Hot section components of land-based gas turbines are subject to extremely harsh, high temperature environments and require the use of advanced materials. Directionally solidified Ni-base superalloys are often chosen as materials for these hot section components due to their excellent creep resistance and fatigue properties at high temperatures. These blades undergo complex thermomechanical loading conditions throughout their service life, and the influences of blade geometry and variable operation can make life prediction difficult. Accurate predictions of material response under thermomechanical loading conditions is essential for life prediction of these components. Complex crystal viscoplasticity models are often used to capture the behavior of Ni-base superalloys. While accurate, these models are computationally expensive and are not suitable for all phases of design. This work involves the calibration of a previously developed reduced-order, macroscale transversely isotropic viscoplasticity model to a directionally solidified Ni-base superalloy. The unified model is capable of capturing isothermal and thermomechanical responses in addition to secondary creep behavior. An extreme reduced order microstructure-sensitive constitutive model is also developed using an artificial neural network to provide a rapid first-order approximation of material response under various temperatures, rates of loading, and material orientation from the axis of solidification.

A global shift towards reducing carbon (CO2) emissions in the automotive industry while increasing fuel efficiency and range security has triggered the exploration of new processing routes and material alternatives for automotive components. To achieve such goals, manufacturing processes such as high vacuum high pressure die casting (HV-HPDC) have gained attention in recent years to fabricate cast Al alloys for structural automotive components. HV-HPDC allows for increased and more economical production as compared to other manufacturing methods due to the minimal steps involved in the process. Higher degrees of tolerance and precision can be upheld with HV-HPDC, ceasing the need for secondary operations to form the component into desired complex shapes. In this research, the effect of pre-solidified grains (PSG) and heightened metal residence time on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated in a new heat-treatable casting alloy, (Al-1.1wt%Fe-4.7wt%Zn-0.95wt%Mg)-0.07wt%Ti, also known as Nemalloy HE700 alloy, manufactured via HV-HPDC. Developed at McMaster University in conjunction with Nemak USA/CAN and CanmetMATERIALS, Nemalloy HE700 alloy is intended for structural automotive applications with its higher strength and increased light weighting capabilities. Nemalloy HE700 serves as a suitable candidate to replace existing Al-Si alloys such as Aural-5 (Al-8wt%Si-Mg-Mn), currently used in the market today. As-cast test plate castings adhering to two geometries: a 3-step plate geometry (nominal plate thicknesses of 3 mm, 2.5 mm, and 2.3 mm) and a singular plate (2.5 mm) with increasing shot delay intervals of 3 additional seconds to a total of 10 seconds from normal operating conditions (i.e., 1, 4, 7, and 10 seconds) were fabricated with the intention of increasing PSG content within the final cast components to study the underlying effects. Experimental efforts through metallography revealed that, much like traditional high pressure die cast (HPDC) components, PSG gravitated toward the centers of the castings in all operating conditions with heightened agglomerations and potential abnormal grain growth in higher delay samples. Moreover, distributions of PSG became more dispersed through the cross-sections as the delay time was increased. Size distributions of PSG adhered to a standard characteristic grain of 100 µm to sizes of 1000+ µm. Larger sizes of PSG grew substantially in equivalent circular diameter (ECD) and extent in higher delay interval samples. Affected area percentage as a result of an increase in PSG content uncovered higher degrees of porosity presenting themselves as shrinkage and gas porosities in the microstructure. A rise in gas porosity size and quantity was realized with higher delay intervals. Uniaxial mechanical testing of tensile specimens from both geometries indicated a directional relationship of PSG where samples were increasingly more brittle and demonstrated adverse mechanical properties when testing was performed parallel to the metal flow direction as opposed to when performed perpendicularly. Moreover, Nemalloy HE700 alloy exhibited a lower propensity of formation of PSG than Aural-5 in higher levels of shot delay times, primarily due to compositional and differing solidification behaviours of the two alloys. The research presented characterizes the nature of PSG formation in HV-HPDC Al alloys with increased metal residence time and the resultant adverse effects on performance. As efforts shift toward manufacturing structural Al components using HV-HPDC, a greater understanding of such effects will aid in alloy development, die mould design, and disseminate information on HV-HPDC to produce components of heightened quality. Additionally, the resultant findings aim to address gaps in current literature as automotive manufacturers transition from non-structural HPDC components to structural HV-HPDC products for commercial use. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Inconel 738, which is a nickel base superalloy used for hot section components of aircraft and industrial turbines is difficult to fabricate and repair by fusion welding due to its susceptibility to heat affected zone (HAZ) intergranular cracking. Crack-free joining of the difficult-to-weld alloy is currently achieved by using linear friction welding (LFW). Nevertheless, oxidation along the joint during LFW is a major problem. Information about the effect of process parameters on the microstructural evolution of linear friction welded nickel base alloys is very limited. In this work, the effect of forging pressure on the microstructure of linear friction welded Inconel 738 was studied. The results as elucidated in this work showed that increased forging pressure caused strain-induced rapid solidification of metastable liquid, which resulted in complete elimination of deleterious liquid phase oxides in bonded material contrasting the generally accepted view that assumes extrusion of solid state oxides during LFW.

Inconel 738, which is a nickel base superalloy used for hot section components of aircraft and industrial turbines is difficult to fabricate and repair by fusion welding due to its susceptibility to heat affected zone (HAZ) intergranular cracking. Crack-free joining of the difficult-to-weld alloy is currently achieved by using linear friction welding (LFW). Nevertheless, oxidation along the joint during LFW is a major problem. Information about the effect of process parameters on the microstructural evolution of linear friction welded nickel base alloys is very limited. In this work, the effect of forging pressure on the microstructure of linear friction welded Inconel 738 was studied. The results as elucidated in this work showed that increased forging pressure caused strain-induced rapid solidification of metastable liquid, which resulted in complete elimination of deleterious liquid phase oxides in bonded material contrasting the generally accepted view that assumes extrusion of solid state oxides during LFW.

Directionally solidified (DS) nickel-base superalloys are used in high temperature gas turbine engines because of their high yield strength at extreme temperatures and strong low cycle fatigue (LCF) and creep resistance. Costly inspecting, servicing, and replacing of damaged components has precipitated much interest in developing models to better predict service life. Turbine blade life modeling is complicated by the presence of notches, dwells, high temperatures and temperature gradients, and highly anisotropic material behavior. This work seeks to develop approaches for predicting the life of hot sections of gas turbines blade material CM247LC DS subjected to LCF, dwells, and stress concentrations while taking into consideration orientation and notch effects. Experiments were conducted on an axial servo-hydraulic MTS® testing machine. High temperature LCF tests were performed on smooth and notched round-bar specimens in both longitudinal and transverse orientations with and without dwells. Experimental results were used to develop and validate an analytical life prediction model. An analytical model based on a multiaxial Neuber approach predicts the local stress-strain response at a notch and other geometric stress concentrations. This approach captures anisotropy through a multiaxial generalization of the Ramberg-Osgood relation using a Hill's type criterion. The elastic notch response is determined using an anisotropic elastic finite element analysis (FEA) of the notch. The limitations of the simpler analytical life-modeling method are discussed in light of FEA using an anisotropic elastic-crystal viscoplastic material model. This life-modeling method provides a quick alternative to time demanding elastic-plastic FEA allowing engineers more design iterations to improve reliability and service life.

Le procédé de refusion sous laitier électroconducteur (ESR =Electro Slag Remelting) permet de produire des alliages à haute valeur ajoutée utilisés pour des applications critiques. Les mesures in-situ sur les fours industriels étant coûteuses, la simulation numérique est essentielle à la maitrise et à la compréhension de ce procédé complexe. L’Institut Jean Lamour a développé depuis plusieurs années un modèle 2D axisymétrique qui permet de simuler la refusion d’une électrode consommable au sein d’une lingotière considérée comme totalement isolée électriquement du reste du système. Sont alors décrit en régime transitoire les transferts couplés de chaleur et de quantité de mouvement, ainsi que le passage du courant électrique dans le laitier et le lingot lors de la croissance et de la solidification de ce dernier. Les connaissances acquises au cours des dernières années sur le procédé ESR remettent en cause l’hypothèse d’isolation électrique du moule au cours de la refusion. L’objet de cette thèse est d’intégrer et d’étudier la possibilité de passage de courant entre le laitier et la lingotière au cours de la refusion. Un premier modèle a été développé. Il consiste en un calcul électromagnétique complet dans l'ensemble du système pour une géométrie simplifiée. Il a permis de simplifier la mise au point du modèle global, tout en fournissant de premiers résultats. Par la suite, un modèle totalement couplé a été finalisé puis les modifications du code ont fait l’objet de validations avec des mesures expérimentales. Des études de sensibilité ont été menées pour tester l’influence des propriétés du laitier et des paramètres opératoires sur la qualité du lingot final. / The ElectroSlag Remelting process (ESR) is widely used to produce high added value alloys for critical applications (aerospace industry, nuclear plants, etc.). Trial-and-error based approaches being expensive, numerical simulation is fundamental to improve the knowledge and the understanding of this complex process. The Institut Jean Lamour has been developing for several years a numerical code to simulate the melting of a consumable electrode, supposedly perfectly cylindrical, within a mold assumed to be perfectly electrically insulated from the electrode-slag-ingot system. Based on these assumptions, the 2-D axisymmetrical transient-state numerical model accounts for electromagnetic phenomena and coupled heat and momentum transfers, to simulate the continuous growth of the electroslag remelted ingot and the solidification of the metal and slag. Recent studies on the ESR process are challenging the insulated mold hypothesis. Therefore, the main objective of the thesis is to acknowledge and study the existence of a mold current during an ESR remelting. A first model has been set-up, aimed to simulate the electromagnetic phenomena in the whole system for a simplified geometry. The possibility of the existence of such a mold current was confirmed. Based on this work, a fully-coupled model has then been developed and the results have been compared with experimental data to check the validity of the modifications. The influence of slag properties and operating parameters on the final quality of the ingot has been tested.

Anisotropic tertiary creep damage formulations have become an increasingly important prediction technique for high temperature components due to drives in the gas turbine industry for increased combustion chamber exit pressures, temperature, and the use of anisotropic materials such as metal matrix composites and directionally-solidified (DS) Ni-base superalloys. Typically, isotropic creep damage formulations are implemented for simple cases involving a uniaxial state of stress; however, these formulations can be further developed for multiaxial states of stress where materials are found to exhibit induced anisotropy. In addition, anisotropic materials necessitate a fully-developed creep strain tensor. This thesis describes the development of a new anisotropic tertiary creep damage formulation implemented in a general-purpose finite element analysis (FEA) software. Creep deformation and rupture tests are conducted on L, T, and 45°-oriented specimen of subject alloy DS GTD-111. Using the Kachanov-Rabotnov isotropic creep damage formulation and the optimization software uSHARP, the damage constants associated with the creep tests are determined. The damage constants, secondary creep, and derived Hill Constants are applied directly into the improved formulation. Comparison between the isotropic and improved anisotropic creep damage formulations demonstrates modeling accuracy. An examination of the off-axis creep strain terms using the improved formulation is conducted. Integration of the isotropic creep damage formulation provides time to failure predictions which are compared with rupture tests. Integration of the improved anisotropic creep damage produces time to failure predictions at intermediate orientations and any state of stress. A parametric study examining various states of stress, and materials orientations is performed to verify the flexibility of the improved formulation. A parametric exercise of the time to failure predictions for various levels of uniaxial stress is conducted.

Scanning Laser Epitaxy (SLE) is a new layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process being developed in the Direct Digital Manufacturing Laboratory at Georgia Tech. SLE allows for the fabrication of three-dimensional objects with specified microstructure through the controlled melting and re-solidification of a metal powder placed atop a base substrate. This dissertation discusses the work done to date on assessing the feasibility of using SLE to both repair single crystal (SX) turbine airfoils and manufacture functionally graded turbine components. Current processes such as selective laser melting (SLM) are not able to create structures with defined microstructure and often have issues with warping of underlying layers due to the high temperature gradients present when scanning a high power laser beam. Additionally, other methods of repair and buildup have typically been plagued by crack formation, equiaxed grains, stray grains, and grain multiplication that can occur when dendrite arms are separated from their main dendrites due to remelting. In this work, it is shown that the SLE process is capable of creating fully dense, crack-free equiaxed, directionally-solidified, and SX structures. The SLE process, though, is found to be currently constrained by the cumbersome method of choosing proper parameters and a relative lack of repeatability. Therefore, it is hypothesized that a real-time feedback control scheme based upon a robust offline model will be necessary both to create specified defect-free microstructures and to improve the repeatability of the process enough to allow for multi-layer growth. The proposed control schemes are based upon temperature data feedback provided at high frame rate by a thermal imaging camera. This data is used in both PID and model reference adaptive control (MRAC) schemes and drives the melt pool temperature during processing towards a reference melt pool temperature that has been found to give a desired microstructure in the robust offline model of the process. The real-time control schemes will enable the ground breaking capabilities of the SLE process to create engine-ready net shape turbine components from raw powder material.

Thermomechanical fatigue life prediction is important in the design of Ni-base superalloy components in gas turbine engines and requires a stress-strain analysis for accurate results. Crystal viscoplasticity models are an ideal tool for this stress-strain analysis of Ni-base superalloys as they can capture not only the anomalous yielding behavior, but also the non-Schmid effect, the strain rate dependence, and the temperature dependence of typically large grained directionally-solidified and single crystal alloys. However, the model is difficult to calibrate even for isothermal conditions because of the interdependencies between parameters meant to capture different but similar phenomena at different length scales, many tied to a particular slip system. The need for the capacity to predict the material response over a large temperature range, which is critical for the simulation of hot section gas turbine components, causes the determination of parameters to be even more difficult since some parameters are highly temperature dependent. Rapid parameter determination techniques are therefore needed for temperature-dependent parameterizations so that the effort needed to calibrate the model is reduced to a reasonable level. Specific parameter determination protocols are established for a crystal viscoplasticity model implemented in ABAQUS through a user material subroutine. Parameters are grouped to reduce interdependencies and a hierarchical path through the groups and the parameters within each group is established. This dual level hierarchy creates a logical path for parameter determination which further reduces the interdependencies between parameters, allowing for rapid parameter determination. Next, experiments and protocols are established to rapidly provide data for calibration of the temperature-dependencies of the viscoplasticity. The amount of data needed to calibrate the crystal viscoplasticity model over a wide temperature range is excessively large due to the number of parameters that it contains which causes the amount of time spent in the experimentation phase of parameter determination to be excessively large. To avoid this lengthy experimentation phase each experiment is designed to contain as much relevant data as possible. This is accomplished through the inclusion of multiple strain rates in each experiment with strain ranges sufficiently large to clearly capture the inelastic response. The experimental and parameter determination protocols were exercised by calibrating the model to the directionally-solidified Ni-bas superalloy DS-CM247LC. The resulting calibration describes the material's behavior in multiple loading orientations and over a wide temperature range of 20 °C to 1050 °C. Several parametric studies illustrate the utility of the calibrated model.

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