Removable Epoxy Foam (REF) and other rigid foams experience severe changes in structure and properties when exposed to high heat. As thermal energy breaks network bonds in the foam many species are formed, including large polymer-like network fragments and smaller solvent-like molecules. During this process a liquid phase may form. The vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) behavior of the polymer solutions formed during initial decomposition can be highly non-ideal. In this research VLE behavior of high-temperature polymer solutions was studied and a procedure was developed for predicting that behavior during decomposition of rigid foams. A high-temperature VLE facility was built and validated, and equilibrium pressures were measured at temperatures between 75 and 250ºC for six polymer/solvent systems: two polymers – polyethylene glycol and polystyrene – with each of three solvents – benzene, furan, and 4-isopropylphenol. Calculations from eighteen polymer solution models were compared with experimental results to determine which model best described the VLE behavior. These models included six existing activity coefficient models used alone, as well as in combinations with the Peng-Robinson equation of state (EOS) through the Wong-Sandler mixing rules. Because several of the models required values for polymer volumes, a comparison of the GCVOL and GCMCM group-contribution volume estimation methods was performed. GCMCM was found to give lower overall deviations from literature polymer volume data. The models involving an equation of state required EOS parameter values for the pure polymers. A new method for determining these parameters was proposed. Models using parameters from the new method gave better agreement with equilibrium pressure data than models using parameters from the recommended method in the literature. While agreement with equilibrium pressure data was similar for several models, some models predicted a liquid phase split under certain conditions. Data were not available to verify the presence of two liquid phases, but are needed to make an appropriate recommendation of the best model. If liquid phase splitting does not occur, it is recommended that the UNIFAC-ZM activity coefficient model be used alone. If phase splitting behavior is observed, it is recommended that the UNIFAC-FV activity coefficient model be used in combination with the Peng-Robinson EOS.

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One of the most conspicuous problems in space physics for the last decades has been to theoretically describe how the large parallel electric fields on auroral field lines can be generated. There is strong observational evidence of such electric fields, and stationary theory supports the need for electric fields accelerating electrons to the ionosphere where they generate auroras. However, dynamic models have not been able to reproduce these electric fields. This thesis sheds some light on this incompatibility and shows that the missing ingredient in previous dynamic models is a correct description of the electron temperature. As the electrons accelerate towards the ionosphere, their velocity along the magnetic field line will increase. In the converging magnetic field lines, the mirror force will convert much of the parallel velocity into perpendicular velocity. The result of the acceleration and mirroring will be a velocity distribution with a significantly higher temperature in the auroral acceleration region than above. The enhanced temperature corresponds to strong electron pressure gradients that balance the parallel electric fields. Thus, in regions with electron acceleration along converging magnetic field lines, the electron temperature increase is a fundamental process and must be included in any model that aims to describe the build up of parallel electric fields. The development of such a model has been hampered by the difficulty to describe the temperature variation. This thesis shows that a local equation of state cannot be used, but the electron temperature variations must be descibed as a nonlocal response to the state of the auroral flux tube. The nonlocal response can be accomplished by the particle-fluid model presented in this thesis. This new dynamic model is a combination of a fluid model and a Particle-In-Cell (PIC) model and results in large parallel electric fields consistent with in-situ observations.

In dieser Arbeit wird mit Hilfe der Gitter-Methode der Phasenübergang/Crossover bei nicht verschwindender Temperatur der Quantenchromodynamik mit zwei Quark Flavour untersucht sowie die thermodynamische Zustandsgleichung berechnet. Es wird dabei die Wilson twisted-mass Formulierung der Quark-Wirkung verwendet, welche hinsichtlich des Kontinuum-Limes eine automatische Verbesserung birgt. Erste belastbare Resultate mit dieser Wirkung bei endlicher Temperatur werden in dieser Arbeit gezeigt. Mehrere kleine Werte der Pion-Masse werden betrachtet mit dem Ziel, Aufschluss über die Ordnung des Phasenüberganges im chiralen Limes zu erhalten. Im Bereich der von uns simulierten Pion-Massen zwischen 300 und 700 MeV wird hierbei lediglich ein Crossover-Übergang beobachtet. Die Abhängigkeit der gemessenen Crossover-Temperatur von der Masse wird für eine Extrapolation zu verschwindender Masse hin verwendet unter der Annahme verschiedener Szenarien für den chiralen Limes. Dazu komplementär wird das chirale Kondensat, der Ordnungsparameter der spontanen Brechung der chiralen Symmetrie, vor dem Hintergrund der so genannten magnetischen Zustandsgleichung untersucht, welche das universelle Verhalten in der Nähe des Phasenüberganges für die Universalitätsklasse des O(4) Modells angibt. Hinsichtlich der Thermodynamik wird ausgehend von der Spur-Anomalie und unter Benutzung der Temperatur-Integral Methode der Druck und die Energiedichte im Crossover-Gebiet berechnet. Der Kontinuum-Limes der Spur-Anomalie wird mit mehreren Gitterdiskretisierungen der Temperatur Nt sowie unter Zuhilfenahme einer tree-level Korrektur untersucht. / In this thesis we report about an investigation of the finite temperature crossover/phase transition of quantum chromodynamics and the evaluation of the thermodynamic equation of state. To this end the lattice method and the Wilson twisted mass discretisation of the quark action are used. This formulation is known to have an automatic improvement of lattice artifacts and thus an improved continuum limit behaviour. This work presents first robust results using this action for the non-vanishing temperature case. We investigate the chiral limit of the two flavour phase transition with several small values of the pion mass in order to address the open question of the order of the transition in the limit of vanishing quark mass. For the currently simulated pion masses in the range of 300 to 700 MeV we present evidence that the finite temperature transition is a crossover transition rather than a genuine phase transition. The chiral limit is investigated by comparing the scaling of the observed crossover temperature with the mass including several possible scenarios. Complementary to this approach the chiral condensate as the order parameter for the spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry is analysed in comparison with the O(4) universal scaling function which characterises a second order transition. With respect to thermodynamics the equation of state is obtained from the trace anomaly employing the temperature integral method which provides the pressure and energy density in the crossover region. The continuum limit of the trace anomaly is studied by considering several values of Nt and the tree-level correction technique.

Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre de recherches menées sur la fusion par confinement inertiel (FCI). En particulier, l’étude proposée ici s’est concentrée sur les équations d’état tabulées de deux matériaux ablateurs synthétisés sur les capsules du Laser Mégajoule. Le but est alors de tester la modélisation théorique implémentée dans ces tables. Nous avons concentré notre étude sur un domaine restreint du diagramme de phase caractérisé par des pressions de quelques mégabars et de températures de quelques électronvolts qui peut être atteint sur des installations laser de tailles moyennes.Pour ce faire, nous nous sommes basés sur le modèle QEOS, car il est simple d’utilisation, paramétrable et donc facilement modifiable.Nous avons ensuite appliqué les méthodes de la dynamique moléculaire quantique pour générer la courbe froide et les courbes d’Hugoniot des deux matériaux étudiés. Ces calculs ont notamment mis en avant l’influence de la dissociation chimique sur la forme de ces courbes. Une comparaison avec le modèle QEOS a montré un écart important sur l’Hugoniot. Une modification de ce modèle, à travers le coefficient de Grüneisen, nous a ensuite permis de restituer les effets observés et d’étudier leurs impacts sur la chronométrie des chocs dans une capsule de FCI.Parallèlement à cette étude numérique, nous avons mesuré des états thermodynamiques le long de l’Hugoniot lors de trois campagnes sur les installations laser LULI2000 et GEKKO XII. L’utilisation de diagnostics VISAR et d’un diagnostic d’émission propre, nous a alors permis de sonder la matière sous choc. En outre, les données expérimentales ont confirmé les précédents résultats.En outre, cette étude a été réalisée sur deux matériaux ablateurs différents parmi lesquels on distingue le polymère non dopé CHO et le polymère dopé au silicium CHOSi. Elle montre un comportement universel de ces matériaux le long de l’Hugoniot. / This PhD thesis enters the field of inertial confinement fusion studies. In particular, it focuses on the equation of state tables of ablator materials synthetized on LMJ capsules. This work is indeed aims at improving the theoretical models introduced into the equation of state tables. We focused in the Mbar-eV pressure-temperature range because it can be access on kJ-scale laser facilities.In order to achieve this, we used the QEOS model, which is simple to use, configurable, and easily modifiable.First, quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) simulations were performed to generate cold compression curve as well as shock compression curves along the principal Hugoniot. Simulations were compared to QEOS model and showed that atomic bond dissociation has an effect on the compressibility. Results from these simulations are then used to parametrize the Grüneisen parameter in order to generate a tabulated equation of state that includes dissociation. It allowed us to show its influence on shock timing in a hydrodynamic simulation.Second, thermodynamic states along the Hugoniot were measured during three experimental campaigns upon the LULI2000 and GEKKO XII laser facilities. Experimental data confirm QMD simulations.This study was performed on two ablator materials which are an undoped polymer CHO, and a silicon-doped polymer CHOSi. Results showed universal shock compression properties.

Pour prémunir les structures spatiales d'impacts hyper-véloces, le secteur aérospatial est continuellement à la recherche de matériaux toujours plus performants. Dans cette optique, les verres métalliques massifs se présentent comme de potentiels éléments de blindages spatiaux. De récentes études ont mis en exergue une meilleure résistance à la pénétration de ces matériaux comparativement aux blindages actuels. Les impacts par lanceurs permettent d'étudier et caractériser le comportement sous chocs des matériaux. Cependant, les vitesses des projectiles se retrouvent actuellement limitées à 10 km/s, correspondant aux niveaux d'impacts hyper-véloces les plus modérés. Pour s'affranchir de cette limitation, il est possible de se tourner vers les lasers de puissance. Ces dispositifs permettent de générer des ondes de choc dont les niveaux de pression et de vitesse de déformation sont supérieurs aux lanceurs. Les travaux menés ont permis d'étudier et de caractériser le comportement et l'endommagement de plusieurs verres métalliques ternaires ZrCuAl sous choc laser. Plusieurs campagnes expérimentales ont été réalisées sur les installations du Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses (LULI2000 et ELFIE). Une partie de l'équation d'état des nuances étudiées a été obtenue à la fois par choc laser et compression isentropique. Les processus d'endommagement, l'influence des vitesses de déformation et de composition sur la rupture ont été étudiés. Pour des régimes de vitesse de déformation supérieurs de trois ordres de grandeur à ceux disponibles dans la littérature, il a été mis en évidence que les verres métalliques étudiés présentaient une limite à la rupture cinq à dix fois supérieure. / Space industry is always searching for efficient materials to protect space structures from high-velocity impacts. In this context, bulk metallic glasses appear as suitable elements of space debris shielding assemblies. Recent studies revealed a higher tolerance to impact of metallic glasses compared to materials currently used in shield assemblies. Gas-gun and powder launchers are usually used to study and characterize the dynamic and shock behaviour of materials. However, projectiles velocities are currently limited to 10 km/s, corresponding to the lowest high-velocity impacts levels. To overcome this limitation, one may consider shock waves induced by high-power laser facilities, whose pressure and strain rate levels can exceed those induced by canons. Hence, this work enabled to study and to characterize the dynamic and damage behaviours of several compositions of ternary ZrCuAl bulk metallic glasses subjected to shock waves induced by laser irradiation. Several experimental campaigns have been conducted on various laser facilities of the Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses (LULI2000 and ELFIE). A part of the equation of state of the studied compositions was established using both shock waves and quasi-isentropic compressions. Damage processes and the composition and strain rate effects on fracture were also studied. For strain rate levels higher of three or more orders of magnitude than those available in the literature, it was shown that studied bulk metallic glasses displayed a five to ten times higher dynamic tensile limit.

<p>One of the most conspicuous problems in space physics for the last decades has been to theoretically describe how the large parallel electric fields on auroral field lines can be generated. There is strong observational evidence of such electric fields, and stationary theory supports the need for electric fields accelerating electrons to the ionosphere where they generate auroras. However, dynamic models have not been able to reproduce these electric fields. This thesis sheds some light on this incompatibility and shows that the missing ingredient in previous dynamic models is a correct description of the electron temperature. As the electrons accelerate towards the ionosphere, their velocity along the magnetic field line will increase. In the converging magnetic field lines, the mirror force will convert much of the parallel velocity into perpendicular velocity. The result of the acceleration and mirroring will be a velocity distribution with a significantly higher temperature in the auroral acceleration region than above. The enhanced temperature corresponds to strong electron pressure gradients that balance the parallel electric fields. Thus, in regions with electron acceleration along converging magnetic field lines, the electron temperature increase is a fundamental process and must be included in any model that aims to describe the build up of parallel electric fields. The development of such a model has been hampered by the difficulty to describe the temperature variation. This thesis shows that a local equation of state cannot be used, but the electron temperature variations must be descibed as a nonlocal response to the state of the auroral flux tube. The nonlocal response can be accomplished by the particle-fluid model presented in this thesis. This new dynamic model is a combination of a fluid model and a Particle-In-Cell (PIC) model and results in large parallel electric fields consistent with in-situ observations.</p>

<p>The elastic constants of Mg_(1-x)Al_xB₂ have been calculated in the regime 0<x<0.25. The calculations show that the ratio, B/G, between the bulk- and the shear-modulus stays well below the empirical ductility limit, 1.75, for all concentrations, indicating that the introduction of Al will not change the brittle behaviour of the material considerably. Furthermore, the tetragonal elastic constant C’ has been calculated for the transition metal alloys Fe-Co, Mo-Tc and W-Re, showing that if a suitable tuning of the alloying is made, these materials have a vanishingly low C'. Thermal expansion calculations of the 4d transition metals have also been performed, showing good agreement with experiment with the exception of Nb and Mo. The calculated phonon dispersions of the 4d metals all give reasonable agreement with experiment. First principles calculations of the thermal expansion of hcp Ti have been performed, showing that this element has a negative thermal expansion along the c-axis which is linked to the closeness of the Fermi level to an electronic topological transition. Calculations of the EOS of fcc Au give support to the suggestion that the ruby pressure scale might underestimate pressures with ~10 GPa at pressures ~150 GPa. The high temperature bcc phase of the group IV metals has been calculated with the novel self-consistent ab-initio dynamical (SCAILD) method. The results show good agreement with experiment, and the free energy resolution of < 1 meV suggests that this method might be suitable for calculating free energy differences between different crystallographic phases as a function of temperature.</p>