Hierarchically-driven Approach for Quantifying Uncertainty in Creep Deformation and Failure of Aerospace Materials

Oppedal, A. L., & Tschopp, M. A. (2016). Hierarchically-driven Approach for Quantifying Uncertainty in Creep Deformation and Failure of Aerospace Materials. Mississippi State University: Mississippi State University.

In collaboration with AFRL colleagues we have developed a methodology for measuring localized microstructure metrics in dendritic microstructures such as single crystal nickel-based superalloys, with potential application to a wide range of material systems. The primary dendrite arm spacing is correlated to processing (solidification rate), the microstructure of the material (interdentritic eutectic particles and voids), and properties (fatigue behavior and creep strength). In this project a Voronoi-based approach for spatial point pattern analysis has been applied to experimental and synthetic dendritic microstructures. This technique was used to quantify the distribution of local primary dendrite arm spacings, their spatial distribution, and their correlation with interdentritic eutectic particles. Several peer-reviewed journal articles, including an Editor’s Choice article published in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions, and conference presentations describe this in more detail. Furthermore, to transfer this technology, a GUI based computational too has been developed to facilitate the use of these metrics in synthetic and experimental microstructures, with eventual application to link processing with structural properties based on the complex turbine blade microstructure.