Matching Items (5)
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- All Subjects: Aluminum alloys--Corrosion.
- All Subjects: Mechanical Testing
- Creators: Solanki, Kiran
- Status: Published
Description
Al 7075 alloys are used in a variety of structural applications, such as aircraft wings, automotive components, fuselage, spacecraft, missiles, etc. The mechanical and corrosion behavior of these alloys are dependent on their microstructure and the environment. Therefore, a comprehensive study on microstructural characterization and stress-environment interaction is necessary. Traditionally, 2D techniques have been used to characterize microstructure, which are inaccurate and inadequate since the research has shown that the results obtained in the bulk are different from those obtained on the surface. There now exist several techniques in 3D, which can be used to characterize the microstructure. Al 7075 alloys contain second phase particles which can be classified as Fe-bearing inclusions, Si-bearing inclusions and precipitates. The variation in mechanical and corrosion properties of aluminum alloys has been attributed to the size, shape, distribution, corrosion properties and mechanical behavior of these precipitates and constituent particles. Therefore, in order to understand the performance of Al 7075 alloys, it is critical to investigate the size and distribution of inclusions and precipitates in the alloys along with their mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, hardness and stress-strain behavior. X-ray tomography and FIB tomography were used to visualize and quantify the microstructure of constituent particles (inclusions) and precipitates, respectively. Microscale mechanical characterization techniques, such as nanoindentation and micropillar compression, were used to obtain mechanical properties of inclusions. Over the years, studies have used surface measurements to understand corrosion behavior of materials. More recently, in situ mechanical testing has become more attractive and advantageous, as it enables visualization and quantification of microstructural changes as a function of time (4D). In this study, in situ X-ray synchrotron tomography was used to study the SCC behavior of Al 7075 alloys in moisture and deionized water. Furthermore, experiments were performed in EXCO solution to study the effect of applied stress on exfoliation behavior in 3D. Contrary to 2D measurements made at the surface which suggest non-uniform crack growth rates, three dimensional measurements of the crack length led to a much more accurate measurement of crack growth rates.
ContributorsSingh, Sudhanshu Shekhar (Author) / Chawla, Nikhilesh (Thesis advisor) / Alford, Terry (Committee member) / Solanki, Kiran (Committee member) / Oswald, Jay (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
The following is a report that will evaluate the microstructure of the nickel-based superalloy Hastelloy X and its relationship to mechanical properties in different load conditions. Hastelloy X is of interest to the company AORA because its strength and oxidation resistance at high temperatures is directly applicable to their needs in a hybrid concentrated solar module. The literature review shows that the microstructure will produce different carbides at various temperatures, which can be beneficial to the strength of the alloy. These precipitates are found along the grain boundaries and act as pins that limit dislocation flow, as well as grain boundary sliding, and improve the rupture strength of the material. Over time, harmful precipitates form which counteract the strengthening effect of the carbides and reduce rupture strength, leading to failure. A combination of indentation and microstructure mapping was used in an effort to link local mechanical behavior to microstructure variability. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were initially used as a means to characterize the microstructure prior to testing. Then, a series of room temperature Vickers hardness tests at 50 and 500 gram-force were used to evaluate the variation in the local response as a function of indentation size. The room temperature study concluded that both the hardness and standard deviation increased at lower loads, which is consistent with the grain size distribution seen in the microstructure scan. The material was then subjected to high temperature spherical indentation. Load-displacement curves were essential in evaluating the decrease in strength of the material with increasing temperature. Through linear regression of the unloading portion of the curve, the plastic deformation was determined and compared at different temperatures as a qualitative method to evaluate local strength.
ContributorsCelaya, Andrew Jose (Author) / Peralta, Pedro (Thesis director) / Solanki, Kiran (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Sn and Al alloys are widely used in various industries. Environmental-induced damage resulting in whiskering in Sn and corrosion in Al account for numerous failures globally every year. Therefore, for designing materials that can better withstand these failures, a comprehensive study on the characterization of the damage is necessary. This research implements advanced characterization techniques to study the above-mentioned environmental-induced damage in Sn and Al alloys.
Tin based films are known to be susceptible to whisker growth resulting in numerous failures. While the mechanisms and factors affecting whisker growth have been studied extensively, not much has been reported on the mechanical properties of tin whiskers themselves. This study focuses on the tensile behavior of tin whiskers. Tensile tests of whiskers were conducted in situ a dual beam focused ion beam (FIB) with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) using a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) tensile testing stage. The deformation mechanisms of whiskers were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Due to the heterogenous nature of the microstructure of Al 7075, it is susceptible to corrosion forming corrosion products and pits. These can be sites for cracks nucleation and propagation resulting in stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Therefore, complete understanding of the corrosion damaged region and its effect on the strength of the alloy is necessary. Several studies have been performed to visualize pits and understand their effect on the mechanical performance of Al alloys using two-dimensional (2D) approaches which are often inadequate. To get a thorough understanding of the pits, it is necessary for three-dimensional (3D) studies. In this study, Al 7075 alloys were corroded in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution and X-ray tomography was used to obtain the 3D microstructure of pits enabling the quantification of their dimensions accurately. Furthermore, microstructure and mechanical property correlations helped in a better understanding of the effect of corrosion. Apart from the pits, a surface corrosion layer also forms on Al. A subsurface damage layer has also been identified that forms due to the aggressive nature of NaCl. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and nanoindentation helped in identifying this region and understanding the variation in properties.
Tin based films are known to be susceptible to whisker growth resulting in numerous failures. While the mechanisms and factors affecting whisker growth have been studied extensively, not much has been reported on the mechanical properties of tin whiskers themselves. This study focuses on the tensile behavior of tin whiskers. Tensile tests of whiskers were conducted in situ a dual beam focused ion beam (FIB) with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) using a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) tensile testing stage. The deformation mechanisms of whiskers were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Due to the heterogenous nature of the microstructure of Al 7075, it is susceptible to corrosion forming corrosion products and pits. These can be sites for cracks nucleation and propagation resulting in stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Therefore, complete understanding of the corrosion damaged region and its effect on the strength of the alloy is necessary. Several studies have been performed to visualize pits and understand their effect on the mechanical performance of Al alloys using two-dimensional (2D) approaches which are often inadequate. To get a thorough understanding of the pits, it is necessary for three-dimensional (3D) studies. In this study, Al 7075 alloys were corroded in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution and X-ray tomography was used to obtain the 3D microstructure of pits enabling the quantification of their dimensions accurately. Furthermore, microstructure and mechanical property correlations helped in a better understanding of the effect of corrosion. Apart from the pits, a surface corrosion layer also forms on Al. A subsurface damage layer has also been identified that forms due to the aggressive nature of NaCl. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and nanoindentation helped in identifying this region and understanding the variation in properties.
ContributorsVallabhaneni, Venkata Sathya Sai Renuka (Author) / Chawla, Nikhilesh (Thesis advisor) / Rajagopalan, Jagannathan (Committee member) / Solanki, Kiran (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
In real world applications, materials undergo a simultaneous combination of tension, compression, and torsion as a result of high velocity impact. The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) is an effective tool for analyzing stress-strain response of materials at high strain rates but currently little can be done to produce a synchronized combination of these varying impacts. This research focuses on fabricating a flange which will be mounted on the incident bar of a SHPB and struck perpendicularly by a pneumatically driven striker thus allowing for torsion without interfering with the simultaneous compression or tension. Analytical calculations are done to determine size specifications of the flange to protect against yielding or failure. Based on these results and other design considerations, the flange and a complementary incident bar are created. Timing can then be established such that the waves impact the specimen at the same time causing simultaneous loading of a specimen. This thesis allows research at Arizona State University to individually incorporate all uniaxial deformation modes (tension, compression, and torsion) at high strain rates as well as combining either of the first two modes with torsion. Introduction of torsion will expand the testing capabilities of the SHPB at ASU and allow for more in depth analysis of the mechanical behavior of materials under impact loading. Combining torsion with tension or compression will promote analysis of a material's adherence to the Von Mises failure criterion. This greater understanding of material behavior can be implemented into models and simulations thereby improving the accuracy with which engineers can design new structures.
ContributorsVotroubek, Edward Daniel (Author) / Solanki, Kiran (Thesis director) / Oswald, Jay (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Thin films are widely used for a variety of applications such as electrical interconnects, sensors, as well as optical, mechanical, and decorative coatings. Thin films made of NiTi, commonly referred to as nitinol, have generated recent interest as they are highly suitable for high frequency thermal actuation in microelectromechanical devices because of their small thermal mass and large surface-to-volume ratio. The functional properties of NiTi arise from a diffusionless phase transformation between two of its primary phases: austenite and martensite. This transformation leads to either the shape memory or pseudoelastic effect, where inelastic deformation is recovered with and without the application of heat, respectively. It is well known that the mechanical properties of NiTi are highly dependent on the microstructure, but few studies have been performed to examine the mechanical behavior of thin NiTi films (thickness below 200 nm), which are expected to have grain sizes in a similar range. The primary intent of this work is the synthesis of NiTi thin films with controlled microstructures, followed by characterization of their microstructure and its relationship to the mechanical properties. Microstructural control was achieved by utilizing a novel synthesis technique in which amorphous precursor films are seeded with nanocrystals, which serve as nucleation sites during subsequent crystallization via thermal annealing. This technique enables control of grain size, dispersion, and phase composition of thin films by varying the parameters of seed deposition as well as annealing conditions. The microstructures and composition of the NiTi thin films were characterized using X-ray Diffraction, Electron Microprobe Analysis, High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, as well as other complementary techniques. Mechanical properties of the films were investigated using uniaxial tensile testing performed using a custom microfabricated tensile testing stage. The NiTi thin films exhibit mechanical behavior that is distinct from bulk NiTi, which is also highly sensitive to small changes in microstructure and phase composition. These findings are rationalized in terms of the changes in deformation mechanisms that occur at small grain sizes and sample dimensions.
ContributorsRASMUSSEN, Paul (Author) / Rajagopalan, Jagannathan (Thesis advisor) / Solanki, Kiran (Committee member) / Sieradzki, Karl (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021