Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:52:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:00:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O Cu e suas ligas têm diferentes aplicações na sociedade moderna devido as excelentes propriedades elétricas, condutividade térmica, resistência à corrosão dentre outras propriedades. Estas aplicações podem ser em válvulas, tubulações, panelas para absorção de energia solar, radiadores para automóveis, condutores de corrente e eletrônico, elementos de termostatos e partes estruturais de reatores nucleares, como, por exemplo, bobinas para campo toroidal para um reator de fusão nuclear. Dentre as ligas utilizadas em reatores nucleares, podemos destacar Cu-Be, Cu-Sn e Cu-Pt. O Ni e o Co, freqüentemente são adicionados às ligas de Cu para que a solubilidade seja deslocada para temperaturas mais elevadas com relação aos sistemas binários de Cu-Sn e Cu-Pt. A adição de Ni-Pt ou Ni-Sn ao Cu em porcentagens iguais ou inferiores a 1,5 % aliado a tratamentos termos-mecânico alteram as propriedades do Cu. Estudamos neste trabalho sete diferentes ligas: três ligas de Cu-Ni-Pt 1 (97,99 % Cu - 1,55 % Ni - 0,46 % Pt), 2 (99,33 % Cu - 0,23 % Ni -0,43 % Pt) 3 (98,01 % Cu - 0,48 % Ni - 1,51 % Pt); três ligas de Cu-Ni-Sn 4 (98,31% Cu - 1,12 % Ni - 0,58 % Sn), 5 (98,79 % Cu – 0,57 % Ni - 0,65 % Sn), 6 (98,39% Cu – 0,46 % Ni – 1,16 % Sn) e Cu eletrolítico 0 (0,0058 % Pb - 0,0007 % Fe - 0,0036 % Ni - 0,0024 % Ag). As referentes ligas foram desenvolvidas a partir de um forno a arco voltaico e passaram por tratamentos termo-mecânicos pré-determinados. As microestruturas foram analisadas diretamente por microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura / EDS e indiretamente por medidas de dureza Vickers e condutividade elétrica. O objetivo deste trabalho, portanto, foi observar e constatar os efeitos da mudança da microestrutura em relação às propriedades dureza e condutividade elétrica. / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-04-25T20:09:52Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lívio Bráulio Silva e Camargo - 2014.pdf: 13608179 bytes, checksum: 577554ee148810b74272f7b5a266db0b (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-04-26T12:55:48Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lívio Bráulio Silva e Camargo - 2014.pdf: 13608179 bytes, checksum: 577554ee148810b74272f7b5a266db0b (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-26T12:55:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lívio Bráulio Silva e Camargo - 2014.pdf: 13608179 bytes, checksum: 577554ee148810b74272f7b5a266db0b (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-11 / To evaluate the influence of thermal and mechanical wear on the bending strength, topography and surface roughness of orthodontic NiTi wires Thermoset. Materials and Methods: round wire gauge section 0.018 "(0.045 mm) alloy NiTi (nickel titanium), thermoactivated (Dental Morelli, 3M/Abzil, American Orthodontics, Detsply GAC, Ormco) were selected. The samples were subjected to deflection test in a universal testing machine Instron 5965 model, and the atomic force microscope AFM model 5500, after being in thermocycled equipment Thermomechanical Wear Model ER 37000. Data were submitted to ANOVA statistical analysis and Tukey test, beyond the Spearman correlation coefficient with α = 0.05 significance. Results: By applying the deflection test at three points we observed that groups 1 and 4 matching results obtained, while the 2 and 3 equaled each other. The average force exerted by the wire was more pronounced in group 1 (control) than the rest. The wire Morelli which was developed as a higher average strength of the wire AO less developed for all groups. By AFM, the wires of Thermoset Abzil and AO presented the most striking defects and Morelli thermoactivated showed less surface irregularities. The other wires were equal in quantity and severity of surface topographical, changes Conclusion: The test deflection at three points proved to be very effective for the desired goals. Demonstrating the equivalence between the control group and the group that was subjected to thermo-mechanical wear. Wires subjected to for just one wear, thermal or mechanical, proved to release more linear force. All Thermoset wires studied andsubmitted to the AFM, showed irregularities on the surface, with no significant differences between groups. The wires had higher surface smoothness were those who developed higher levels of strength in the load-deflection graph. / Objetivo:Avaliar a influência do desgaste térmico e mecânico na resistência à deflexão, topografia e rugosidade superficial de fios ortodônticos de níquel titânio termoativados. Materiais e Métodos: Foram selecionados fios de secção redonda de calibre 0,018” (0,045mm) da liga de níquel-titânio termoativados das marcas: Dental Morelli, 3M/Abzil, American Orthodontics, Dentsply GAC, Ormco. As amostras foram submetidas ao teste de deflexão, na máquina de ensaio universal Instron, e ao microscópio de força atômica para verificação da rugosidade superficial, após serem termocicladas na máquina de desgaste termomecânico. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística ANOVA e teste de Tukey, além do coeficiente de correlação de Spearman com significância α=0,05. Resultados: Através da aplicação do teste de deflexão em três pontos pode-se observar que os grupos 1 e 4 obtiveram resultados semelhantes, enquanto os grupos 2 e 3 foram semelhantes entre si. As médias de força exercidas pelos fios mostrou-se mais pronunciada no grupo 1 (controle) do que no restante. O fio da Morelli foi o que apresentou a maior média de força enquanto o fio da AO desenvolveu a menor, para todos os grupos. Ao AFM, os fios da Abzil e da AO foram os que apresentaram ranhuras e crateras mais marcantes e o Morelli mostrou a superfície com menos irregularidades. Os demais fios se igualaram em quantidade e profundidade das alterações topográficas superficiais Conclusão: Houve semelhança nos resultados entre os grupos controle e o que foi submetido ao desgaste termo-mecânico. Os fios submetidos há apenas um desgaste, térmico ou mecânico, mostraram-se com liberação de força mais leve e contínua. Todos os fios termoativados estudados, submetidos ao AFM, apresentaram irregularidades na superfície, não havendo mudanças significativas entre os grupos. Os fios que apresentaram maior lisura de superfície foram os que desenvolveram maiores níveis de força no gráfico de carga-deflexão.

Esta Dissertação de Mestrado tem como Objetivo estudar a influência da tangente delta, envelhecimento termomecânico e força no comportamento de uma borracha de polibutadieno baixo cis perante o desgaste abrasivo através de experimentos em roda de borracha, utilizando planejamento fatorial completo em dois níveis (DOE 2k). A literatura possui muitas informações em relação à força indicando uma relação exponencial com a taxa de desgaste, todavia em relação à tangente delta e ao envelhecimento termomecânico quase não há dados. Ao final do trabalho foi possível verificar que todos os fatores estudados são significativos com relação ao desgaste da borracha, sendo a força a variável com maior influência, seguida pelo envelhecimento. A histerese medida pela tangente delta, apesar de ser um fator importante, só exerce influência no desgaste quando a borracha se encontra no estado envelhecido. Além disto, este trabalho também apresenta informações complementares sobre propriedades que são características da borracha e pouco difundidos, como o smearing, características de ondas de abrasão (abrasion pattern), comprimento de onda (Schallamach wavelength) e ondas de destacamento (waves of detachment). / This goal of this Master thesis is the study the influence of loss factor, thermomechanical aging and applied load to the abrasion behavior of low cis polibutadiene rubber through rubber wheel testing machine experiments using 2k factorial experiment design in two levels (DOE 2k). The literature has many information involving action of force showing exponential relationship between wear rate with applied load, almost no data related to the influence of loss factor and the thermomechanical aging. It was observed that all the studied factors are significant to the wear of rubber, the force being the variable with the greatest influence, followed by aging. The loss factor, despite being an important factor, only influences the wear behavior of aged rubber. In addition, this work presents some information regarding to the typical properties only for rubber and rubber products, such as smearing, abrasion pattern and Schallamach wavelength.

Abstract In TMP quality control, on-line control applications are the goal. Reliable, versatile systems are needed for this task. Various model-based systems have been developed but their performance has not always been good enough. This study evaluated the applicability of fibre analysers utilising image analysis techniques for TMP quality control. In addition to the standard measurement results of these analysers, the values of primary measurements and the fibre images obtained with these analysers were studied. Two sets of test samples were used. The first set contained 24 samples from trials at a Scandinavian TMP plant, and this set made up the the main part of the test material. The other series was a set of 13 samples obtained from another TMP plant during a short testing period that took place between normal operation runs. In this set the quality variations were understandably smaller. Fibre size analyses were made with an optical analyser that applies image analysis techniques on single fibres. The effects of fibre length, fibre width, cell wall thickness, coarseness, fines content, fibre curl and external fibrillation on the quality potential of TMP were evaluated. Both the measured averages and the values of single fibres were used in the evaluation. A tube flow fractionator was used to evaluate fibre properties during the fractionation process. The results of the fractionation as well as the original measurement signals were used in the evaluation. Both analysers were set to save images of fibres during the analyses. These images were later analysed by using standard image analysis procedures, in order to obtain additional information of the fibres. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used as tools to find out dependencies between fibre properties and pulp quality. Fibre curl and fibre width were found to be the most promising fibre features for use in TMP quality evaluation with optical fibre analysers. These variables accounted for more than 70% of the variations in most of the evaluated TMP quality variables. In the tube flow fractionator results, the signals of the long fibre fraction were also able to explain over 70% of the variations in drainage, bonding strength, roughness, and porosity. The values of the fibre size analyser, together with the measurements and features derived from the images of the tube flow fractionator, provided significant additional information for quality estimation. The most important variables in TMP quality calculation were fibre curl, fibre width, and the tube flow fractionator signals for the long fibre fraction. Both the on-line analysers using image analysis for fibre measurements, and the tube flow to fractionate pulp samples before measurement, are able to provide reliable and relevant information for TMP quality control. / Tiivistelmä Kuumahierteen laadunvalvonnan tavoitteena on luotettava ja monipuolinen on-line-mittauksiin perustuva laadunohjaus. Tehtävään on kehitetty mallipohjaisia järjestelmiä, mutta ne eivät ole olleet aina riittävän suorituskykyisiä. Tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettiin konenäköön perustuvien kuituanalysaattoreiden soveltuvuutta kuumahierteen laadunohjauksen tarpeisiin. Sekä analysaattoreiden tuottamaa valmista mittaustietoa, että niiden kuitukohtaisia mittaustuloksia ja kuvamateriaalia tutkittiin. Tutkimuksessa käsiteltiin kahta erillistä koesarjaa. Ensimmäinen sarja sisälsi 24 koepistettä erään TMP-laitoksen koeajosta. Nämä näytteet muodostivat pääosan testimateriaalista. Toinen sarja koostui erään toisen tehtaan tuotantomassoista otetuista 13 näytepisteestä. Tässä sarjassa laatumuutokset olivat huomattavasti vähäisempiä kuin edellisessä sarjassa. Kuidunkokoanalyysit tehtiin konenäköä soveltavalla, yksittäisiä kuituja mittaavalla laitteella. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin kuidunpituuden, kuidun leveyden, seinämävahvuuden, pituusmassan, hienoaineen, kuidun kiharuuden ja kuidun ulkoisen fibrillaation vaikutusta kuumahierteen laatuun. Näytekohtaisten keskiarvojen lisäksi myös kuitukohtaiset tiedot analysoitiin. Virtauskenttäfraktionaattorilla tutkittiin kuitujen optisia ominaisuuksia lajittelutapahtuman aikana. Mittaustuloksista käsiteltiin sekä valmiit jaetulokset että mittaussignaalien jakautumat lajittelutapahtuman ajalta. Molempien laitteiden tallettamia kuitukuvia analysoitiin niiden mahdollisesti sisältämän mutta vielä hyödyntämättömän informaation selvittämiseksi. Analyysityökaluina käytettiin korrelaatioanalyysiä ja pääkomponenttianalyysiä. Konenäköön perustuvan kuituanalysaattorin antamista tuloksista kuidun kiharuus ja kuidun leveys osoittautuivat luotettavimmiksi laatupotentiaalin indikaattoreiksi. Selitysasteet suurimmalle osalle mitattuja massan lujuus- ja arkkiominaisuuksia olivat yli 70 %. Virtauskenttäfraktionaattorin tuloksissa pitkäkuituosuutta vastaavat signaalijakeet antoivat samaten yli 70 %:n selitysasteet suotautuvuuden, sidoslujuuden, karheuden ja huokoisuuden arvioinnille. Kuituanalysaattorin kuidunkokoarvojen ja virtauskenttäfraktionaattorin signaalijakeiden ja -jakautuma-arvojen sekä kuvapiirteiden avulla lasketut kahden muuttujan mallit toivat useimpien käsiteltyjen laatumuuttujien estimaattien selitysarvoihin merkittävää parannusta. Tärkeimmät muuttujat kuumahierteen laatupotentiaalin arvioinnissa olivat kuidun kiharuus ja kuidun leveys sekä virtauskenttäfraktionaattorin signaalijakeet. Konenäköä soveltava kuituanalysaattori ja virtauskenttäfraktionaattori soveltuvat hyvin kuumahierteen laadun valvonta- ja ohjausmallin pohjaksi.

Cette thèse porte sur l’effet Lehmann, un effet hors d’équilibre couplant un gradient de température avec la rotation de la texture de gouttes cholestériques ou nématiques coexistant avec la phase isotrope. Nous avons d’abord caractérisé les couplages thermomécaniques de Leslie, Akopyan et Zel’dovich en mesurant en phase cholestérique la vitesse de rotation des molécules dans deux configurations invariantes par translation avec des orientations différentes.Nous avons ensuite caractérisé la texture des gouttes observées dans l’expérience de Lehmann en nous basant sur des observations optiques et des simulations numériques. Plus important, nous avons montré pour la première fois qu’il est possible d’observer l’effet Lehmann dans des gouttes nématiques achirales, à condition que la texture interne soit torsadée. Nous avons aussi utilisé un montage de photoblanchiment afin de montrer qu’il n’y a pas d’écoulements visibles au voisinage des gouttes. Ceci montre que la rotation observée est due à une rotation locale des molécules – pas à une rotation solide des gouttes.Enfin, nous avons proposé un modèle théorique « à la Leslie » de l’effet Lehmann incluant les termes de couplage thermomécanique d’Akopyan et Zel’dovich. En appliquant ce modèle généralisé aux textures calculées numériquement, nous avons ajusté les vitesses de rotation mesurées expérimentalement et avons trouvé des valeurs pour les constantes de couplage thermomécanique bien plus grandes que celles mesurées en dessous de la transition cholestérique/isotrope. Cela montre que ce modèle est faux et que le paradigme de Leslie doit être définitivement abandonné. / This thesis is focused on the Lehmann effect, an out-of-equilibrium effect which couples a temperature gradient with the rotation of the internal texture of liquid crystal droplets in coexistence with the isotropic phase. First, we characterized the thermomechanical couplings of Leslie, Akopyan and Zel'dovich by measuring the rotation velocity of the molecules in two translationally invariant configurations withdifferent orientations, below the cholesteric/isotropic transition.Then, we characterized the texture of the droplets observed in the Lehmann experiment, both usingoptical observations and numerical simulations. More important, we showed for the first time that it is possible to observe the Lehmann effect in achiral nematic droplets, providing that the internal texture ischiral. We also used a photobleaching experiment to show that there is no visible flow in the vicinity ofthe droplet, which implies that the texture rotation is due to a local rotation of the molecules -- not to asolid rotation of the droplet. Finally, we proposed a theoretical model of the Lehmann effect based on the thermomechanical coupling of Leslie, Akopyan and Zel’dovich. By applying this model to the numerically computed textures, we fitted the measured rotation velocities and found values for the thermomechanical coupling constants much bigger than those measured below the cholesteric/isotropic transition. This shows that this model is incorrect and that the Leslie paradigm must be abandoned.

Der Reaktordynamikcode DYN3D wird für Kernanalysen von Natrium-gekühlten schnellen Reaktoren (SFR) erweitert. In diesem Bericht werden neu implementierte thermomechanische Modelle für die adäquate Simulation von SFR-Transienten beschrieben, die die Simulation der axialen Wärmeausdehnung von Brennstäben und die radiale Ausdehnung des Reaktorkerns umfassen. Darüber hinaus wurde das Verfahren zur Erstellung von Querschnittsbibliotheken für DYN3D für SFR-Analysen erweitert. Die Verifizierung der neuen Modelle und der Querschnittserstellung erfolgte auf Vollkern-Ebene mit stationären Experimenten von der BFS-Testanlage des IPPE Obninsk und Daten des großen oxidischen Kerns des OECD/NEA-Benchmark und den Experimenten zum Zyklusende des Phenix-Kerns. Die DYN3D-Ergebnisse wurden mit der Monte-Carlo-Referenzlösung verglichen, die durch den SERPENT-Code berechnet wurde. Die Testergebnisse zeigen, dass die neu entwickelten Modelle die Wärmeausdeh-nungseffekte der Kernstruktur genau berücksichtigen können. Das neu entwickelte Verfahren zur Erstellung von Querschnittsbibliotheken wurde ebenfalls auf der Basis von SERPENT-Ergebnissen erfolgreich verifiziert. Zur Validierung wurden mehrere Tests, die sowohl stationäre als auch transiente Fälle aus den Phenix-Experimenten enthalten, mit DYN3D berechnet. Die DYN3D-Lösungen weisen eine gute Übereinstimmung mit den experimentellen Daten auf, was die Anwendbarkeit der Codes für Kernanalysen von Natrium-gekühlten schnellen Reaktoren bestätigt.

The thesis originates from a need to meet stricter environmental regulations for Scania, to reduce fuel consumption and emission from heavy-vehicles. Scania aims to fulfil these requirements by increasing combustion pressure and temperature. These conditions are tougher for the engine components and they shorten their lifetime. This thesis aims to improve Scania’s ability to increase the lifetime of a heavy-vehicle exhaust manifold, an engine component that collects exhaust from several engine cylinders into one pipe. This was done by conducting a material comparison and a parameter study, both used the FEM software Abaqus CAE. The material comparison consisted of three ferritic and austenitic ductile cast irons (SiMo51, SiMo1000 and Ni-resist) subjected to thermal stress. Their max stress was compared for two thermo-mechanical fatigue cases, out-of-phase and in-phase. A parameter study was also conducted to clarify the influence of thermal conductivity, thermalexpansion, Young’s modulus and yield strength on max stress for OP and IP in the exhaust manifold. The FEM simulation results from the parameter study were used to create functions that can be used to decide how to treat/process a material to minimise the stress in the exhaust manifold. They can also be used in material selection to choose a material that minimises stress. The research questions and their shortened answers can be seen below. 1. Which of SiMo51, SiMo1000 and Ni-resist produces the lowest tensile stresses? ForOP, SiMo1000 produced a slightly lower max principal stress than SiMo51. For IP, Ni-resistproduced the lowest max principal stress by a large margin. 2. How do different material properties affect the maximum stress during operation of thegiven component? Thermal conductivity has a decreasing relation to max stress. Thermalexpansion and Young’s modulus have a similar relation to max stress, stress increases forboth properties as they increase. A decreased yield strength decreases the max stress forstresses above the yield limit but has no effect on stress below it. 3. How should an objective function to minimise max stress in the component with regard to material properties be expressed? functions of OP and IP can be seen in the actual abstract.

Der Reaktordynamikcode DYN3D wird für Kernanalysen von Natrium-gekühlten schnellen Reaktoren (SFR) erweitert. In diesem Bericht werden neu implementierte thermomechanische Modelle für die adäquate Simulation von SFR-Transienten beschrieben, die die Simulation der axialen Wärmeausdehnung von Brennstäben und die radiale Ausdehnung des Reaktorkerns umfassen. Darüber hinaus wurde das Verfahren zur Erstellung von Querschnittsbibliotheken für DYN3D für SFR-Analysen erweitert. Die Verifizierung der neuen Modelle und der Querschnittserstellung erfolgte auf Vollkern-Ebene mit stationären Experimenten von der BFS-Testanlage des IPPE Obninsk und Daten des großen oxidischen Kerns des OECD/NEA-Benchmark und den Experimenten zum Zyklusende des Phenix-Kerns. Die DYN3D-Ergebnisse wurden mit der Monte-Carlo-Referenzlösung verglichen, die durch den SERPENT-Code berechnet wurde. Die Testergebnisse zeigen, dass die neu entwickelten Modelle die Wärmeausdeh-nungseffekte der Kernstruktur genau berücksichtigen können. Das neu entwickelte Verfahren zur Erstellung von Querschnittsbibliotheken wurde ebenfalls auf der Basis von SERPENT-Ergebnissen erfolgreich verifiziert. Zur Validierung wurden mehrere Tests, die sowohl stationäre als auch transiente Fälle aus den Phenix-Experimenten enthalten, mit DYN3D berechnet. Die DYN3D-Lösungen weisen eine gute Übereinstimmung mit den experimentellen Daten auf, was die Anwendbarkeit der Codes für Kernanalysen von Natrium-gekühlten schnellen Reaktoren bestätigt.

Les matériaux à changement de phase (MCP) constituent une alternative prometteuse pour l'amélioration de l'inertie thermique des matériaux de construction. Grâce à leur chaleur latente, ces matériaux permettent de stocker des quantités importantes d'énergie thermique, ce qui permet de réduire la consommation d'énergie liée au chauffage et à la climatisation. Cependant, leur incorporation dans les matériaux cimentaires entraine une baisse de la résistance mécanique du nouveau matériau composite ainsi obtenu. Durant ces dernières décennies, les composites MCP/bétons ont suscité un grand intérêt conduisant à un grand nombre de travaux expérimentaux. Cependant, les modèles théoriques et numériques pour prédire les comportements de ces matériaux complexes sont aujourd'hui très peu développés en raison de la complexité du comportement thermique avec changement de phase, de la séparation d'échelle et de la difficulté que représente la prédiction de l'endommagement par fissuration à l'échelle des hétérogénéités microscopiques. L'objectif de cette thèse est précisément de développer des outils de modélisation numériques pour prédire le comportement thermomécanique effectif du matériau en vue de calculs de structures. Pour cela, des modèles numériques sont développés pour simuler le transfert de chaleur, le comportement mécanique, la fissuration ainsi que la fuite du MCP liquide à travers les fissures, à l'échelle d'un Volume Elémentaire Représentatif du matériau. Après avoir étudié les effets des changements de phase dans le MCP sur le comportement mécanique effectif, une approche multi-échelle (méthode EF²$) est proposée afin de réaliser des calculs de structures en tenant compte des phénomènes à l'échelle des micro capsules. Des caractérisations expérimentales thermo-physiques sont menées afin de prouver l'utilité des MCP dans les matériaux de construction et de faire des comparaisons avec les outils d'homogénéisation développés. Enfin, nous proposons une étude dans le but de comprendre et d'évaluer les effets du MCP dans la dégradation des propriétés mécaniques de ces nouveaux matériaux / A promising way to enhance thermal inertia of buildings is the use of phase change materials (PCMs). Thanks to their high latent heat, PCMs can be used to store a significant amount of thermal energy in order to reduce energy consumption related to air conditioning. However, their use leads to a decrease in the mechanical strength of the obtained composites. During the last decades, the incorporation of PCMs in concrete has been of great interest leading to many experimental works. However, theoretical and numerical models to predict the behavior of such complex materials are not developed so far, due to the complexity of the phase change behavior, the scale separation and issues associated to the damage which is mainly induced by microcracking at the scale of microstructural heterogeneities. The objective of this thesis is precisely to develop numerical modeling tools to predict the effective thermomechanical behavior of the material with aim of structural calculations. For this purpose, numerical tools based on microstructures at the scale of microencapsulated PCM are developed to simulate heat transfer, mechanical response, cracks propagation as well as leakage of liquid PCM through cracks. After studying the effects of phase changes in the PCM on the effective mechanical response of the composites, a multi-scale approach (FE² method) is proposed to carry out structural calculations taking into account phenomena at micro scale. Thermo-physical experimental characterizations are carried out to show the usefulness of PCMs in building materials and to make comparisons with the developed homogenization tools. Finally, we propose a study to understand and evaluate the effects of PCMs in the degradation of the mechanical properties of these new materials

The thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride based thermoelectric (TE) materials are well-characterized, but comparatively little has been published on the thermomechanical properties. In this paper, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry data for bismuth telluride based TE materials is presented. The TE materials' tan delta values, indicative of viscoelastic energy dissipation modes, approached that of glassy or crystalline polymers, were greater than ten times the tan delta of structural metals, and reflected the anisotropic nature of TE materials. DMA thermal scans showed changes in mechanical properties versus temperature with clear hysteresis effects. These results showed that the application of DMA techniques are useful for evaluation of thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of these TE materials.