One of prominent issues related to failures in nuclear power components is attributed to material degradation due the aggressive environment conditions, and mechanical stresses. For instance, reactor core support components, such as fuel claddings, are under prolonged exposure to an intense neutron field from the fission of fuel and operate at elevated temperature under fatigue loadings caused by start up, shut down, and unscheduled emergency shut down. Additionally, exposure to highluence neutron radiation can lead to microscopic defects that result in material hardening and embrittlement, which significantly affects the physical and mechanical properties of the materials, resulting in further reduction in fatigue life of reactor structural components. The effects of fatigue damage on material deterioration can be further exacerbated by the presence of thermal loading, hold-time, and high-temperature water coolant environments. In this study, uniaxial fatigue models were used to predict fatigue behavior based only on simple monotonic properties including ultimate tensile strength and Brinell hardness. Two existing models, the Bäumel Seeger uniform material law and the Roessle Fatemi hardness method, were employed and extended to include the effects of test temperature, neutron irradiation fluence, irradiation induced helium and irradiation induced swellings on fatigue life of austenitic stainless steels. Furthermore, a methodology to estimate fatigue crack length using a strip-yield based model is presented. This methodology is also extended to address the effect of creep deformation in a presence of hold- times, and expanded to include the effects of irradiation and water environment. Reasonable fatigue life predictions and crack growth estimations are obtained for irradiated austenitic stainless steels types 304, 304L, and 316, when compared to the experimental data available in the literature. Lastly, a failure analysis methodology of a mixer unit shaft made of AISI 304 stainless steel is also presented using a conventional 14-step failure analysis approach. The primary mode of failure is identified to be intergranular stress cracking at the heat affected zones. A means of circumventing this type of failure in the future is presented.

No description available.

No description available.

In collaboration with Westinghouse Electric AB this project aims to study the possibilities with using machine learning methods to predict fuel failure in a Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). The main objective has been to create a dataset consisting of both empirical measurements and simulated samples from a physics model and evaluate different machine learning algorithms, that use these datasets to predict fuel defects. The simulated data is created using a physics model derived from the ANS-5.4 standard which allows for good control over specific parameter values. Three machine learning algorithms were deemed fit for this type of problem and used throughout the project: Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Neural Network (NN). Both classification and regression type problems have been assessed. All three methods showed good results for the classification problems, where the goal was to predict if there was a fuel failure or not. All models reached an accuracy above 97% and performed well, the RF model had the highest overall, with an accuracy of 98.2 %. However, the NN method made the fewest false negative predictions and can therefore be seen as the best model for this purpose. For the regression, problems with the aim of predicting escape rates, both the RF and KNN had similar promising results with very small errors overall. Yet, there is a slight increase in errors when predicting higher escape rates for both models. This is most likely due to the available data being of mostly low escape rates. The NN did not perform well with this problem, the predictions having large error for both low and high escape rates, a possible explanation is the lack of data. To improve the results, and create even better models, the empirical measurements need to contain more information such as defect location and fuel failure size, also an increase in the number of samples taken at fuel failure operation would be valuable.

In dieser Arbeit werden zwei Fragen im Zusammenhang mit Fehlern von Fingerabdruckerkennungssystemen untersucht. Erstens: Welche strukturellen Merkmale und begrifflichen Implikationen hat der spezifische Fehlerdiskurs in diesem Teilgebiet der Biometrie? Zur Beantwortung dieser Frage werden im Rahmen einer diskursanalytischen Betrachtung der Fachtexte des Forschungsfeldes die gängigen Fehlertypologien der Biometrie untersucht. Die Arbeitshypothese der Analyse ist, dass der massenhafte Einsatz von Fingerabdruckerkennungssystemen im Alltag trotz aller ihrer Fehler diskursiv durchsetzungsfähig ist. Undzwar nicht unbedingt, weil die Fehler zu vernachlässigen sind, sondern weil die Angst vor „Identitätsbetrug“, die Idee einer Messbarkeit von Identität und die wirtschaftliche und politische Bedeutung von Sicherheitstechniken in einer für unsicher gehaltenen Welt große Wirkmächtigkeit haben. Es wird diskutiert, inwiefern die Auseinandersetzung mit System- und Überwindungsfehlern in der Informatik zu kurz greift. Daher wird ein erweitertes Fehlermodell vorgeschlagen, das an jüngere transdisziplinäre Fehlerforschung anknüpft und als kritisches Analyseinstrument für die Beurteilung der Wechselwirkung zwischen Informatik(-system) und Gesellschaft genutzt werden kann. Zweitens: Wie lassen sich die diskursanalytische Methode und ein experimentelles Hands-On-Lernen zu einem Lern- und Lehrkonzept verbinden, dass eine kritische Vermittlung der Probleme von Fingerabdruckerkennungssystemen ermöglicht? Ausgehend von schulischen Unterrichtskonzepten einer an der Lebenswelt orientierten Informatiklehre sowie der Idee des „be-greifbaren Lernens“ an konkreten Gegenständen wurde ein Lern- und Lehrkonzept für Universität und Schule entwickelt und in drei verschiedenen Institutionen ausprobiert. / In this paper two questions will be addressed relating to deficits in fingerprint recognition systems. Firstly, what structural features and conceptual implications does the analysis of errors have in the field of biometrics? To answer this question, the common error types in biometrics will be examined, as part of an analytical discourse taking into consideration technical texts from the research field. The working hypothesis of this analysis is that the structure of the discourse surrounding fingerprint recognition systems would present no barriers to their widespread implementation in everyday life despite all their faults – not because their shortcomings are negligible but due to the great potency of the fear of “identity fraud”, the notion that identity can be measured, and the economic and political importance of security technologies in a world deemed unsafe. It will be discussed how the examination of system errors and spoofing attacks in computer science falls short in addressing the whole picture of failing fingerprint recognition systems. Therefore an extended error model will be proposed, one which builds on recent transdisciplinary error research and which can be used as a critical tool for analysing and assessing the interaction between computer systems and society. Secondly, how could the analytical discourse method and experimental hands-on learning be combined into a teaching concept that would enable critical teaching of the problems of fingerprint recognition systems? Starting from the school-based teaching concepts of a theory of computer science based on real life and the idea of “hands-on learning” using concrete objects, a teaching concept for universities and schools has been developed and tested in three different institutions.

Dans ce travail, différentes formulations d'éléments de poutres sont proposées pour l'analyse à rupture de structures de type poutres ou portiques en béton armé soumises à des chargements statiques monotones. La rupture localisée des matériaux est modélisée par la méthode à discontinuité forte, qui consiste à enrichir l'interpolation standard des déplacements (ou rotations) avec des fonctions discontinues associées à un paramètre cinématique supplémentaire interprété comme un saut de déplacement (ou rotation). Ces paramètres additionnels sont locaux et condensés au niveau élémentaire. Un élément fini écrit en efforts résultants et deux éléments finis multi-couches sont développés dans ce travail. L'élément de poutre d'Euler Bernouilli écrit en effort résultant présente une discontinuité en rotation. La réponse en flexion du matériau hors discontinuité est décrite par un modèle élastoplastique en effort résultant et la relation cohésive liant moment et saut de rotation sur la rotule plastique est, quant à elle, décrite par un modèle rigide plastique. La réponse axiale est suppposée élastique. Pour ce qui concerne l'approche multi-couche, chaque couche est considérée comme une barre constituée de béton ou d'acier. La partie régulière de la déformation de chaque couche est calculée en s'appuyant sur la cinématique associée à la théorie d'Euler Bernoulli ou de Timoshenko. Une déformation axiale additionnelle est considérée par l'introduction d'une discontinuité du déplacement axial, introduite indépendamment dans chaque couche. Le comportement du béton est pris en compte par un modèle élasto-endommageable alors que celui de l'acier est décrit par un modèle élastoplastique. La relation cohésive entre la traction sur la discontinuité et le saut de déplacement axial est décrit par un modèle rigide endommageable adoucissant pour les barres (couches) en béton et rigide plastique adoucissant pour les barres en acier. La réponse en cisaillement pour l'élement de Timoshenko est supposée élastique. Enfin, l'élément multi-couche de Timoshenko est enrichi en introduisant une partie visqueuse dans la réponse adoucissante. L'implantation numérique des différents éléments développés dans ce travail est présentée en détail. La résolution par une procédure d'«operator split» est décrite pour chaque type d'élément. Les différentes quantités nécessaires pour le calcul au niveau local des variables internes des modèles non linéaires ainsi que pour la construction du système global fournissant les valeurs des dégrés de liberté sont précisées. Les performances des éléments développés sont illustrées à travers des exemples numériques montrant que la formulation basée sur un élément multicouche d'Euler Bernouilli n'est pas robuste alors les simulations s'appuyant sur des éléments d'Euler Bernouilli en efforts résultants ou sur des éléments multicouche de Timoshenko fournissent des résultats très satisfaisants. / In this work, several beam finite element formulations are proposed for failure analysis of planar reinforced concrete beams and frames under monotonic static loading. The localized failure of material is modeled by the embedded strong discontinuity concept, which enhances standard interpolation of displacement (or rotation) with a discontinuous function, associated with an additional kinematic parameter representing jump in displacement (or rotation). The new parameters are local and are condensed on the element level. One stress resultant and two multi-layer beam finite elements are derived. The stress resultant Euler-Bernoulli beam element has embedded discontinuity in rotation. Bending response of the bulk of the element is described by elasto-plastic stress resultant material model. The cohesive relation between the moment and the rotational jump at the softening hinge is described by rigid-plastic model. Axial response is elastic. In the multi-layer beam finite elements, each layer is treated as a bar, made of either concrete or steel. Regular axial strain in a layer is computed according to Euler-Bernoulli or Timoshenko beam theory. Additional axial strain is produced by embedded discontinuity in axial displacement, introduced individually in each layer. Behavior of concrete bars is described by elastodamage model, while elasto-plasticity model is used for steel bars. The cohesive relation between the stress at the discontinuity and the axial displacement jump is described by rigid-damage softening model in concrete bars and by rigid-plastic softening model in steel bars. Shear response in the Timoshenko element is elastic. Finally, the multi-layer Timoshenko beam finite element is upgraded by including viscosity in the softening model. Computer code implementation is presented in detail for the derived elements. An operator split computational procedure is presented for each formulation. The expressions, required for the local computation of inelastic internal variables and for the global computation of the degrees of freedom, are provided. Performance of the derived elements is illustrated on a set of numerical examples, which show that the multi-layer Euler-Bernoulli beam finite element is not reliable, while the stress-resultant Euler-Bernoulli beam and the multi-layer Timoshenko beam finite elements deliver satisfying results. / V disertaciji predlagamo nekaj formulacij končnih elementov za porušno analizo armiranobetonskih nosilcev in okvirjev pod monotono statično obteˇzbo. Lokalizirano porušitev materiala modeliramo z metodo vgrajene nezveznosti, pri kateri standardno interpolacijo pomikov (ali zasukov) nadgradimo z nezvezno interpolacijsko funkcijo in z dodatnim kinematičnim parametrom, ki predstavlja velikost nezveznosti v pomikih (ali zasukih). Dodatni parametri so lokalnega značaja in jih kondenziramo na nivoju elementa. Izpeljemo en rezultantni in dva večslojna končna elementa za nosilec. Rezultantni element za Euler-Bernoullijev nosilec ima vgrajeno nezveznost v zasukih. Njegov upogibni odziv opišemo z elasto-plastičnim rezultantnim materialnim modelom. Kohezivni zakon, ki povezuje moment v plastičnem členku s skokom v zasuku, opišemo s togo-plastičnim modelom mehčanja. Osni odziv je elastičen. V večslojnih končnih elementih vsak sloj obravnavamo kot betonsko ali jekleno palico. Standardno osno deformacijo v palici izračunamo v skladu z Euler-Bernoullijevo ali s Timošenkovo teorijo nosilcev. Vgrajena nezveznost v osnem pomiku povzroči dodatno osno deformacijo v posamezni palici. Obnašanje betonskega sloja opišemo z modelom elasto-poškodovanosti, za sloj armature pa uporabimo elasto-plastični model. Kohezivni zakon, ki povezuje napetost v nezveznosti s skokom v osnem pomiku, opišemo z modelom mehčanja v poškodovanosti za beton in s plastičnim modelom mehčanja za jeklo.Striˇzni odziv Timošenkovega nosilca je elastičen. Večslojni končni element za Timošenkov nosilec nadgradimo z viskoznim modelom mehčanja. Za vsak končni element predstavimo računski algoritem ter vse potrebne izraze za lokalni izračun neelastičnih notranjih spremenljivk in za globalni izračun prostostnih stopenj. Delovanje končnih elementov preizkusimo na več numeričnih primerih. Ugotovimo, da večslojni končni element za Euler-Bernoullijev nosilec ni zanesljiv, medtem ko rezultantni končni element za Euler-Bernoullijev nosilec in večslojni končni element za Timošenkov nosilec dajeta zadovoljive rezultate.

The need to protect marine structures from the high-intensity impulsive loads created by underwater explosions has stimulated renewed interest in the mechanical response of sandwich structures. The objective of this combined numerical and experimental study is to analyze the dynamic response of composite sandwich structures and develop material-structure-property relations and design criteria for improving the blast-resistance of marine structures. Configurations analyzed include polymer foam core structures with planar geometries. A novel experimental facility to generate high-intensity underwater impulsive loads and carry out in-situ measurements of dynamic deformations in marine structures is developed. Experiments are supported by fully dynamic finite-element simulations which account for the effects of fluid-structure interaction, and the constitutive and damage response of E-glass/polyester composites and PVC foams. Results indicate that the core-density has a significant influence on dynamic deformations and failure modes. Polymeric foams experience considerable rate-effects and exhibit extensive shear cracking and collapse under high-magnitude multi-axial underwater impulsive loads. In structures with identical masses, low-density foam cores consistently outperform high-density foam cores, undergoing lesser deflections and transmitting smaller impulses. Calculations reveal a significant difference between the response of air-backed and water-backed structures. Water-backed structures undergo much greater damage and consequently need to absorb a much larger amount of energy than air-backed structures. The impulses transmitted through water-backed structures have significant implications for structural design. The thickness of the facesheets is varied under the conditions of constant material properties and core dimensions. The results reveal an optimal thickness of the facesheets which maximizes energy absorption in the core and minimizes the overall deflection of the structure.

A new nonlinear fracture analysis framework is developed for the mode-I and II fracture response of thick-section fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) composites. This framework employs 3D micromechanical constitutive models for the nonlinear material behavior along with cohesive elements for crack growth. Fracture tests on various cracked geometries are used to verify the prediction of the failure loads and the crack growth behavior. A commercially available pultruded E-glass/polyester and vinylester thick-section FRP composite material was used to demonstrate the proposed fracture approach along with the nonlinear constitutive modeling. A new Infra-red thermography technique is derived to measure the surface strain field near the crack tip in the linear response range. Mode I and II fracture toughness tests for pultruded composites are also examined using the eccentrically loaded, single-edge-notch tension, ESE(T), single-edge-notch tension, SEN(T), and a butterfly specimen with an Arcan-type fixture. Material nonlinearity and crack growth effects were observed during the tests and investigated using the proposed analysis framework. The effect of material orthotropy on the stress intensity factor solutions was addressed using the virtual crack closure technique. The analytic and experimental results support the use of the ESE(T) specimen for the measuring the mode-I fracture toughness and the butterfly shaped specimen for measuring the mode-II toughness. The calibrated cohesive models were able to predict the measured crack growth in both modes I and II for various crack geometries. A mixed mode failure criterion is proposed and verified with test results. Examples are presented for using this criterion and crack growth analyses. The experimental and analytical results of this study can form a foundation for using fracture-based methods for the design of structures using these materials.

Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le domaine de la localisation de défauts de type «soft» dans les Circuits Intégrés (CI) analogiques et mixtes à l’aide des techniques dynamiques de stimulation laser en faible perturbation. Les résultats obtenus à l’aide de ces techniques sont très complexes à analyser dans le cas des CI analogiques et mixtes. Ce travail porte ainsi particulièrement sur le développement d’une méthodologie facilitant l’analyse des cartographies laser. Cette méthodologie est basée sur la comparaison de résultats de simulations électriques de l’interaction faisceau laser-CI avec des résultats expérimentaux (cartographies laser). L’influence des phénomènes thermique et photoélectrique sur les CI (niveau transistor) a été modélisée et simulée. La méthodologie a été validée tout d’abord sur des structures de tests simples avant d’être utilisée sur des CI complexes que l’on trouve dans le commerce. / This thesis deals with Soft failure localization in the analog and mixed mode Integrated Circuits (ICs) by means of Dynamic Laser Stimulation techniques (DLS). The results obtained using these techniques are very complex to analyze in the case of analog and mixed ICs. In this work we develop a methodology which facilitates the analysis of the laser mapping. This methodology consists on combining the experimental results (laser mapping) with the electrical simulations of laser stimulation impact on the device. The influence of photoelectric and thermal phenomena on the IC (transistor level) has been modeled and simulated. The methodology has been validated primarily on test structures before being used on complex Freescale ICs existing in commerce.

Hmotnostná spektrometria sekundárnych iónov s analýzou doby letu (TOF-SIMS) patrí vďaka vysokej citlivosti na prvkové zloženie medzi významné metódy analýzy pevných povrchov. Táto práca demonštruje možnosti TOF-SIMS v troch odlišných oblastiach výskumu. Prvá časť práce sa zaoberá lokalizáciou defektov vysokonapäťových polovodičových súčiastok, ktorá je nevyhnutná k ich ďalšiemu skúmaniu metódou TOF-SIMS. Bola navrhnutá experimentálna zostava s riadiacim softvérom umožňujúca automatizované meranie záverného prúdu v rôznych miestach polovodičový súčiastok. Druhá časť práce sa zaoberá kvantifikáciou koncentrácie Mg dopantov v rôznych hĺbkach vzoriek AlGaN. Kvantifikácia je založená na metóde RSF a umožňuje charakterizáciu AlGaN heteroštruktúr určených na výrobu tranzistorov s vysokou elektrónovou mobilitou (HEMT) alebo na výrobu rôznych optoelektronických zariadení. Sada 12 AlGaN kalibračných vzoriek dopovaných Mg, určených na kvantifikáciu hĺbkových profilov, bola pripravená metódou iónovej implantácie. Posledná časť práce demonštruje možnosti metódy TOF-SIMS vo výskume heterogénnej katalýzy. Hlavným objektom nášho výskumu je dynamika oxidácie CO na oxid uhličitý na polykryštalickom povrchu platiny za tlakov vysokého vákua. V tejto práci prezentujem prvé TOF-SIMS pozorovanie časopriestorových vzorov v reálnom čase, ktoré vznikajú v dôsledku rôzneho pokrytia povrchu Pt reaktantmi. Výsledky TOF-SIMS experimentu boli porovnané s výsledkami podobného experiment v rastrovacom elektrónovom mikroskope (SEM).