation causing additional vertical deformation and gravity change equivalent to the coseismic change. For the Papua New Guinea events, this means that postseismic relaxation enhanced coseismic uplift and relative sea level decrease.

Shin-Chan Han↗

Measurements of Surfactant Squeeze-out Using Magnetically-Levitated Liquid Bridges

Liquid bridges: Columns of liquid supported by two solid surfaces. These are generally opposing right circular cylinders in 0g. For a cylindrical bridge of length L and diameter d, in zero g, the maximum slenderness ratio Lambda [L/d] = pi [Rayleigh]. In the presence of gravity the cylindrical shape of an axisymmetric bridge tends to deform. Fluid has a volumetric magnetic susceptibility X. Magnetic levitation has numerous applications in studies of fluids, "soft" and "hard" condensed matter physics, and biophysics

Rosenblatt, Charles↗

Volumetric Density-Equalizing Reference Map with Applications

The density-equalizing map, a technique developed for cartogram creation, has been widely applied to data visualization but only for 2D applications. Here, we propose a novel method called the volumetric density-equalizing reference map (VDERM) for computing density-equalizing map for volumetric domains. Given a prescribed density distribution in a volumetric domain in $\mathbb{R}^3$, the proposed method continuously deforms the domain, with different volume elements enlarged or shrunk according to the density distribution. With the aid of the proposed method, medical and sociological data can be visualized via deformations of 3D objects. The method can also be applied to adaptive remeshing and shape modeling. Furthermore, by exploiting the time-dependent nature of the proposed method, applications to shape morphing can be easily achieved. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Volumetric additive manufacturing of shape memory polymers

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) capable of recovering from a deformed state through heating were 3D printed using volumetric additive manufacturing, which enabled the layerless, single-step fabrication of self-standing tripod and actuating gripper structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High tensile alloy of copper to mitigate current collector deformation in silicon electrodes for lithium-ion batteries

The volumetric changes of silicon electrodes, along with the strong adhesive properties of certain binders, can lead to plastic deformation of the current collector and create damage in the electrode coating. Here, in this study, we report a detailed study of silicon coatings on a high-tensile alloy (HTA) foil of copper with strength over twice that of conventional copper foils. The HTA current collectors with high mechanical strength can mitigate plastic deformation upon continuous cycling. At moderate areal capacities (2.5–3 mAh cm −2 ), conventional copper foils show significant wrinkling after only a few electrochemical cycles, whereas the HTA foils remain intact. We demonstrate viability of the HTA foils in large format xx6395 pouch cells, in which the HTA current collectors remain intact even at an areal capacity of 4.5 mAh cm −2 ; in contrast, wrinkles form in conventional copper current collectors increasing the likelihood of lithium plating. Computational studies show that stresses generated during cycling of silicon electrodes are very high in the current collector and at the current collector-coating interface, explaining the wrinkling of conventional Cu foils. Our studies highlight importance of current collector to solve the electrochemical and chemo-mechanical performance challenges associated with high-loading silicon electrodes.

Chemo-mechanical degradation↗

Stabilization of Preternatural Barium Oxidation States as an Unexpected Byproduct of β-Decay: Discovery of a New Halide Semiconductor Alloy

137 Cs has a wide range of roles in the nuclear industry. The solid material, safely encapsulated in CsCl as 137 CsCl, is stored as fission product waste from nuclear power production and legacy waste from nuclear weapons production; it has also served as a radiation source in food and sewage irradiators as well as medical devices. However, because of the solubility of the chloride salt and the relatively high specific activity of 137 Cs, damaged or broken capsules can lead to severe radiological accidents. Safe capsule design and material recycling are complicated by the unclear structural evolution during β-decay, which remains ambiguous due to the differing oxidation states of Cs (1+) and Ba (2+). Here, in this study, we use first-principles calculations to investigate the evolving structure–property relationships of Cs 1–x Ba x Cl during β-decay. Despite the well-established 2+ formal oxidation state of alkali-earth metals, we find that Ba 1+ can be stabilized in the form of a mixed-valence alloy at low concentrations. Specifically, we identify three regimes for the β-decay of 137 Cs into CsCl: Ba-doped CsCl (Ba ≤ 14%), wherein Ba has the expected 2+ oxidation state; Cs–Ba–Cl alloys, where Ba has a mix of the usual Ba 2+ and highly unusual Ba 1+ oxidation state in the form of a quasi-disordered mixed-valence alloy (Ba = 25%); and phase separation into a CsCl + BaCl 2 + Ba (m) mechanical mixture, where Ba reverts to its expected 2+ oxidation state (Ba > 25%). Surprisingly, the Cs 0.75 Ba 0.25 Cl mixed-valence alloy is a narrow indirect band gap semiconductor (1.05 eV) despite the insulating nature of both CsCl and BaCl 2 . It also exhibits strongly excitonic polarized optical properties, has glass-like ultralow thermal conductivity (directional average of 0.21 W/mK at 300 K), and shows greater resistance to deformation under both tensile and volumetric strengths compared with the original CsCl structure (e.g., shear and Young’s modulus of 9.04 and 31.62 GPa, respectively). These findings imply that transmutation of 137 Cs leads to highly unusual chemical bonding that stabilizes Ba 1+ in local regions of the quasi-disordered Cs 0.25 Ba 0.75 Cl, resulting in anomalous physical properties. Moreover, this discovery provides valuable insight for safe nuclear waste capsule design, which can aid in preventing environmental or human exposure to radioactive materials.

Fuhr, Addis S. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORN↗

A soft departure from jamming: the compaction of deformable granular matter under high pressures

Here, the high-pressure compaction of three-dimensional granular packings is simulated using a bonded particle model (BPM) to capture linear elastic deformation. In the model, grains are represented by a collection of point particles connected by bonds. A simple multibody interaction is introduced to control Poisson's ratio and the arrangement of particles on the surface of a grain is varied to model both high- and low-frictional grains. At low pressures, the growth in packing fraction and coordination number follows the expected behavior near jamming and exhibit friction dependence. As the pressure increases, deviations from the low-pressure power-law scaling emerge after the packing fraction grows by approximately 0.1 and results from simulations with different friction coefficients converge. These results are compared to predictions from traditional discrete element method simulations which, depending on the definition of packing fraction and coordination number, may only differ by a factor of two. As grains deform under compaction, the average volumetric strain and asphericity, a measure of the change in the shape of grains, are found to grow as power laws and depend heavily on the Poisson's ratio of the constituent solid. Larger Poisson's ratios are associated with less volumetric strain and more asphericity and the apparent power-law exponent of the asphericity may vary. The elastic properties of the packed grains are also calculated as a function of packing fraction. In particular, we find the Poisson's ratio near jamming is 1/2 but decreases to around 1/4 before rising again as systems densify.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A subdivision-stabilized B-spline mixed material point method

Subjected to external loadings, polymeric materials, e.g., biological tissues, hydrogels, and elastomers, may undergo extreme, nearly incompressible, (self-)contact deformations. For numerical modeling employing mesh-based techniques such as the finite element method (FEM), these deformations pose significant challenges due to large distortions in the deformed geometry, accuracy issues stemming from volumetric locking effects, and increased computational cost from complex contact searches. As an alternative to mesh-based methods, the material point method (MPM), a continuum-based particle technique, is gaining attention for its ability to handle extreme distortions and capture no-slip contact without added cost. For nearly incompressible material behaviors, while mixed formulations can address locking effects by treating displacements and pressure as independent fields, they can suffer from numerical instabilities close to the incompressibility limit due to the violation of the inf-sup condition, leading to inaccurate nodal pressure solutions. Here we propose an efficient and stable mixed B-spline material point method with highest achievable regularity for quasi-compressible polymeric materials. Using the two-scale relation of B-splines, we introduce a subdivision-stabilization for the two-field mixed MPM and obtain numerically stable, oscillation-free nodal solutions with equal-order interpolations with optimal regularity. Building on the Eulerian-Lagrangian nature of MPM, a previously-converged solution framework is adopted to mitigate issues related to cell-crossing and numerical fracture artifact present in standard MPM. We assess the stability and accuracy of the developed mixed MPM at large deformations for soft materials through the benchmark Cook’s membrane problem. Additionally, we test the robustness of the proposed MPM by modeling several examples, including the compression and indentation of a circular block into a quasi-compressible substrate and the twisting deformation of a rectangular block. The findings demonstrate the MPM’s capabilities for modeling practical soft material applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Gas Bubble Evolution in Polycrystalline UMo Fuels Under Elastic-Plastic Deformation: A Phase-Field Model With Crystal-Plasticity

In monolithic UMo fuels, the interaction between the Al cladding and large gas bubble volumetric swelling causes both elastic-plastic and creep deformation. In this work, a phase-field model of gas bubble evolution in polycrystalline UMo under elastic-plastic deformation was developed for studying the dynamic interaction between evolving gas bubble/voids and deformation. A crystal plasticity model, which assumes that the plastic strain rate is proportional to resolved shear stresses of dislocation slip systems on their slip planes, was used to describe plastic deformation in polycrystalline UMo. Xe diffusion and gas bubble evolution are driven by the minimization of chemical and deformation energies in the phase-field model, while evolving gas bubble structure was used to update the mechanical properties in the crystal plasticity model. With the developed model, we simulated the effect of gas bubble structures (different volume fractions and internal gas pressures) on stress-strain curves and the effect of local stresses on gas bubble evolution. The results show that 1) the effective Young’s modulus and yield stress decrease with the increase of gas bubble volume fraction; 2) the hardening coefficient increases with the increase of gas bubble volume fraction, especially for gas bubbles with higher internal pressure; and 3) the pressure dependence of Xe thermodynamic and kinetic properties in addition to the local stress state determine gas bubble growth or shrinkage. The simulated results can serve as a guide to improve material property models for macroscale fuel performance modeling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Volumetric and shear strain localization throughout triaxial compression experiments on rocks

Deformation localization is a widely observed, but rarely quantified process in the crust. Recent observations suggest that the localization of seismicity and fracture networks can help identify the approach to catastrophic failure. Here, we quantify the localization processes of the volumetric and deviatoric strain components in twelve triaxial compression experiments imaged with X-ray tomography. We capture three-dimensional images of the rock cores during triaxial compressing toward failure, and then calculate the local strain components using digital volume correlation. The divergence and curl of the incremental displacement vector field provide the volumetric and deviatoric components of the strain field. We quantify localization using the proportion of the rock occupied by high magnitudes of the volumetric and deviatoric strains, and the Gini coefficient of these high magnitude strains, which measures the deviation from a uniform process. We find that the vast majority, but not all, of the experiments experience strain localization toward failure. The rocks typically experience their maximum degree of strain localization not immediately preceding failure, but on average at 90% of the failure stress. The volumetric strain tends to localize more than the deviatoric strain. Finally, these observations support using the localization of the volumetric strain, along with the deviatoric strain, to identify the evolution of the precursory phase preceding earthquakes.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Interferometric SAR modelling of near surface data to improve geological model in the Surat Basin, Australia

Here we present a study on geophysical inverse modelling for subsurface structural properties of an unconventional hydrocarbon site that was monitored previously by Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology for surface deformation. A static three-dimensional geomodel along with extracted property maps replicates the depth of each underlying stratigraphic unit and structural feature with the density of each geological layer. We examine the hypothesis that integration of elastic properties of each formation layer with InSAR observations in a stratified elastic medium will lead to a viscoelastic geophysical inverse problem that can be solved to estimate fractional volume change at the reservoir level. Moreover, we examine synthetic scenarios in which the elastic properties of the formations are perturbed before determining the resulting impact on the rate of surface deformation. The results show that although the slope of underlying formations, their density and depth can define the extent and pattern of a deformation signal, their properties have a marginal impact on volumetric change compared to the dense network of shallow depth Coal Seam Gas (CSG) mining wells. Besides, it is also demonstrated that the inversion of InSAR deformation maps can resolve the uncertainties associated with low-resolution seismic interpretation as well as filling the data gaps within seismic acquisitions. A significant contribution of this investigation to the geological basin modelling involves a) introducing a remote and non-invasive technology such as InSAR to improve geophysical mapping of subsurface structures such as faults in areas with sparse or no reflective seismic information, and b) applying a multi-layer viscoelastic geophysical source model for an unconventional hydrocarbon reservoir such as CSG.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Molten-Metal Droplet Deposition on a Moving Substrate in Microgravity: Aiding the Development of Novel Technologies for Microelectronic Assembly

Driven by advancements in microelectronics manufacturing, this research investigates the oblique (non-axisymmetric) impact of liquid-metal droplets on flat substrates. The problem of interest is relevant to the development of the novel technology of on-demand dispension (printing) of microscopic solder deposits for the surface mounting of microelectronic devices. The technology, known as solder jetting, features on-demand deposition of miniature solder droplets (30 to 120 microns in diameter) in very fine, very accurate patterns using techniques analogous to those developed for the ink-jet printing industry. Despite its promise, severe limitations exist currently with regards to the throughput rates of the technology; some of these limitations are largely due to the lack of the capability for reliable prediction of solder bump positioning and shapes, especially under ballistic deposition conditions where the droplet impact phenomena are inherently three-dimensional. The study consists of a theoretical and an experimental component. The theoretical work uses a finite element formulation to simulate numerically the non-axisymmetric (3-D) fluid mechanics and heat transfer phenomena of a liquid solder droplet impacting at an angle alpha on a flat substrate. The work focuses on the pre-solidification regime. The modeling of the most challenging fluid mechanics part of the process has been completed successfully. It is based upon the full laminar Navier-Stokes equations employing a Lagrangian frame of reference. Due to the large droplet deformation, the surface (skin) as well as the volumetric mesh have to be regenerated during the calculations in order to maintain the high accuracy of the numerical scheme. The pressure and velocity fields are then interpolated on the newly created mesh. The numerical predictions are being tested against experiments, for cases where wetting phenomena are not important. For the impact parameters used in the example shown (We = 2.38, Fr = 16300, Re = 157), the droplet rolls along the substrate, but its shape remains practically axisymmetric for all impact angles within the range from 0 to 60 deg. Interestingly, the substrate/droplet contact area during the recoiling phase of the impact is not a monotonically decreasing function of time. The experimental component of the research tests the numerical predictions and provides necessary input data (contact angles) for the theoretical model. The experiments are performed in microgravity (2.2s drop tower of the NASA GRC) in order to allow for the use of mm-size solder droplets, which make feasible the performance of accurate measurements, while maintaining similitude of the relevant fluid dynamic groups (Re, Fr, We, Ste). Preliminary oblique impact experiments have been performed using water droplets in normal gravity.

Megaridis, C. M.↗