Papers by Author: Duc Nguyen Manh

Abstract: Magnetic Cluster Expansion method is applied to the investigation of magnetic properties of Fe-Cr alloys treated as a function of Cr content, the spatial distribution of Cr atoms, and temperature. Random Fe-Cr alloys and Cr clusters formed in concentrated alloys are analyzed. We find significant differences between the types of magnetic order characterizing those systems, which are reflected in the characteristic variation of the temperature-dependent magnetic specific heat. Simulations show that in random Fe-Cr alloys and in alloys containing Cr clusters, the interplay between antiferromagnetic interactions characterizing Fe-Cr and Cr-Cr atom pairs gives rise to unusual patterns of finite temperature magnetic ordering.

Abstract: We describe a comprehensive ab initio investigation of phase stability and mechanical properties of W-Ta and W-V alloys, which are candidate materials for fusion power plant applications. The ab initio density functional calculations compare enthalpies of mixing for alternative ordered atomic structures of the alloys, corresponding to the same chemical composition. Combining the ab initio data with large-scale lattice Monte-Carlo simulations, we predict several low-energy intermetallic compounds that are expected to dominate alloy microstructures, and hence the low-temperature phase diagrams, for both alloys. Using the predicted ground-state atomic alloy configurations, we investigate the short-range order, point defect (vacancy and self-interstitial atoms) energies, and thermodynamic and mechanical properties of W alloys as functions of their chemical composition. In particular, we evaluate the anisotropic Young modulus for W-Ta and W-V alloys from ab initio elastic constant calculations, with the objective of comparing the predicted values with experimental micro-cantilever measurements. Also, using the calculated Poisson ratios for binary W alloys, which combine tungsten with more than 40 different alloying elements, we investigate if alloying improves the ductility of tungsten-based materials.