Solid State Phenomena Vol. 216

Abstract: Cellular materials represent a new class of materials; main parameters that characterize the cellular structure are relative density, shape of the cell (open or closed), wall thickness and cell diameter. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the microstructure of foams materials and also to determine the flexural properties of this rigid PUR foams using Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The rigid PUR foams cells morphology and pore distribution for three densities (100, 145 and 300 kg/m³) were studied before testing through scanning electron microscopy. Determination of flexural properties was carried out on rectangular beam samples using ARAMIS 2D system. This method provides a substantial increase in accuracy for measuring strain and is based on the calculation of surface deformation using a set of digital images from undeformed stage to different deformed stages. The specimens were subjected to static three points bending tests with loading rate of 2 mm/min, at room temperature and loading was applied in rise direction of the foam. Experimental results show that main mechanical properties such as flexural modulus and flexural strength values increases with increasing of density.

Abstract: The purpose of these researches was to determine the effect of silicon carbide particles (SiCp) proportion and the effect of some process parameters (temperatures and times of aging) on characteristics of Al-Cu/SiCp composites obtained by P/M route. The age-hardened composites and un-reinforced alloys solution treated at 515 ± 5°C, maintaining time 360 minutes, quenched in water and artificial aging at 150-190^o C during respectively 240-720 minutes/ furnace cooled, were tested from hardness and microstructural point of view. The effect of SiCp proportion in matrix during cold compaction was observed on densification curves of all experimental powders mixtures Al-4Cu/ (5, 10, 15 and 20) wt.%SiC. The composites were analyzed using optical and electron microscopy (including ESEM-Enviromental Scanning Electron Microscopy), in terms of shape and size of grains, pores, ceramic particles, second phases and precipitates.

Abstract: Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) have been extensively used in aircraft engines to improve durability and performance. They protect critical engine parts such as blades and combustion chambers, which are exposed to high temperatures and corrosive environment.Testing of coated metallic alloys, subjected to ageing process, allows determination of the TBCs properties. In this paper we performed 2 tests: uniaxial tension and bending. The aging of samples was carried out in 1000°C for times: 48h, 89h, 185h and 353h. Thermally Grown Oxide (TGO) layer thickness (SEM observations) and the strain level corresponding to damage of the TBCs were determined experimentally.The experimental results were used to build numerical model in Abaqus program. Brittle cracking damage model was applied to describe of the TBC layer degradation. Surface based cohesive behavior was used to model delamination of the interface between a bond coat (BC) and a top coat (TC).The proposed numerical model describes with high accuracy experimental results.

Abstract: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) based nanoindentation is a widely used technique for measuring mechanical properties of living cells, providing information for understanding their mechanobiological behavior. However, very local properties of cell surfaces have not been characterized earlier. The goal of this study was to develop an AFM-based technique to determine local elastic properties of bovine articular chondrocytes. The Youngs modulus of chondrocytes was 19.3 ± 5.6 kPa for spread cells and 10 ± 4.1 kPa for the round cells. The results were compared to previous studies in which different techniques were used to obtain more global properties of chondrocytes. Our findings suggest that using nanosized AFM tips, the very local cell properties can be measured.

Abstract: The heat transfer problem in the 2-phase composite material containing metallic and elastic phases, subjected to quick temperature variations, is the aim of theoretical analysis. The full description of the composite behaviour starts from the formulation of governing equations at 2-scale levels: micro-and macro-, passes through specification of the internal structure of the composite and finishes by numerical solution of the heat transfer problem through the considered material sample. The most important in the analysis are thermo-mechanical properties of the composite components creating the material. The big difference of the both phases properties (mismatch) can create additional difficulty in the exact thermal description of the composite. It is necessary also to specify by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations a real material internal structure, which includes: grain shapes and matrix, to create of the proper size of the Representative Volume Element (RVE) for numerical calculations.In the numerical example we analyse cermet, i.e. the composite build up of metallic matrix (cobalt) and tungsten carbide elastic grains, which exhibits high brittleness. Heat transfer across this very complex material causes heat flux concentrations in the metallic phase and further stress concentrations. These concentrations act as sources of damage initiators at the binder/carbide grains interfaces. The obtained results lead to the conclusion that the spatial distribution and content of the metallic phase first of all influence the heat transfer across the 2-phase composites.

Abstract: Al₂O₃/Ni nanocomposite powder was obtained by high-energy mechanical milling starting from a mixture of Al₂O₃ and Ni commercially powders. The Al₂O₃+15%vol. Ni mixture was homogenized for 15 minutes in the Turbula-type blender and then was milled in a planetary ball mill (Fritsch, Pulverisette 4) under argon atmosphere up to 120 min. Several milling times were used: 10, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes respectively. The evolution of the powders during milling and the stability of the composite phases were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The SEM and OM images show a high level of homogenization of the Ni and Al₂O₃ phases for milling times larger than 90 minutes. The X-ray studies indicate no mixing between the two phases. The crystallite grain size is decreasing with the milling time.

Abstract: The aim of this work was to determine by vibration tests the longitudinal elastic modulus and shear modulus of welded joints by flux cored arc welding. These two material properties are characteristic elastic constants of tensile stress respectively torsion stress and can be determined by several non-destructive methods. One of the latest non-destructive experimental techniques in this field is based on the analysis of the vibratory signal response from the welded sample. An algorithm based on Pronys series method is used for processing the acquired signal due to sample response of free vibrations. By the means of Finite Element Method (FEM), the natural frequencies and modes shapes of the same specimen of carbon steel were determined. These results help to interpret experimental measurements and the vibration modes identification, and Youngs modulus and shear modulus determination.

Abstract: A dental bridge, designed in STL format on a Dental Scanner software, was covered with the porcelain layer in 3-matic Design ©Materialise NV. FEA simulations were made in ANSYS ® Workbench TM ©SAS, Inc. Firstly, was performed the thermal analysis with the Transient Thermal module, and secondly, the structural static analysis with the Static Structural module. The applied masticatory force was of 300 N, and the studied temperatures were 36°C as reference and, as extremes, 0° and 50°C. The purpose was to determine mechanical effects in the bridge structure for a specific design of the dental bridge geometry in order to optimize its design.

Abstract: Wet mechanical alloying (MA) were used to prepare amorphous soft magnetic Fe₇₅Si₂₀B₅ (at.%) powders starting from elemental powders of Fe, Si and B. The structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the powders were investigated. It was found that wet MA leads to the amorphisation of the alloy after 40 hours of wet milling using benzene (C₆H₆) as process control agent (PCA). The influence of the wet MA process on the saturation magnetization of the powders was investigated. Amorphous powder of Fe₇₅Si₂₀B₅ (at.%) obtained by wet MA route was used to prepare compacts by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The chosen sintering temperature was 800, 850 and 900 oC. Toroidal samples of Fe₇₅Si₂₀B₅ (at.%) were investigated in DC and AC magnetization regime and their magnetic properties were correlated with sintering parameters, compacts density and phases evolution during sintering.

Abstract: The paper presents the research about the correlation between the microstructures and mechanical properties of metal coating layers after laser heat treatment. The research was made with eight types of electrodes for welding coating. Laser heat treatment was applied after coating. Evaluation of results was made by observing the microstructures with metallographic microscopy, SEM/EDX and the mechanical properties were obtained by microhardness and wear resistance. The goal of this research is to study the influence of the laser heat treatment on wearing resistance of metal coating layers. Results reveal the influence of microstructures and chemical composition of used electrodes on microhardness and wear resistance of metal coating layers.