Growth and Deformation Simulation of Aluminum Bronze Grains Produced by Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing

When working out 3D building-up modes, it is necessary to predict the material properties of the resulting products. For this purpose, the crystallography of aluminum bronze grains after electron beam melting has been studied by EBSD analysis methods. To estimate the possibility of sample form changes by pressure treatment, we simulated structural changes by the method of molecular dynamics during deformation by compression of individual grains of established growth orientations. The analysis was carried out for free lateral faces and grain deformation in confined conditions. Simulation and experiments on single crystals with free lateral faces revealed the occurrence of stepwise deformation in different parts of the crystal and its division into deformation domains. Each domain is characterized by a shear along a certain slip system with the maximum Schmidt factor. Blocking the shear towards the lateral faces leads to selectivity of the shear along the slip systems that provide the required shape change. Based on the simulation results, the relationship between stress–strain curves and structural characteristics is traced. A higher degree of strain hardening and a higher density of defects were found upon deformation in confined conditions. The deformation of the columnar grains of the built material occurs agreed with the systems with the maximum Schmidt factor.

Bringing to Life a Newly Discovered Signature of Fatigue Crack Initiation via Multimodal Characterizations

Fatigue is the most prevalent failure mode in structural materials, yet remains challenging to study due to the seemingly unpredictable nature of crack initiation. To elucidate the driving forces of crack initiation in ductile polycrystalline metals, we employ a multimodal approach to identify and track grains with a suspected potential to initiate fatigue cracks via a newly founded signature. We discover this crack initiation potential (CIP) signature under the hypothesis that slip localization, a well-known precursor to crack initiation, is linked to intragrain misorientation, which can be quantified through single grain orientation distributions. We verify the CIP signature in an Inconel-718 material via static two-dimensional and three-dimensional electron microscopy and “bring to life” the dynamics of the CIP signature via in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. With this CIP signature, we move to better focus studies of fatigue crack initiation on the individual grains and processes that drive fatigue failure.

Advances in Forensic Sedimentology

Forensic sedimentology is a relatively recently realized field. Sedimentological methods used to solve cases have evolved as the field has developed, beginning with simple identification of minerals and progressing to the examination of individual grains using highly advanced scanning electron microscopes. More simple methods, such as color analysis, are still used today, but in addition, forensic sedimentologists look at surface textures and grain size distribution. For instance, quartz grains were used in a forensic technique as sediment fingerprint. The particle size distribution is one of the important tests when analysing sediments and soils in geological studies. For forensic work, the particle size distribution of sometimes very small samples requires precise determination using a rapid and reliable method with a high resolution. FRITSCH laser granulometer offers rapid and accurate sizing of particles in the range 0.04–2000 μm for a variety of sample types, including soils, unconsolidated sediments, dusts, powders, and other particulate materials.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PROPERTIES OF SODIUM NIOBATE AND SODIUM - LITHIUM NIOBATE CERAMICS

Авторами исследовано влияние температуры синтеза ниобата натрия, на состояние поляризации в образцах керамики чистого ниобата натрия и модифицированного литием. Проведено сравнительное исследование структуры и пироэлектрических свойств полученных образцов. Показано, что введение в качестве модификатора лития приводит к существенному изменению структуры в глубине образцов керамики на основе ниобата натрия. Если в глубине образцов чистого ни ниобата натрия, как и на поверхности, различаются отдельные зерна, то центральная часть керамики ниобата натрия-лития представляет собой сплошной массив, в котором отдельные зерна не наблюдаются. Во всех образцах, кроме чистого ниобата натрия, синтезированного двойным синтезом (первый при 650 °C, второй при 700 °C), установлено существование градиента поляризации по толщине образцов, направленного от стороны, соответствующей положительному концу вектора поляризации к стороне, соответствующей отрицательному концу вектора поляризации. The authors studied the effect of the temperature of sodium niobate synthesis on the state of polarization in ceramic samples of pure sodium niobate and modified with lithium. A comparative study of the structure and pyroelectric properties of the obtained samples has been carried out. It is shown that the introduction of lithium as a modifier leads to a significant change in the structure in the depth of ceramic samples based on sodium niobate. If in the depth of the pure sodium niobate samples, as well as on the surface, there are individual grains, then the central part of the sodium niobate-lithium niobate ceramics is a continuous mass in which individual grains are not observed. In all samples, except for pure sodium niobate, which was synthesized by double synthesis (the first at 650 °C, the second at 700 °C), the existence of a polarization gradient along the thickness of the samples was established. The gradient is directed from the side corresponding to the positive end of the polarization vector to the side corresponding to the negative end of the polarization vector.

A novel mechanism to generate metallic single crystals

Generally, the evolution of metallic single crystals is based on crystal growth. The single crystal is either produced by growing a seed single crystal or by sophisticated grain selection processes followed by crystal growth. Here, we describe for the first time a fully new mechanism to generate single crystals based on thermo-mechanically induced texture formation during additive manufacturing. The single crystal develops due to two different mechanisms. The first step is a standard grain selection process due to directional solidification, leading to a pronounced fiber texture. The second and new mechanism bases on successive thermo-mechanically induced plastic deformations and texture formation in FCC crystals under compression. During this second step, the columnar grain structure transforms into a single crystal by rotation of individual grains. Thus, the single crystal forms step by step by merging the originally columnar grain structure. This novel, stress induced mechanism opens up completely new perspectives to fabricate single crystalline components and to accurately adjust the orientation according to the load.

RESEARCH OF CONCRETE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLEEPERS, WHICH DECIDED DAMAGE DURING OPERATION

Purpose. On the railways of Ukraine in some areas there is an intensive premature exit sleepers due to the formation of defects that can affect the safety of trains and cause significant material losses due to a single replacement of a significant number of sleepers. The purpose of the study is to establish the causes of damage reinforced concrete sleepers on a characteristic section of the railway with their intense premature exit. Methodology. The condition of reinforced concrete sleepers of SB3 type under unlined substrate fastenings on 324-332 km of the pair track of the Odnorobivka-Bukine section of the Southern Railway was studied, where since 2007 their intensive output was observed due to defects. Findings. It is established that for 15 years of operation, as 236.3 million tons were put into operation, about 2.8 % of sleepers were replaced due to defects (44 pieces per 1 km of track). Typical defects (damages), due to which the sleepers were removed from the track, were mainly 13.2 and 13.2 according to the classification of CP-0150 – cracks and fractures of sleepers, including ones with crushing concrete. These defects were preceded by the formation of a network of thin cracks on the visible surfaces of sleepers. 3 sleepers with an initial compressive strength of 68…77 MPa produced by the Korosten Reinforced Concrete Sleeper Plant and the Gnivan Special Reinforced Concrete Plant, removed from the track due to characteristic defects, were selected and investigated. Samples were selected from the sleepers, with the help of which there was determined the final strength of concrete and microscopic examinations, including luminescence flaw detection method, were performed. It was found that the network of cracks in sleepers is spatial, mostly developed mostly beneath their top edge, the least developed above the bottom edge, and causes a decrease in compressive strength of concrete by 47…72 %. It is noted that the destruction of concrete during loading occurred behind these cracks. On the inner surfaces of the cracks there are individual grains of aggregates, which have signs of active silica content, that together with the nature of the cracks may indicate that the cause of their formation is corrosion of concrete from the interaction of cement alkali with reactive aggregates. On the surfaces of the cracks in the lower part of the sleepers leaching products were found, apparently leached by electro migration, which may indicate that corrosion processes were promoted by leakage currents on electrified DC tracks. Originality Thus, in the study area, the main cause of defects, which caused the replacement of the sleepers – was the corrosion of concrete due to the interaction of cement alkali with reactive aggregates, promoted by leakage currents, as well as a small diagram of sleepers and the use of unlined anchor intermediate rail fasteners. Practical value. The results of the study allow to establish the causes of cracks and other damage in reinforced concrete sleepers during operation and, in turn, reduce the losses of fasteners manufacturers and sleepers from defects and complaints, optimize the total cost of track repairs and subsequent track maintenance due to rational purpose of track construction, reduction of damage and replacement of sleepers during track operation.

On genesis of massive sulfide polymetallic ore deposits of Rudny Altai

Many geologists assign most of large- and medium-sized massive sulfide polymetallic ore deposits of Eastern Kazakhstan to the VMS type. These ore deposits formed in the Devonian, under conditions of rifting and active basalt-andesite-rhyolite volcanism. Ore bodies of these deposits are noted to be clearly confined to formations of several geochronologic levels (D1e to D3fm). Hydrothermal-sedimentary syngenetic and hydrothermal-metasomatic ores are distinguished. High concentrations of base metals in the ores (above 10 % sum metals) and their rather simple mineral composition (chalcopyrite, pyrite, galena, and sphalerite) are a characteristic feature of all the massive sulfide polymetallic ore deposits of Rudny Altai. The ores are noted to be multicomponental, with elevated contents of the admixtures of precious metals and rare elements (Cd, Se, Bi, Te, Ta, W, etc.). Mineralogical investigations of the ores have demonstrated an intricate relationships of the major ore minerals (chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena) that exhibit several generations and different geochemical specialization. Minerals of Au, Ag, Te, Bi, and other elements are encountered as individual grains or microscopic inclusions and stringers in minerals of Cu, Pb, and Zn. A significant vertical range of the ore mineralization (more than 100 m), the complexity and long duration of the ore-forming processes, the clearly defined confinement of the ore mineralization to certain geochronologic levels, – all these allow us to suppose a possibility of discovery of new ore lodes or individual ore deposits within the already known ore fields of the Kazakhstan segment of Rudny Altai

The Influence of Grain Shape and Size on the Relationship Between Porosity and Permeability in Sandstone

An accurate and reliable description of the relationship between porosity and permeability in geological materials is valuable in understanding subsurface fluid movement. This is of great importance for studies of reservoir characterisation, useful for energy exploitation, carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and groundwater contamination and remediation. Whilst the relationship between pore characteristics and porosity and permeability are well examined, there is scope for further investigation into the influence of grain characteristics on porosity and permeability due to the inherent relationship between grains and related pores. In this work we use digital image analysis (DIA) of reconstructed 3D X-ray micro computed tomographic (μCT) images to measure porosity, permeability and segment individual grains enabling the measurement of grain shape (sphericity) and size (Feret diameter). We compare two marker-based watershed workflows to grain boundary segmentation before applying the most reliable one to our images. We found there to be a positive relationship between grain sphericity and porosity according to ϕ=1.22ϕs-0.42 whereas no such relationship exists with grain size. We applied our grain shape and size measurements to calculate a Kozeny-Carman (K-C) porosity-permeability fit which was found to be unsatisfactory, possibly due to significant deviation from the K-C assumption that grains are spherical. Therefore, we show that a simpler fit of the form K= 10^5.54 ϕ^3.7, excluding any influence of grain characteristics, is most suitable for the studied materials and that grain shape and size is not influential on the porosity-permeability relationship in a K-C paradigm.

Grain size dependent high-pressure elastic properties of ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline grossular

We have performed sound velocity and unit cell volume measurements of three synthetic, ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline grossular samples up to 50 GPa using Brillouin spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The samples are characterized by average grain sizes of 90 nm, 93 nm and 179 nm (hereinafter referred to as samples Gr90, Gr93, and Gr179, respectively). The experimentally determined sound velocities and elastic properties of Gr179 sample are comparable with previous measurements, but slightly higher than those of Gr90 and Gr93 under ambient conditions. However, the differences diminish with increasing pressure, and the velocity crossover eventually takes place at approximately 20–30 GPa. The X-ray diffraction peaks of the ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline grossular samples significantly broaden between 15–40 GPa, especially for Gr179. The velocity or elasticity crossover observed at pressures over 30 GPa might be explained by different grain size reduction and/or inhomogeneous strain within the individual grains for the three grossular samples, which is supported by both the pressure-induced peak broadening observed in the X-ray diffraction experiments and transmission electron microscopy observations. The elastic behavior of ultrafine micro/nanocrystalline silicates, in this case, grossular, is both grain size and pressure dependent.

The Influence of Grain Shape and Size on the Relationship Between Porosity and Permeability in Sandstone

An accurate and reliable description of the relationship between porosity and permeability in geological materials is valuable in understanding subsurface fluid movement. This is of great importance for studies of reservoir characterisation, useful for energy exploitation, carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and groundwater contamination and remediation. Whilst the relationship between pore characteristics and porosity and permeability are well examined, there is scope for further investigation into the influence of grain characteristics on porosity and permeability due to the inherent relationship between grains and related pores. In this work we use digital image analysis (DIA) of reconstructed 3D X-ray micro computed tomographic (μCT) images to measure porosity, permeability and segment individual grains enabling the measurement of grain shape (sphericity) and size (Feret diameter). We compare two marker-based watershed workflows to grain boundary segmentation before applying the most reliable one to our images. We found there to be a positive relationship between grain sphericity and porosity according to ϕ=1.22ϕs-0.42 whereas no such relationship exists with grain size. We applied our grain shape and size measurements to calculate a Kozeny-Carman (K-C) porosity-permeability fit which was found to be unsatisfactory, possibly due to significant deviation from the K-C assumption that grains are spherical. Therefore, we show that a simpler fit of the form K= 10^5.54 ϕ^3.7, excluding any influence of grain characteristics, is most suitable for the studied materials and that grain shape and size is not influential on the porosity-permeability relationship in a K-C paradigm.