Assessment of hydrogen embrittlement behavior in Al-Zn-Mg alloy through multi-modal 3D image-based simulation

Fujihara, Hiro*; Toda, Hiroyuki*; Ebihara, Kenichi; Kobayashi, Masakazu*; Mayama, Tsuyoshi*; Hirayama, Kyosuke*; Shimizu, Kazuyuki*; Takeuchi, Akihisa*; Uesugi, Masayuki*

International Journal of Plasticity, 174, p.103897_1 - 103897_22, 2024/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijplas.2024.103897

Hydrogen(H) embrittlement in high-strength aluminum(Al) alloys is a crucial problem. H accumulation at the interface of precipitates in Al alloy is considered to cause embrittlement. However, there is no quantitative knowledge regarding the interaction between H distribution and stress field near cracks. In this study, using a multi-modal three-dimensional image-based simulation combining the crystal plasticity finite element method and H diffusion analysis, we tried to capture the stress distribution near the crack, its influence on the H distribution, and the probability of crack initiation in the experimental condition. As a result, it was found that grain boundary cracks transition to quasi-cleavage cracks in the region where the cohesive energy of the semi-coherent interface of MgZn precipitates decreases due to H accumulation near the tip. We believe the present simulation method successfully bridges nanoscale delamination and macroscale brittle fracture.

Stress corrosion cracking induced by the combination of external and internal hydrogen in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy

Tang, J.*; Wang, Y.*; Fujihara, Hiro*; Shimizu, Kazuyuki*; Hirayama, Kyosuke*; Ebihara, Kenichi; Takeuchi, Akihisa*; Uesugi, Masayuki*; Toda, Hiroyuki*

Scripta Materialia, 239, p.115804_1 - 115804_5, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2023.115804

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviors induced by the combination of external and internal hydrogen (H) in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy were systematically investigated via in situ 3D characterization techniques. SCC of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy could initiate and propagate in the potential crack region where the H concentration exceeded a critical value, in which the nanoscopic H-induced decohesion of -MgZn precipitates resulted in macroscopic cracking. External H that penetrated the alloy from the environment played a crucial role during the SCC of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy by generating gradient-distributed H-affected zones near the crack tips, which made Al alloys in water environment more sensitive to SCC. Additionally, the pre-existing internal H was driven toward the crack tips during plastic deformation. It was involved in the SCC and made contributions to both the cracks initiation and propagation.

Multi-modal 3D image-based simulation of hydrogen embrittlement crack initiation in Al-Zn-Mg alloy

Higa, Ryota*; Fujihara, Hiro*; Toda, Hiroyuki*; Kobayashi, Masakazu*; Ebihara, Kenichi; Takeuchi, Akihisa*

Keikinzoku, 73(11), p.530 - 536, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.2464/jilm.73.530

In Al-Zn-Mg alloys, suppression of hydrogen embrittlement is necessary to improve their strength. In this study, the distribution of stress, strain, and hydrogen concentration in the actual fracture region was investigated using the crystal plasticity finite element method and hydrogen diffusion analysis based on a model derived from three-dimensional polycrystalline microstructural data obtained by X-ray CT. In addition, the distributions of stress, strain, and hydrogen concentration were compared with the actual crack initiation behavior by combining in-situ observation of tensile tests using X-ray CT and simulation. The results show that stress loading perpendicular to the grain boundary due to crystal plasticity dominates grain boundary crack initiation. It was also found that internal hydrogen accumulation due to crystal plasticity has little effect on crack initiation.

Visual analysis of air dose rate maps

Takahashi, Shigeo*; Sakurai, Daisuke*; Nagao, Fumiya; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Sanada, Yukihisa

Shimyureshon, 42(2), p.68 - 75, 2023/06

This paper introduces a case in which scientific knowledge on understanding the deposition process of radionuclides and evaluating the dose rate reduction due to decontamination work was obtained through visual analysis based on data on the spatio-temporal distribution of air dose rates accumulated through radiation monitoring after the accident. We will discuss the prospects for future efforts to effectively obtain important knowledge that will assist in the planning of policies for reconstruction from the nuclear power plant accident in the future.

Purposeful adaptive sampling of integrated air dose rate maps for visual analysis

Takahashi, Shigeo*; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Sanada, Yukihisa; Sakurai, Daisuke*

ERAN FY2022 Annual Report (Internet), 1 Pages, 2023/04

This study aims to establish a highly accurate evaluation technique for decontamination effects through multilateral and quantitative evaluation of decontamination effects. The applicability of the visual analysis technique was confirmed through a trial analysis.

High temperature mechanical properties and microstructure in 9Cr or 12Cr oxide dispersion strengthened steels

Mitsuhara, Masatoshi*; Kurino, Koichi*; Yano, Yasuhide; Otsuka, Satoshi; Toyama, Takeshi*; Onuma, Masato*; Nakashima, Hideharu*

Tetsu To Hagane, 109(3), p.189 - 200, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.2355/tetsutohagane.TETSU-2022-080

Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) ferritic steel, a candidate material for fast reactor fuel cladding, has low thermal expansion, good thermal conductivity, and excellent resistance to irradiation damage and high temperature strength. The origin of the excellent high-temperature strength lies in the dispersion of fine oxides. In this study, creep tests at 700 or 750C, which are close to the operating temperatures of fast reactors, and high-temperature tensile tests at 900 to 1350 C, which simulate accident conditions, were conducted on 9Cr ODS ferritic steels, M11 and MP23, and 12Cr ODS ferritic steel, F14, to confirm the growth behavior of oxides. In the M11 and F14 creep test samples, there was little oxide growth or decrease in number density from the initial state, indicating that dispersion strengthening by oxides was effective during deformation. After creep deformation of F14, the development of dislocation substructures such as dislocation walls and subgrain boundaries was hardly observed, and mobile dislocations were homogeneously distributed in the grains. The dislocation density increased with increasing stress during the creep test. In the high-temperature ring tensile tests of MP23 and F14, the strength of both steels decreased at higher temperatures. In MP23, elongation decreased with increasing test temperature from 900 to 1100 C, but increased at 1200 C, decreased drastically at 1250 C, and increased again at 1300 C. In F14, elongation decreased with increasing temperature. It was inferred that the formation of the -ferrite phase was responsible for this complex change in mechanical properties of MP23 from 1200 to 1300 C.

A 3D particle-based simulation of heat and mass transfer behavior in the EAGLE ID1 in-pile test

Zhang, T.*; Morita, Koji*; Liu, X.*; Liu, W.*; Kamiyama, Kenji

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 179, p.109389_1 - 109389_10, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2022.109389

Particle-based simulation of jet impingement behaviors

Takatsuka, Daichi*; Morita, Koji*; Liu, W.*; Zhang, T.*; Nakamura, Takeshi*; Kamiyama, Kenji

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2022/10

Doubly heavy tetraquarks in a chiral-diquark picture

Kim, Y.*; Oka, Makoto; Suzuki, Kei

Physical Review D, 105(7), p.074021_1 - 074021_17, 2022/04

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.105.074021

Energy spectrum of doubly heavy tetraquarks, ( with and ), is studied in the potential chiral-diquark model. Using the chiral effective theory of diquarks and the quark-diquark-based potential model, the , , and tetraquarks are described as a three-body system composed of two heavy quarks and an antidiquark. We find several bound states, while no and (deep) bound state is seen. We also study the change of the tetraquark masses under restoration of chiral symmetry.

Comparisons between passive RCCSs on degree of passive safety features against accidental conditions and methodology to determine structural thickness of scaled-down heat removal test facilities

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Matsumoto, Tatsuya*; Liu, W.*; Morita, Koji*

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 162, p.108512_1 - 108512_10, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108512

The objectives of this study are as follows: to understand the characteristics, degree of passive safety features for heat removal were compared for RCCSs based on atmospheric radiation and based on atmospheric natural circulation under the same conditions. Next, simulations on accidental conditions, such as increasing average heat-transfer coefficient via natural convection due to natural disasters, were performed with STAR-CCM+, and methodology to control the amount of heat removal was discussed. As a result, a new RCCS based on atmospheric radiation is recommended because of the excellent degree of passive safety features/conditions, and the amount of heat removal by heat transfer surfaces which can be controlled. Finally, methodology to determine structural thickness of scaled-down heat removal test facilities for reproducing natural convection and radiation was developed, and experimental methods by using pressurized and decompressed chambers was also proposed.