Performance evaluation of anti-radiation based on the gamma degradation process

In the environment of space radiation, the high-energy charged particles or high-energy photons acting on a spacecraft can cause either temporary device degradation or permanent failure. The traditional probability model is difficult to obtain reliable estimation of unit radiation resistance performance with small samples. Considering that different products will change differently after high-energy particle radiation, we construct a model based on the gamma degradation process. This model can efficiently describe the law of unit radiation resistance variation with the total radiation dose levels under the effect of the total dose and displacement damage. Finally, the proposed model is used to assess the anti-radiation performance of the N-channel power MOSFET device STRH60N20FSY3 produced by STM to obtain average unit radiation resistance, survival probability, survival function, etc.     

Theoretical Investigation of the Viscous Damping Coefficient of Hydraulic Actuators

The viscous damping coefficient(VDC) of hydraulic actuators is crucial for system modeling,control and dynamic characteristic analysis.Currently,the researches on hydraulic actuators focus on behavior assessment,promotion of control performance and efficiency.However,the estimation of the VDC is difficult due to a lack of study.Firstly,using two types of hydraulic cylinders,behaviors of the VDC are experimentally examined with velocities and pressure variations.For the tested plunger type hydraulic cylinder,the exponential model B=αυ~(-β),(α0,β0)or B=α_1e~(-β_1υ)+α_2e~(-β_2υ)(α_1,α_20,β_1,β_20),fits the relation between the VDC and velocities for a given pressure of chamber with high precision.The magnitude of the VDC decreases almost linearly under certain velocities when increasing the chamber pressure from 0.6 MPa to 6.0 MPa.Furthermore,the effects of the chamber pressures on the VDC of piston and plunge type hydraulic cylinders are different due to different sealing types.In order to investigate the VDC of a plunger type hydraulic actuator drastically,a steady-state numerical model has been developed to describe the mechanism incorporating tandem seal lubrication,back-up ring related friction behaviors and shear stress of fluid.It is shown that the simulated results of VDC agree with the measured results with a good accuracy.The proposed method provides an instruction to predict the VDC in system modeling and analysis.     

„Leben machen,sterben lassen“: Palliative Care und Biomacht

Definition of the problem This article takes a critical look at the current theory and practice of palliative care (PC), how it deals with death and dying, and the underlying guiding principle of a good death. Thereby, Foucault’s concept of biopower is utilized. Argument Because PC aims to facilitate a good death, manifold criteria and measures have been developed that help plan interventions and determine their success. In light of the concept of biopower, certain problematic aspects of this development become manifest that usually remain hidden in the bioethical discourse. Conclusion A goal of PC is to improve the quality of life of the dying and therefore not only treats physical symptoms but also psychological, social, and spiritual suffering; thus, it commits itself to maximizing life in a way that can become overdemanding for the individual and possibly does not satisfy the patient’s real needs.     

Self-Diffusion of Iron in Molten Fe-C Alloys

Self-diffusion coefficients of iron in molten Fe-C alloys have been measured by using the capillary method. In addition, the samples have been autoradiographed and sectioned to insure that no significant convection has occurred during the diffusion. The results can be represented by the equation D = 4.3×10^?3 exp (—12.200/RT) for carbon = 4.6 pct and T = 1513° to 1633°K; and D = 1.0×10^?2 exp (—15,700/RT) for carbon = 2.5 pct and T = 1613° to 1673°K. The D values are higher and the heat of activation for diffusion lower in alloys containing more carbon. Calculation based on the Einstein-Stokes equation indicates that the diffusing species is iron ion.     

A computational fluid dynamic analysis of gas and particle flow in flame spraying

The flame spraying process, which is a common industrial thermal spraying application, has been analyzed by means of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The process used at the Volvo Aero Corporation for the coating of fan and compressor housings has been modeled. The process uses the Metco 6P torch (Metco, Westbury, NY), which ejects a mixture of acetylene and oxygen at high speed through a ring of 16 orifices to form the flame. A stream of argon gas flowing through an orifice in the center of the ring carries a powder of nickel-covered bentonite through the flame to the spray substrate. The torch is cooled by a flow of air through an outer ring of 9 orifices. The simulation emulated reality closely by including the individual inlets for fuel, cooling air, and injected particles. The gas combustion was simulated as a turbulent, multicomponent chemically reacting flow. The standard, two-equation k-ε turbulence model was used. The chemical reaction rates appeared as source terms in the species transport equations. They were computed from the contributions of the Arrhenius rate expressions and the Magnussen and Hjertager eddy dissipation model. The first simulations included several intermediate chemical substances whose predicted concentration agreed favorably with measurements. Later, more simplified simulations incorporated only the global chemical reaction involving the initial and the final products, with corrections to the thermal properties being made to account for the missing intermediaries. The gas velocity and temperature fields predicted by the later simulations compared satisfactorily to those predicted by the earlier, more elaborate, ones. Therefore, the final simulations, which incorporated injected particles, were conducted employing the simplified model with only the global reaction. An in-house finite difference code was developed to calculate particle properties. Allowance was made for elliptical shapes, phase changes, and internal heat transfer with regard to the composite material. The particle velocities and temperatures predicted by the final simulations compared fairly well with experimental results obtained with the optical DPV2000 system.     

The effect of yttrium and thorium on the oxidation behavior of Ni-Cr-Al alloys

The effect of quaternary additions of 0.5% Y and 0.5 and 1.0% Th to a base alloy of Ni-10Cr-5Al on the oxidation behavior and mechanism was studied during oxidation in air over the range of 1000–1200°C. The presence of yttrium decreased the oxidation kinetics slightly, whereas the addition of thorium caused a slight increase. Oxide scale adherence was markedly improved by the addition of the quaternary elements. Although a number of oxides formed on yttrium-containing alloys, quantitative x-ray diffraction clearly showed that the rate-controlling step was the diffusion of oxygen through short-circuit paths in a thin layer of alumina that formed parabolically with time. Mixed oxides containing both aluminum and yttrium formed by the reaction of Y₂O₃ to form YAlOP₃ initially, and Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) after longer times. Although the scale adherence of the yttrium-containing alloy was considerably better than the base alloys, spalling did occur that was attributed to the formation of the voluminous YAG particles that grew in a mushroom-like manner, lifting the protective scale off the substrate locally. The YAG particles formed primarily at grain boundaries in the substrate in which the yttrium originally existed as YNi₉. This intermetallic compound reacted to form Y₂O₃, liberating metallic nickel that subsequently reacted to form NiO or NiAl₂O₄ spinel or both. The Y₂O₃ reacted with aluminum to ultimately form the YAG mushrooms. Thorium did not form any mixed oxides; the only oxide involving thorium was ThO₂, which existed as small particles at the oxide-metal interface. A highly beneficial effect of the thoria particles in reducing film spalling was observed. Scale spalling in the base alloy was attributed to void formation at the oxide-metal interface, the voids forming by condensation of excess vacancies from the Kirkendall effect associated with fast back-diffusion, of nickel into the substrate as aluminum was preferentially oxidized and diffused slowly outward. The mechanism of improved scale adherence in the quaternary alloys was the elimination of voids by annihilation of the Kirkendall vacancies at vacancy sinks introduced by the noncoherent interfaces between yttrium and thorium-containing intermetallics or oxides or both.This work is based on a portion of the dissertation of Arun Kumar in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles.Supported by NASA-Ames under grant No. NGR 05-007-352.     

Investigation of the grain coarsening behavior of some Aluminum alloys

Grain coarsening tests were carried out on Al-4.5 pct Cu and Al-4.5 pct Si alloys. The effects of three variables, melt composition, pour temperature, and mold temperature, were determined. It was found that the macrostructure generally coarsened with increased pour and mold temperatures. Coarsening was extreme in the unrefined alloys but was retarded by the active grain refiners like titanium and columbium. The effect of boron was spectacular in suppressing coarsening tendencies. The results of the investigation support the carbide theory of nucleation as opposed to the peritectic theory.     

Chromium distribution between liquid iron and molten basic slags

An equilibrium study was made of the distribution of chromium and oxygen between liquid iron, containing less than 1 pct Cr, and simple slags of the CaO(MgO)-SiO₂-FeO-Cr₂O₃ type in the temperature range 1526° to 1734°C The effects of slag oxidation, temperature, and basicity were observed.     

The effects of silicon on the properties of tantalum

The microalloying of tantalum with silicon has been effectively used on a commercial scale. However, data on effects of microalloying on processibility, microstructure and mechanical properties are not readily available. To develop some data, tantalum powder with various levels of silicon (0–50 ppm) was processed under identical conditions. Sheet samples were then annealed at different temperatures and evaluated via microstructural, chemical and mechanical tests. The recrystallization temperature was found to increase with silicon content, most probably as a result of the presence of an intermetallic (Ta₃Si) phase. The mechanical properties of unrecrystallized tantalum are, as expected, significantly different from those of recrystallized tantalum.