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In order to develop a better understanding of the property, microstructure evolution and thermal history of FSW Inconel 718's, the strain, strain rate and thermal cycles need to be determined. In order to estimate the strain field of a deformed body, a displacement function needs to be determined. A 3D deformation model was developed to determine the displacement coefficients. A rectangular box created in this model deforms following a linear displacement function. Three orthogonal planes cut this deformed box, which leads to three deformed planes. The shape parameters (L, H, θ¹ and θ²) on the three orthogonal planes can be expressed as the functions of displacement coefficients. Although the displacement coefficients can not be expressed in the forms of the shape parameters symbolically, a numerical solution can be found using numerical optimization methods. The shape parameters were obtained by assuming the displacement coefficients (three cases). Then, the numerical optimization was carried out to determine the displacement coefficients. The solved displacement coefficients are the same as the assumed ones, which shows that this inverse problem can be solved, and this model is robust to determine the displacement function numerically. This model was used to estimate the strain and strain rate at the boundary of the nugget zone of Friction Stir Welding (FSW) Inconel 718. A numerical/experimental methodology was developed to estimate the thermal history in the stir zone of FSW Inconel 718.The thermocouple experiment was conducted to measure the thermal cycles in Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). Using the measured temperature in HAZ and a numerical model, the peak temperature (1039 ºC) and cooling rate (58.18 ºC/s) were determined. The microstructure in different regions was characterized and co-related with the thermal cycles. In order to understand the microstructure evolution in the stir zone, the strain rate (12.612 s-1) was estimated using the mathematical model as mentioned above. According to the estimated thermal history and strain rate, the assumption that the dynamic recrystallizaiton occurred during FSW was made. The grain size in the nugget zone affects the hardness. The relationship among the microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal cycles was discussed.

Laser-based additive manufacturing offers a high degree of thermokinetic flexibility that has implications on the structure and properties of the fabricated component. However, to exploit the flexibility of this process, it is imperative to understand the process-inherent thermokinetic evolution and its effect on the material characteristics. In view of this, the present work establishes a fundamental understanding of the spatiotemporal variation of thermokinetics during the fabrication of the non-ferrous alloys using the laser powder bed fusion process. Due to existing limitations of experimental techniques to probe such thermokinetics, a finite element method-based computational model is developed to predict the thermokinetic variations during the process. With the computational approach coupled with experimental techniques, the current work presents the solidification behavior influenced by spatially varying thermokinetics. In addition, it uniquely predicts the process-inherent multi-track multi-layer evolution of thermal cycles as well as thermal stress cycles and identifies their influence on the post-solidification microstructural evolution involving solid-state phase transformation. Lastly, the response of the material with a unique microstructure is recorded under various conditions (static and dynamic), which is again compared with the same set properties obtained for the same material processed via conventional routes.

The presence of deposits on the secondary side of pressurized water reactor (PWR) steam generator systems is one of the main contributors to the high maintenance costs of these generators. Formation and transport of corrosion products formed due to the presence of impurities, metals and metallic oxides in the secondary side of the steam generator units result in formation of deposits. This research deals with understanding the deposit formation and characterization of deposits by studying the samples collected from different units in secondary side system at Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station (CPSES). Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) have been used for studying the phases, morphologies and compositions of the iron oxides formed at Unit 1 and Unit 2 of secondary side of steamgenerator systems. Hematite and magnetite were found to be the dominant phases of iron oxides present in the units. Fe, Cr, O, Ni, Si, Cl and Cu were found in samples collected from both the units. A qualitative method was developed to differentiate iron oxides using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) based on temporal response of iron oxides to a high power laser beam. A quantitative FTIR technique was developed to identify and quantify iron oxides present in the different components of the secondary side of the steam generator of CPSES. Amines are used in water treatment to control corrosion and fouling in pressurized water reactors. CPSES presently uses an amine combination of dimethylamine (DMA), hydrazine and morpholine to control the water chemistry. Along with the abovementioned amines, this study also focuses on corrosion inhibition mechanismsof a new amine DBU (1, 8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization curves were used to study the interaction mechanism between DBU solution and inconel alloys 600 and 690 at steamgenerator operating temperatures and pressures. Of all the amines used in this study (DMA, DBU, ETA, and morpholine), DMA was more effective at keeping the passive film formed on the alloy 600 surface from failing at both ambient and high temperatures. Morpholine was found result in higher corrosion resistance compared to the other amines in case of alloy 690.

This study develops a method to simulate a full-scale inertia friction weld with a sub-scale specimen and modifies a direct drive friction stir welder to perform the welding process. A torque meter is fabricated for the FSW machine to measure weld torque. Machine controls are modified to enable a force control during the IFW process. An equation is created to measure weld upset due to deflection of the FSW machine. Data obtained from a full-scale inertia friction weld are altered to account for the geometrical differences between the sub-scale and full-scale specimens. The IFW are simulated with the sub-scale specimen while controlling spindle RPM and matching weld power or weld RPM. The force used to perform friction welding is scaled to different values accounting for specimen size to determine the effects on output parameters including: HAZ, upset, RPM, torque, power and energy of the weld. Increasing force has positive effects to upset, torque, power and energy of the welds, while reducing the size of the HAZ.

A model was created to predict the thermo-mechanical fatigue crack growth rates under typical engine spectrum loading conditions. This model serves as both a crack growth analysis tool to determine residual lifetime of ageing turbine components and as a design tool to assess the effects of temperature and loading variables on crack propagation. The material used in the development of this model was a polycrystalline superalloy, Inconel 100 (IN-100). The first step in creating a reliable model was to define the first order effects that influence TMF crack growth in a typical engine spectrum. Load interaction effects were determined to be major contributors to lifetime estimates by influencing crack growth rates based upon previous load histories. A yield zone model was modified to include temperature dependent properties that controlled the effects of crack growth retardation and acceleration based upon overloads and underloads, respectively. Multiple overload effects were included in the model to create enhanced retardation compared to single overload tests. Temperature interaction effects were also considered very important due to the wide temperature ranges of turbine engine components. Oxidation and changing temperature effects were accounted for by accelerating crack growth in regions that had been affected by higher temperatures. Constant amplitude crack growth rates were used as a baseline, upon which load and temperature interaction effects were applied. Experimental data of isolated first order effects was used to calibrate and verify the model. Experimental data provided the means to verify that the model was a good fit to experimental results. The load interaction effects were described by a yield zone model, which included temperature dependent properties. These properties were determined experimentally and were essential in the model's development to include load and temperature contributions. Other interesting factors became apparent through testing. It was seen that specific combinations of strain rate and temperature would lead to serrated yielding, discovered to be the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect. This effect manifested itself as enhanced hardening, leading to unstable strain bursts in specimens that cyclically yielded while changing temperature.

This research conducts tribological investigation in three areas. The first area of research is to obtain basic understanding of tribological properties of high performance Inconel alloys. Pin-on-disk testing was conducted through a range of applied normal loads and sliding velocities in an unlubricated condition. Average friction coefficient, friction work, and specific wear rates were calculated from the data and microscopy techniques were used to observe and characterize wear mechanisms. Experimental results show a dependence of average coefficient of friction as a function of frictional work. Also shown is the wear rate dependence on frictional work, predicated by a wear mechanism change. This research gives a tribological baseline for high performance alloys. The second area of research is in the in situ spatial study of friction, complemented by monitoring changes in electrical contact resistance (ECR). Pin-on-disk testing of samples was done under low normal loads and velocities. Friction and electrical contact resistance measurements were taken spatially in the wear track during each friction cycle, giving a spatial evolution of friction and resistance change, in situ. Results show a lowering in the ECR under increased friction cycles, which was closely related to a change in the friction coefficient of the material. Using surface profilometry and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, we determined that the lowering of resistance is a result of surface modification through wear and development of a friction induced conductive tribo-film. This research provides a simple method for in situ monitoring of friction and solidifies a fundamental relationship between friction and contact resistance. The third area of research is the design of a variable force tribometer, incorporating the fundamental results demonstrated in the first two experiments. The creation of a novel testing apparatus to test materials under dynamic tribological conditions is given in detail. Simple experiments were performed on an Inconel sample and preliminary results show how dynamic normal and tangential forces affect the friction coefficient. These early results utilizing the variable force tribometer will lay the groundwork for more advanced research into the dynamic nature of friction.

The Ni-base superalloy, IN-718, has been coated with alumina sols. Coated surfaces, carrying alumina layers having thicknesses between 0.6 μm and 3.6 μm show a significantly reduced oxidation rate when compared with uncoated reference surfaces, even if heating temperature is increased up to 900 °C and heating time is extended to 800 h. Alumina layers were prepared via sol-gel processing using a modified Yoldas procedure to obtain alumina sols. No change in rheological sol behavior was observed for more than 1 year of aging under static conditions at room temperature. Depending on pH value, modified Yoldas sols contain a manifold of Al species, among them Al13 polycations. Thermal evolution of sol derived alumina powders depends on Al speciation of parent sols. Depending on sol composition, both gamma-Al2O3 and eta-Al2O3 occur as intermediate transition aluminas. Phase composition and gas phase velocity influence oxygen permeability of thin layers prepared with modified Yoldas sols.

Les chargements thermomécaniques caractéristiques des moteurs de fusée sont souvent complexes et induisent, en particulier, des fluctuations rapides et importantes de la température. Dans ce contexte, la qualification du comportement des matériaux métalliques requiert la mise en oeuvre d'une approche cohérente avec les différentes réponses observées expérimentalement sur une large gamme de température. Celle ci est appliquée, dans notre étude, à la modélisation du comportement élasto viscoplastique et de l'endommagement de deux alliages utilisés dans l'industrie aérospatiale : l'Inconel 600 et le Narloy Z. Les spécificités relatives aux différentes étapes de caractérisation expérimentale, modélisation et identification des modèles sont explicitées, de façon à dégager les éléments de généralisation de la démarche. Ceci permet d'envisager l'application des différents résultats obtenus à des problématiques concrètes telles que la prédiction de la durée de vie de nouveaux composants.

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the hardness and microstructure in bent and welded samples of Alloy 718. The results will be used by GKN aerospace to evaluate the simulated values of the production process of vines in a jet engine. In total, eleven samples from three different production chains are evaluated. All samples are bent and go through different stages within the production including bending, solution treatment and welding. The samples are cut and mounted in bakelite then polished and etched in order for the microstructure to be seen and evaluated. Hardness tests were made on the mounts to evaluate how bending, solution treatment and welding affects the hardness. The bent samples without the solution treatment became harder depending on the amount of cold deformation. The amount of cold deformation controls how fast the material recrystallizes during subsequent solution treatment. During the solution treatment, the δ-phase (Ni3Nb) is precipitated in the grain boundaries which prevents a coarser grain size and therefore promotes a smaller grain size.  The laser weld creates a small HAZ (heat affected zone) that becomes softer because the heat dissolves the δ-phase which therefore triggers the grains to grow. The weld consists of eutectic γ-dendrites with interdendritic pools of alloying elements. After the solution treatment, many needle shaped δ-phases arise from the pools and HAZ. The hardness measurements were tested on a manual machine which makes potential human error important to consider when the measurements are evaluated. When the grain size measurements are done on the solution treated samples, the grain boundaries can be difficult to determine because the δ-phases and twins create wide and incorrect boundaries. The results will be used by GKN Aerospace in order to verify their simulations. The heterogenic material after solution treatment will probably be studied further. / Syftet med projektet är att undersöka hårdhet och mikrostruktur i bockade och svetsade prover tillverkade av Alloy 718. Totalt undersöks elva stycken prover som är tillverkade på olika sätt enligt tre tillverkningskedjor. Alla provbitar är bockade och har sedan genomgått olika många steg i tillverkningen som består utav bockning, upplösningsbehandling och svets. Genom att kapa upp provbitarna i mindre bitar, baka in de i bakelit och etsa de studerades mikrostrukturen och hur den påverkas av bockning, upplösningsbehandling och svets. Vidare gjordes hårdhetsmätningar över olika delar av proven för att undersöka hur mycket hårdare materialet blir vid kalldeformation och hur upplösningsbehandling och svets påverkar hårdheten i Alloy 718. Endast bockade prov blir hårdare beroende på hur mycket kalldeformation provbiten har utsatts för. Hur mycket provet har deformerats styr hur snabbt rekristallisationen sker vid en efterföljande upplösningsbehandling. Under upplösningsbehandlingen utskiljs även δ-fas (Ni3Nb) i korngränser vilket främjar en mindre kornstorlek. Lasersvetsen ger ett litet värmepåverkat område men värmen från svetsen bidrar till att δ-fasen löses upp och större korn bildas. Svetsen består av långa eutektiska γ-dendriter med interdendritiska poler av mycket legeringsämnen. Vid upplösningsbehandling efter utförd svets bildas det δ-fas i de värmepåverkade och i svetsen. Hårdhetsmätningarna har utförts på en manuell hårdhetsmaskin vilket innebär att felmarginalen blir större då den mänskliga felfaktorn spelar en stor roll. Vid beräkning av kornstorlek har det varit svårt att utskilja vad som är en korngräns i upplösningsbehandlade prov då mängden δ-fas efter upplösningsbehandling ger tjocka korngränser.  Resultaten kommer användas av GKN Aerospace för att verifiera sina simulationer. Det heterogena materialet efter upplösningsbehandlingen kommer troligtvis studeras vidare.