Modeling the Influence of Microstructure on Stress Distributions and Concentrations in Pitting Corrosion

Despite the many advances made in material science, stainless steel and aluminum remain the structural materials best-suited for the naval fleet. While these metallic materials offer many benefits, such as high strength and good toughness, their persistent exposure to the maritime environment inevitably leads to issues with corrosion. Among the various manifestations of corrosion, pitting corrosion is of particular concern because the transition of corrosion pits to stress-corrosion cracks can lead to catastrophic failures. Traditional pitting corrosion analyses treat the pit shape as a semi-circle or ellipse and typically assume a growth pattern that maintains the original geometrical shape. However, when the underlying microstructure is incorporated into the model, pit growth is related to the grains surrounding the pit perimeter and the growth rate is proportional to crystallographic orientation. Since each grain has a potentially different orientation, pit growth happens at non-uniform rates leading to irregular geometries, i.e., non-circular and non-elliptical. These irregular pit geometries can further lead to higher stresses. This work presents a detailed look at corrosion pit growth coupled with mechanical load through a numerical model of a two-dimensional stable corrosion pit. Real microstructural information from a sample of 316 stainless steel is incorporated into the model to analyze microstructural effects on pit growth. Through this work, stress distributions and stress concentration factors are examined for a variety of pit geometries, including comparisons of their range of values to a typical, semi-circular pit. The consequences of these stress distributions and concentration factors are discussed.

Stochastic Modeling of a High Speed Composite Flywheel for Energy Storage

This work will demonstrate the development and experimental validation of the stochastic models to predict the composite material’s mechanical and electromagnetic response as a function of the constituent reinforcing materials. First, stochastic micromechanics models will be developed for the case of multiple disparate supporting materials. These micromechanics models will then be validated against traditional finite element models and experimental results over the feasible parameter space. The developed models will then be utilized to define the optimal geometry of the composite flywheel including constraints such as displacement, stress, flux, magnetic field density, and manufacturability.

Effect of Carbon Nanotube-Phosphinate Ionic Liquid Thin Boundary Layer on the Tribological Behavior of Aluminum Alloy in Steel-on-Aluminum Contact

In this study, the tribological behavior of the Trihexyl tetradecylphosphonium-bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate [THTDP][Phos] ionic liquid with and without single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) dispersion as a thin boundary layer was intended for investigation. However, the surface heat treatment process was not sufficient to form a thin film on the sample surfaces. Thus, in each test condition, the lubricating agents were used as external (liquid) lubricants. Specifically, [THTDP][Phos] and ([THTDP][Phos]+0.1 wt.% SWCNT) boundary film layers were applied on 6061-T6 aluminum alloy disk samples and tested under sliding contact with 1.5 mm diameter 420C stainless steel balls using a ball-on-flat linearly reciprocating tribometer. A commercially available Mobil Super 10W-40 engine oil (MS10W40) was also tested and used as this investigation’s datum. The tribological behavior of [THTDP][Phos] and ([THTDP][Phos]+SWCNT) boundary film layers was analyzed via wear volume calculations from optical microscopy measurements, as well as by observation of the transient coefficient of friction (COF) obtained through strain gauge measurements made directly from the reciprocating member of the tribometer. Results indicate the potential for reduction of wear volume and coefficient of friction in the IL lubricated steel-on-aluminum sliding contact through (SWCNT) dispersion in the ionic liquid. Wear results are based on measurements obtained using optical microscopy (OM). Results discussed display improved tribological performance for both [THTDP][Phos] and ([THTDP][Phos]+SWCNT) over baseline MS10W40 oil lubricant for both roughness values tested for the steel-on-aluminum contact. No measurable improvements were observed between [THTDP][Phos] and ([THTDP][Phos]+SWCNT) tests.

Dexterous Hybrid Robotics for High Precision Applications

Robotic grippers are useful in designing prosthetics and manufacturing. “Robotic hands often fall into two categories: simple and highly specialized grippers often used in manufacturing, and general and highly complicated grippers designed for a variety of tasks.” Ramond et al. [1] Within these two categories there are two main categories of research. These are hard structure and soft structure robotics. Hard structure robotics rely on a mechanical design with a motor or actuator to move a hard-linked part. Soft structure uses a mechanical design, soft material and a pneumatic pump to create the desired movement. The soft material is designed in a way that when it is pumped full of a fluid (i.e. air) it has a specific deformation. Hard robotics have an advantage in their ability to output a large force, but soft robotics have increased degrees of freedom. Dexterity (readiness and grace in physical movement) is another advantage over hard robotics. This project focuses on the process of designing actuators that can feasibly be used for devices falling into either of the two main categories of robotics. Such an actuator could be effectively implemented toward simple applications such as manufacturing-style gripping devices to advanced applications found in modern human prosthetics or areas where high dexterity combined with a delicate touch are required. The simulations show that the designs created work within a pressure range of 0.5 PSI to 1 PSI. This low pressure does not output a lot of force. The high dexterity and small air compressors needed make it a good design for use in areas like manufacturing or medical. If a stronger material was applied to these designs allowing the designs to handle higher pressures these designs could output much higher forces. This increase would make the designs more usable in areas like prosthetics and advanced robotics.

Degradation of the Strength of a Grain and a Grain Boundary due to the Accumulation of the Structural Defects of Crystal

Various brittle fractures have been found to occur at grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials. In thin film interconnections used for semiconductor devices, open failures caused by electro- and strain-induced migrations have been found to be dominated by porous random grain boundaries that consist of a lot of defects. Therefore, it is very important to explicate the dominant factors of the strength of a grain boundary in polycrystalline materials for assuring the safe and reliable operation of various products. In this study, both electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis and a micro tensile test in a scanning electron microscope was applied to copper thin film which is used for interconnection of semiconductor devices in order to clarify the relationship between the strength and the crystallinity of a grain and a grain boundary quantitatively. Image quality (IQ) value obtained from the EBSD analysis, which indicates the average sharpness of the diffraction pattern (Kikuchi pattern) was applied to the crystallinity analysis. This IQ value indicates the total density of defects such as vacancies, dislocations, impurities, and local strain, in other words, the order of atom arrangement in the observed area in nano-scale. In the micro tensile test system, stress-strain curves of a single crystal specimen and a bicrystal specimen was measured quantitatively. Both transgranular and intergranular fracture modes were observed in the tested specimens with different IQ values. Based to the results of these experiments, it was found that there is the critical IQ value at which the fracture mode of the bicrystal specimen changes from brittle intergranular fracture at a grain boundary to ductile transgranular fracture in a grain. The strength of a grain boundary increases monotonically with IQ value because of the increase in the total number of rigid atomic bonding. On the other hand, the strength of a grain decreases monotonically with the increase of IQ value because the increase in the order of atom arrangement accelerates the movement of dislocations. Finally, it was clarified that the strength of a grain boundary and a grain changes drastically as a strong function of their crystallinity.

First-Principle Investigation of Structural, Elastic, Electronic and Thermal Properties of Dysprosium Hafnate Oxides

Systematic first-principles calculations based on density functional theory were performed on Dy2HfxO3+2x (x = 0, 1, and 2) compositions. A complete set of elastic parameters including elastic constants, Hill’s bulk moduli, Young’s moduli, shear moduli and Poisson’s ratio were calculated. Analyses of densities of states and charge densities and electron localization functions suggest that the oxide bonds are highly ionic with some degree of covalency in the Hf-O bonds. Thermal properties including the mean sound velocity, Debye temperature, and minimum thermal conductivity were obtained from the elastic constants.

Influence of the Microstructure on the Creep Behaviour of Tin-Silver-Copper Solder

A common failure mode of electronic printed circuit boards (PCB’s) is the appearance of cold solder joints between the component and PCB, during product life. This phenomenon is related to solder joint fatigue and is attributed mainly to the mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of component-solder-PCB assembly. With today’s solder joint thickness decreasing and increasing working temperatures, among others, the stresses and strains due to temperature changes are growing, leading to limited fatigue life of the products. As fatigue life decreases with increasing plastic strain, creep occurrence should have significant impact, especially during thermal cycles and, thus, should be studied. Through the cooling phase, on the production of PCB assembly’s by the reflow technology, the hoven atmosphere temperature is adjusted in order to control the cooling rate. Narrow criteria is used so as to control the inter-metallic compounds (IMC) thickness, PCB assembly distortion and defects due to thermal shock. The cooling rate also affects solder microstructure, which has direct impact on creep behaviour and, thus, on the soldered joint reliability. In this paper, a dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) is used to study the influence of the solder cooling rate on its creep behaviour. SAC405 samples with two distinct cooling rates were produced: inside a hoven cooling and by water quenching. Creep tests were made on three-point-bending clamp configuration, isothermally at 25 °C, 50 °C and 75 °C and under three separate levels of stress, 3, 5 and 9 MPa. The results show that creep behaviour has a noticeable cooling rate dependence. It was also noticed that creep propensity is exacerbated by the temperature at which stresses are applied, especially for the slower cooling rates. Creep mechanisms were related to the solder microstructural constituents, namely by the amount of phases ant their morphology.

Influence of Ca-Ba and Sr Base Inoculants on Metallurgical and Mechanical Properties of Grey and Ductile Cast Irons

Microstructural adaptation of cast iron alloys by inoculation is a well-known practice to swell their mechanical properties. In foundries, several inoculants have been used to refine grain structure, and to obtain uniform distribution of graphite flakes. Inoculation is one of the most critical steps in cast iron production. The effectiveness of inoculants depends on melt temperature, method of addition, type of inoculants, and holding time. In this paper, the effect of Ca-based, Ba-based, Ca-Ba based and Sr-based inoculants on microstructure and tensile properties of grey cast iron IS-210 and spheroidal graphite iron IS-1862 is reported. Results showed both Ca and Ba based inoculants were effective in obtaining uniform distribution of flaky and nodular graphite in IS-210, and IS-1862 cast irons, respectively. But in a case of Sr-based inoculant were highly effective for increase the nodularity of SG cast iron as well as succeed supreme yield strength for both grey and ductile cast iron. The amounts of ferrite in the as-cast matrix are excess with controlled granulometry for elimination of primary carbide in Sr-based inoculant.

Functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystals for Improving the Mechanical Properties of Poly(Lactic Acid)

Biopolymers are emerging materials with numerous capabilities of minimizing the environmental hazards caused by synthetic materials. The competitive mechanical properties of bio-based poly(lactic acid) (PLA) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted a huge interest in improving the mechanical properties of the corresponding nanocomposites. To obtain optimal properties of PLA-CNC nanocomposites, the compatibility between PLA and CNCs needs to be improved through uniform dispersion of CNCs into PLA. The application of chemical surface functionalization technique is an essential step to improve the interaction between hydrophobic PLA and hydrophilic CNCs. In this study, a combination of a time-efficient esterification technique and masterbatch approach was used to improve the CNCs dispersibility in PLA. Nanocomposites reinforced by 1, 3, and 5 wt% functionalized CNCs were prepared using twin screw extrusion followed by injection molding process. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of pure PLA and nanocomposites were studied through tensile, impact and dynamic mechanical analysis. The impact fractured surfaces were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical test results exhibited that tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of nanocomposites improved by 70% and 11% upon addition of functionalized CNCs into pure PLA. The elongation at break and impact strength of nanocomposites exhibited 43% and 35% increase as compared to pure PLA. The rough and irregular fracture surface in nanocomposites confirmed the higher ductility in PLA nanocomposites as compared to pure PLA. The incorporation of functionalized CNCs into PLA resulted in an increase in storage modulus and a decrease in tan δ intensity which was more profound in nanocomposites reinforced with 3 wt% functionalized CNCs.