Papers by Author: Dinesh Srivastava

Abstract: The hot extrusion of Zr-2.5Nb alloy has been simulated using an FEM based software and validated by the experimental measurements during real extrusion process. The flow stress data for Zr-2.5Nb alloy at different temperatures, strain and strain rates were generated by hot compression testing on Gleeble Machine. The flow stress data, obtained both below β transus temperature in two phase α+β region as well as above β transus temperature in β phase region, were directly used in the FEM simulation of extrusion process, eliminating the need for any assumptions regarding material plastic flow law. Two important extrusion parameters, viz. included die angle and reduction ratio, were varied and for each set of conditions, temperature, strain and strain rate at different nodal points of the tube at different stages of extrusion were calculated. The extrusion parameters were optimized to obtain minimum variation in the force, temperature, strain and strain rate in the extruded product. A fair agreement has been found between the measured values of the applied ram force and the temperature profile at the die landing area in a 3780 ton horizontal extrusion press and those obtained through simulations. The effect of the friction and heat transfer coefficient between the die chamber and work piece was also investigated in this study.

Abstract: The Nb-1%Zr-0.1%C (wt%) alloy is one of the most promising refractory metal alloys having an excellent combination of high temperature properties. Such a combination of properties makes it suitable for several structural applications in the Compact High Temperature Reactor (CHTR). In order to produce the alloy in different shape and sizes a new thermo-mechanical route has been established. The central idea behind the development of such thermo-mechanical route is to reduce the working temperature and provide suitable intermediate annealing treatments to develop desired microstructures. The present paper reports about the application of orientation imaging microscopy in optimizing annealing parameters like temperature and time as a function of the extent of deformation. Samples were also characterized by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques. It has been shown that a heat treatment of 1300°C for 3 hour could produce nearly full-recrystallized microstructure. This paper also discusses about the carbide precipitation, their morphologies, chemical compositions and orientations with the matrix phase.

Abstract: Grain boundary texture evolution in case of two of the Zr based alloys (Zircaloy-4 and Zr-2.5\%Nb) was studied. In case of Zircaloy-4, grain boundary texture evolution during $\beta$ $\to$ $\alpha$ phase transformation was monitored. Direct evidence of variant selection during this transformation is presented. In case of Zr-2.5\%Nb alloy, considerable increase in $\alpha/\beta$ interfaces following Burger's orientation relationship was noticed with increasing annealing time at 700 \textdegree{}C.

Abstract: In this study a systematic characterization of the microstructural and textural evolution in each thermo-mechanical processing step of Zircaloy-4 rod fabrication has been carried out. The possible micro-mechanisms leading to the observed microstructural evolutions have been discussed. The thermo-mechanical steps followed resulted in a completely recrystallized microstructure and retention of the hot-extruded texture in the finished product.

Abstract: The present study deals with nanoindentation behavior of commercial Zircaloy 2 and high purity (5N purity) crystal bar Zirconium. The effect of crystal orientation was studied through high resolution electron diffraction, while a finite element model was developed to extract yield strength and strain hardening exponent from nanoindentation data. The study brings in clear signatures of orientation dependence of mechanical properties in hexagonal Zirconium.

Abstract: The present study deals with deformation behaviour of textured Zircaloy 2 with two dominant orientations: basal and non-basal. During initial stages (20%), two distinct class of grains were observed – non-deforming/non-fragmenting grains and deforming/fragmenting grains. The so-called non- deforming/non-fragmenting grains remain equiaxed even after 50% of deformation. They also have insignificant in-grain misorientation developments and have more residual stresses. Dislocation dynamics simulation showed that the dislocation interactions/mobility is insignificant in basal orientations at room temperature deformations.

Abstract: Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) of austenitic Stainless Steels (SS) in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) environment is generic in nature in both the sensitised and the non-sensitized conditions. IGSCC in non-sensitized austenitic SS in the strain hardened condition has been reported without any grain boundary chromium depletion or impurity segregation. The present study ascertains the reason for IGSCC in BWR environment in non-sensitized condition and investigates the effect of nitrogen content in SS on the susceptibility to IGSCC. Two heats of type 304LN stainless steel with 0.08 and 0.16 wt. % nitrogen were used. Strain hardening was done by cross rolling at 200 °C to 20 % thickness reduction (warm rolling) to simulate the weld induced strain in constrained welds. Subsequently, Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) examination was carried out on the rolled SS. The deformation mode observed due to warm rolling was predominantly elongated twin and shear band (SB) formation in both the SS, terminating at the grain boundary regions. This resulted in higher stresses and strains making grain boundary susceptible to IGSCC. Presence of more dislocations at grain boundaries is a key feature for such enhancement in the susceptibility of non-sensitized SS to IGSCC. Formation of twins and SB occurred to a greater extent in the SS with higher nitrogen content indicating greater susceptibility to IGSCC in BWR environment. Crack growth studies done in simulated BWR environment at different Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels showed higher crack growth rates in the SS with higher nitrogen content in the non-sensitised and strain hardened condition, confirming the higher susceptibility of SS with a higher level of nitrogen.

Abstract: Effect of copper addition in a Metallic glass 2714A on the nanocrystallization characteristics have been examined in this study. Amorphous ribbon of the alloy composition Co64.5 Fe3.5 Si16.5 B13.5 Ni1Cu1 were prepared by melt spinning technique. Nanocrystallization kinetics was studied using differential scanning calorimeter technique. The kinetic parameters such as activation energy and Avrami exponent were determined using two different non-isothermal analysis methods. The kinetic behavior of individual crystallization event has been rationalized on the basis of these results. The role of addition of copper on the crystallization behavior has been understood by comparing with Metallic glass 2714A. The isothermally annealed nanocrystallized microstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Abstract: Amorphous ribbons of composition Fe68.5Cu1Nb3Si18.5B9 were produced by melt spun unit. Positron annihilation technique along with DSC and XRD studies has been employed to characterize the nanocrystallization process. XRD results confirmed presence of Fe3Si and Fe2B phases. Two life time components could be fitted to life time spectra of amorphous and heat treated samples. Life time of positron in amorphous matrix was found to be 163.3 ps. Small life time components in nanocrystallized samples could be ascribed to positron annihilation within amorphous and nanocrystalline particles. Larger life time component could be attributed to positron annihilation in interfaces associated with primary and secondary phase particles.

Abstract: The morphology and substructure of martensite is considered to arise from the lattice invariant shear (LIS) associated with the transformation and this may be slip, twinning or both. Out of the several possible slip shears and twin modes only a few satisfy invariant plane strain criteria of the phenomenological theory of martensite (PTMC). On the basis of crystallographic and energetic criteria, a simple model has been proposed for determining the factors which influence the selection of the preferred LIS mode. In the present work, it is found that for b ® a' martensitic transformation in Zr-2.5 wt%Nb alloy, the preferred slip system is {1101}a'<2113>a' and the preferred twin system is {1101}a'<415 3>a'.