Coupled thermo-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) processes are essential for the long-term performance of deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In this study, a numerical sensitivity analysis was performed to analyze the effect of rock properties on THM responses after the execution of the heater test at the Kamaishi mine in Japan. The TOUGHFLAC simulator was applied for the numerical simulation assuming a continuum model for coupled THM analysis. The rock properties included in the sensitivity study were the Young’s modulus, permeability, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion coefficients of crystalline rock, rock salt, and clay. The responses, i.e., temperature, water content, displacement, and stress, were measured at monitoring points in the buffer and near-field rock mass during the simulations. The thermal conductivity had an overarching impact on THM responses. The influence of Young’s modulus was evident in the mechanical behavior, whereas that of permeability was noticed through the change in the temperature and water content. The difference in the THM responses of the three rock type models implies the importance of the appropriate characterization of rock mass properties with regard to the performance assessment of the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

This research measured the change in mechanical characteristics of a sample obtained by finishing a metal coating to an engineering plastic manufactured using a 3D printer to satisfy both lightweight and quality characteristics. High-Temp material, which can be applied to space thermal environments with large temperature fluctuations, was applied as the engineering plastic material, and Stereolithography(SLA) method, which has relatively higher precision than Fused Film Fabrication(FFF) method, was selected as the manufacturing method. Electroless & electroplating were performed by metal coating on the surface to satisfy the characteristics of products requiring electrical conductivity. Tensile and bending tests were conducted to verify a change in the mechanical characteristics of a sample completed with a metal coating, and an adhesion test of the metal coating was also added.

In this study, a graphite block is fabricated using artificial graphite processing byproduct and phenolic resin as raw materials. Mechanical and electrical property changes are confirmed due to the preforming method. After fabricating preforms at 50, 100, and 150 MPa, CIP molding at 150 MPa is followed by heat treatment to prepare a graphite block. 150UP-CIP shows a 12.9% reduction in porosity compared with the 150 MPa preform. As the porosity is decreased, the bulk density, flexural strength, and shore hardness are increased by 14.9%, 102.4%, and 13.7%, respectively; and the deviation of density and electrical resistivity are decreased by 51.9% and 34.1%, respectively. Therefore, as the preforming pressure increases, the porosity decreases, and the electrical and mechanical properties improve.

In this paper, the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) rebar, which has been applied as an concrete reinforcement, and produced carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) grid were compared to develop a concrete reinforcement material with excellent mechanical properties. In addition, the mechanical properties of CFRP prepared with each molding process were evaluated. Three molding processes were evaluated: prepreg oven bagging, reaction injection molding (RIM), and pultrusion. The tensile strength of the CFRP grid prepared through pultrusion was 2.85GPa, the elastic modulus was 169.81GPa, and the strain was 1.68%, which was 2.85 times better in tensile strength, and 2.83 times better in elastic modulus compared mechanical properties of GFRP rebar. The strain was confirmed to be equivalent to GFRP rebar.

In this paper, the mechanical properties according to the rCF weight percent(10, 20, 30, 40, 50wt%) of the rCFRP specimen were evaluated and analyzed. First, to prepare rCFRP specimens, pellets were prepared according to the type of weight percent, and rCFRP tensile specimens according to ASTM D638 were prepared using an injection molding machine. Tensile tests were performed on each of 10 specimens according to weight percent conditions, and tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were calculated. For a detailed analysis of the correlation between the internal structure of the specimen and the mechanical properties, the weight percent to the constituent materials of the rCFRP specimen was calculated using mCT and used for the analysis of mechanical properties. For a more detailed analysis, a detailed analysis of the mechanical properties of rCFRP was performed through the fracture surface analysis of the specimen using FE-SEM.

Recently, the necessity of designing and applying tool materials that perform machining of difficult-to-cut materials in a cryogenic treatment where demand is increasing. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of cryogenically treated WC-5 wt% NbC hard materials fabricated by a pulsed current activated sintering process. The densely consolidated specimens are cryogenically exposed to liquid nitrogen for 6, 12, and 24 h. All cryogenically treated samples exhibit compressive stress in the sintered body compared with the untreated sample. Furthermore, a change in the lattice constant leads to compressive stress in the specimens, which improves their mechanical performance. The cryogenically treated samples exhibit significant improvement in mechanical properties, with a 10.5 % increase in Vickers hardness and a 60 % decrease in the rupture strength compared with the untreated samples. However, deep cryogenic treatment of over 24 h deteriorates the mechanical properties indicating that excessive treatment causes tensile stress in the specimens. Therefore, the cryogenic treatment time should be controlled precisely to obtain mechanically enhanced hard materials.

PURPOSES : Experimental findings pertaining to the mechanical properties of calcium aluminate cement (CAC)-based repair mortars incorporated with anhydrite gypsum (AG) are described herein. METHODS : To prepare the mortars, three different levels of AG were adopted and the ratio of water–cementitious materials was fixed at 0.50. For comparison, mortar composed of ordinary Portland cement was prepared. The fluidity, setting time, compressive and bond strengths, absorption and surface electric resistivity of the mortars were measured at predetermined periods. RESULTS : The incorporation of AG increases the fluidity but decreases the setting time of the CAC-based repair material system. However, the AG in the CAC mixes does not effectively enhance the compressive strength of the mortars owing to the decreased formation of CA hydrates, such as CAH10 and C2AH8. Meanwhile, the mortar with 10% AG shows excellence absorption. CONCLUSIONS : The mechanical properties of CAC based-mortars rely significantly on the amount of AG incorporated. However, further studies regarding the microstructure and durability of CAC-AG repair mortars must be conducted to obtain the optimal mixture.

This research investigated how adding Sb (0.75, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 wt%) to as-extruded aluminum alloys affected their microstructure, mechanical properties, electric and thermal conductivity. The addition of Sb resulted in the formation of AlSb intermetallic compounds. It was observed that intermetallic compounds in the alloys were distributed homogenously in the Al matrix. As the content of Sb increased, the area fraction of intermetallic compounds increased. It can be clearly seen that the intermetallic compounds were crushed into fine particles and homogenously arrayed during the extrusion process. As the Sb content increased, the average grain size decreased remarkably from 282.6 μm (0.75 wt%) to 109.2 μm (5.0 wt%) due to dynamic recrystallization by the dispersed intermetallic compounds in the aluminum matrix during the hot extrusion. As the Sb content increased from 0.75 to 2.0 wt%, the electrical conductivity decreased from 61.0 to 59.8 % of the International Annealed Copper Standard. Also, as the Sb content increased from 0.75 to 2.0 wt%, the ultimate tensile strength did not significantly change, from 67.3 to 67.8 MPa.

This research investigated the effect of Si addition on the microstructure, mechanical properties, electric and thermal conductivity of as-extruded Al 6013 alloys. As the content of Si increased, the area fraction of the second phase increased. As the Si content increased, the average grain size decreased remarkably, from 182 (no Si addition) to 142 (1.5Si), 78 (3.0Si) and 77 μm (4.5Si) due to dynamic recrystallization by the dispersed second particles in the aluminum matrix during the hot extrusion. As the Si content increased, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength increased. The maximum values of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were 224 MPa and 103 MPa for the 6013-4.5Si alloy. As the amount of Si added increased, the electrical and thermal conductivity decreased. The electrical and thermal conductivity of the Al6013-4.5Si alloy were 44.0% IACS and 165.0 W/mK, respectively. The addition of Si to Al 6013 alloy had a significant effect on its thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.

Changes in the mechanical properties and microstructure of an IN 939 W alloy according to the sintering heating rate were evaluated. IN 939 W alloy samples were fabricated by spark plasma sintering. The phase fraction, number density, and mean radius of the IN 939W alloy were calculated using a thermodynamic calculation. A universal testing machine and micro-Vickers hardness tester were employed to confirm the mechanical properties of the IN 939W alloy. X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Cs-corrected-field emission transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry were used to evaluate the microstructure of the alloy. The rapid sintering heating rate resulted in a slightly dispersed γ' phase and chromium oxide. It also suppressed the precipitation of the η phase. These helped to reinforce the mechanical properties.

A typical trade-off relationship exists between strength and elongation in face-centered cubic metals. Studies have recently been conducted to enhance strength without ductility reduction through surface-treatment-based ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM), which creates a gradient microstructure in which grains become smaller from the inside to the surface. The transformation-induced plasticity effect in Fe-Mn alloys results in excellent strength and ductility due to their high work-hardening rate. This rate is achieved through strain-induced martensitic transformation when an alloy is plastically deformed. In this study, Fe-6%Mn powders with different sizes were prepared by high-energy ball milling and sintered through spark plasma sintering to produce Fe-6%Mn samples. A gradient microstructure was obtained by stacking the different-sized powders to achieve similar effects as those derived from UNSM. A compressive test was performed to investigate the mechanical properties, including the yielding behavior. The deformed microstructure was observed through electron backscatter diffraction to determine the effects of gradient plastic deformation.

Hydride reorientation is one of the major concerns for cladding integrity during dry storage. In this study, mechanical property of post-reorientation cladding was investigated according to the morphology and amount of the hydrides. Cladding peak temperature limit 400°C was suggested by U.S. NRC in concern of cladding creep and hydride reorientation. In line with this regulatory limit, hydride reorientation was conducted during cool-down process from the maximum temperature of 400°C, using constant internal pressurization method. The specimens were charged for hydrogen from 100 to 1,000 wppm, and various pressures range of 7.5-18.5 MPa were applied. The morphology was examined by optical microscopy. Radial hydride fraction (RHF) and radial hydride continuous path (RHCP) were calculated using image analysis software PROPHET. Finally, strain energy density (SED) was investigated via ring compress tests and the hydrogen concentration was analyzed. The result shows that when RHF is higher than 5%, SED exponentially decreases with RHF. For RHF less than 5%, SED was primarily affected by the total amount of hydrogen. Shortened length of radial hydrides with the presence of circumferential hydrides may block the radial propagation of crack. The result implies that lower burnup spent fuel with lower hydrogen concentration may be more vulnerable in terms of radial hydride compared to higher burnup fuel.

Beta-titanium alloys are used in many industries due to their increased elongation resulting from their BCC structure and low modulus of elasticity. However, there are many limitations to their use due to the high cost of betastabilizer elements. In this study, biocompatible Ti-Mo-Fe beta titanium alloys are designed by replacing costly betastabilizer elements (e.g., Nb, Zr, or Ta) with inexpensive Mo and Fe elements. Additionally, Ti-Mo-Fe alloys designed with different Fe contents are fabricated using powder metallurgy. Fe is a strong, biocompatible beta-stabilizer element and a low-cost alloying element. The mechanical properties of the Ti-Mo-Fe metastable beta titanium alloys are analyzed in relation to the microstructural changes. When the Fe content increases, the tensile strength and elongation decrease due to brittle fracture despite a decreasing pore fraction. It is confirmed that the hardness and tensile strength of Ti-5Mo-2Fe P/M improve to more than 360 Hv and 900 MPa, respectively.

In this study, additive manufacturing of a functionally graded material (FGM) as an alternative to joining dissimilar metals is investigated using directed energy deposition (DED). FGM consists of five different layers, which are mixtures of austenitic stainless steel (type 316 L) and low-alloy steel (LAS, ferritic steel) at ratios of 100:0 (A layer), 75:25 (B layer), 50:50 (C layer), 25:75 (D layer), and 0:100 (E layer), respectively, in each deposition layer. The FGM samples are successfully fabricated without cracks or delamination using the DED method, and specimens are characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy to monitor their microstructures. In layers C and D of the sample, the tensile strength is determined to be very high owing to the formation of ferrite and martensite structures. However, the elongation is high in layers A and B, which contain a large fraction of austenite.

A Cu-15Ag-5P filler metal (BCuP-5) is fabricated on a Ag substrate using a high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process, followed by post-heat treatment (300oC for 1 h and 400oC for 1 h) of the HVOF coating layers to control its microstructure and mechanical properties. Additionally, the microstructure and mechanical properties are evaluated according to the post-heat treatment conditions. The porosity of the heat-treated coating layers are significantly reduced to less than half those of the as-sprayed coating layer, and the pore shape changes to a spherical shape. The constituent phases of the coating layers are Cu, Ag, and Cu-Ag-Cu3P eutectic, which is identical to the initial powder feedstock. A more uniform microstructure is obtained as the heat-treatment temperature increases. The hardness of the coating layer is 154.6 Hv (as-sprayed), 161.2 Hv (300oC for 1 h), and 167.0 Hv (400oC for 1 h), which increases with increasing heat-treatment temperature, and is 2.35 times higher than that of the conventional cast alloy. As a result of the pull-out test, loss or separation of the coating layer rarely occurs in the heat-treated coating layer.

Diamond reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites (diamond/SiC) with high thermal conductivity were prepared by tape casting combined with Si vapor infiltration for thermal management application. The effects of the mixing mode of bimodal diamond particles on the microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties of the composites were analyzed. The results reveal that the thermal conductivity of composites is affected significantly by mixing mode of diamond. In general, when the content of large diamond remains constant, adding a slight amount of small diamond was found to be effective in improving the thermal conductivity of the composite. However, excess small diamonds added will decrease thermal conductivity due to its high interfacial thermal resistance. The maximum thermal conductivity of obtained diamond/SiC is 469 W/(m K) when 38 vol% large diamond and 4 vol% small diamond were added. Such a result can be attributed to the formation of efficient heat transfer channels within the composite and sound interfacial bonding between diamond and SiC phase. Diamond/SiC with high thermal conductivity are expected to be the next generation of electronic packaging substrate.

To thoroughly analyze the mechanical properties and surface conditions of HF50S carbon fibers, the tensile properties, surface morphology, surface chemical element, surface energy, sizing agent properties, and Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL) ring of their composites were characterized. Furthermore, the aforementioned properties were exhaustively compared with those of T1000G carbon fibers. The results showed that the tensile strength, modulus, and elongation of the HF50S carbon fibers were 6638 MPa, 297 GPa, and 2.2%, respectively, thus demonstrating that the mechanical properties of the HF50S carbon fibers were on par with those of the T1000G carbon fibers, in addition, the coefficient of variation (Cv) indices of HF50S carbon fiber were below 3%, indicating good stability. The HF50S carbon fibers have a smooth surface without grooves, which is analogous to that of the T1000G carbon fibers prepared by the typical dry jet–wet spinning process. The main component of the sizing agent of the HF50S carbon fibers is an epoxy resin, which is also used for the preparation of epoxy matrix composites. Because the HF50S carbon fiber surface has greater O and N contents than the T1000G carbon fiber surface, the HF50S carbon fibers have more active functional groups and higher surface activity. The surface energy of the HF50S carbon fibers is 30.13 mJ/m2, which is higher than that of the T1000G carbon fibers (28.42 mJ/m2). Owing to the higher strength and surface activity of the HF50S carbon fibers than those of the T1000G carbon fibers, the strength and strength conversion of NOL ring based on the former are slightly higher than those of that prepared using the latter.