Shattered Veins Elucidate Brittle Creep Processes in the Deep Slow Slip and Tremor Region

Deep Slow Slip and Tremors (SSTs) are a combination of transient clusters of tectonic tremors and slow slip associated with extremely elevated fluid pressures. SSTs are thought to reflect a transition from viscous to brittle plate interface rheology and likely exert a first-order control on megathrust seismicity. Nevertheless, the deformation mechanisms governing the source of SSTs remain elusive. We herein document the occurrence of vein networks precipitated and brecciated within the deep SST region under blueschist-facies conditions. These lawsonite-rich vein sets exhibit extensive evidence of brittle deformation and are spatially related to localized, finely milled (cataclastic) shear bands. Petro-geochemical data reveal that brittle deformation was accompanied by the injection of several ultramafic-, mafic- and metasedimentary-derived fluid pulses, imprinting characteristic Cr, high field strength elements, and light over heavy rare earth elements positive anomalies in the vein breccias while leaching light rare earth elements from the cataclastic blueschist host. Our results suggest that metamorphic veins represent zones of mechanical anisotropy within the rock volume prone to localized shearing, brittle deformation and episodic injection of externally derived fluids. These networks demonstrate the importance of former vein sets as structural heterogeneities in triggering fluid-controlled brittle creep events. The combined effects of high pore fluid pressures and rheological heterogeneities in the form of metamorphic veins could trigger the nucleation and propagation of SSTs at the margins of this mechanically anisotropic environment, and thus determine where slip will take place along deep subduction interfaces.INSU/CNRS Grant (Tellus program)IDEX research chairIDEX Universite de Paris ANR-18-IDEX-0001Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zuric

A Material Point Method for Elastoplasticity with Ductile Fracture and Frictional Contact

Simulating physical materials with dynamic movements to photo-realistic resolution has always been one of the most crucial and challenging topics in Computer Graphics. This dissertation considers large-strain elastoplasticity theory applied to the low-to-medium stiffness regime, with topological changes and codimensional objects incorporated. We introduce improvements to the Material Point Method (MPM) for two particular objectives, simulating fracturing ductile materials and incorporation of MPM and Lagrangian Finite Element Method (FEM).Our first contribution, simulating ductile fracture, utilizes traditional particle-based MPM [SSC13, SCS94] as well as the Lagrangian energy formulation of [JSS15] which uses a tetrahedron mesh, rather than particle-based estimation of the deformation gradient and potential energy. We model failure and fracture via elastoplasticity with damage. The material is elastic until its deformation exceeds a Rankine or von Mises yield condition. At that point, we use a softening model that shrinks the yield surface until it reaches the damage thresh- old. Once damaged, the material Lam ́e coefficients are modified to represent failed material. This approach to simulating ductile fracture with MPM is successful, as MPM naturally captures the topological changes coming from the fracture. However, rendering the crack surfaces can be challenging. We design a novel visualization technique dedicated to rendering the material’s boundary and its intersection with the evolving crack surfaces. Our approach uses a simple and efficient element splitting strategy for tetrahedron meshes to create crack surfaces. It employs an extrapolation technique based on the MPM simulation. For traditional particle-based MPM, we use an initial Delaunay tetrahedralization to connect randomly sampled MPM particles. Our visualization technique is a post-process and can run after the MPM simulation for efficiency. We demonstrate our method with several challenging simulations of ductile failure with considerable and persistent self-contact and applications with thermomechanical models for baking and cooking.Our second contribution, hybrid MPM–Lagrangian-FEM, aims to simulate elastic objects like hair, rubber, and soft tissues. It utilizes a Lagrangian mesh for internal force computation and a Eulerian grid for self-collision, as well as coupling with external materials. While recent MPM techniques allow for natural simulation of hyperelastic materials represented with Lagrangian meshes, they utilize an updated Lagrangian discretization and use the Eulerian grid degrees of freedom to take variations of the potential energy. It often coarsens the degrees of freedom of the Lagrangian mesh and can lead to artifacts. We develop a hybrid approach that retains Lagrangian degrees of freedom while still allowing for natural coupling with other materials simulated with traditional MPM, e.g., sand, snow, etc. Furthermore, while recent MPM advances allow for resolution of frictional contact with codimensional simulation of hyperelasticity, they do not generalize to the case of volumetric materials. We show that our hybrid approach resolves these issues. We demonstrate the efficacy of our technique with examples that involve elastic soft tissues coupled with kinematic skeletons, extreme deformation, and coupling with various elastoplastic materials. Our approach also naturally allows for two-way rigid body coupling

Magnetic Hybrid-Materials

Externally tunable properties allow for new applications of suspensions of micro- and nanoparticles in sensors and actuators in technical and medical applications. By means of easy to generate and control magnetic fields, fluids inside of matrices are studied. This monnograph delivers the latest insigths into multi-scale modelling, manufacturing and application of those magnetic hybrid materials

Impact splash chondrule formation during planetesimal recycling

Chondrules are the dominant bulk silicate constituent of chondritic meteorites and originate from highly energetic, local processes during the first million years after the birth of the Sun. So far, an astrophysically consistent chondrule formation scenario, explaining major chemical, isotopic and textural features, remains elusive. Here, we examine the prospect of forming chondrules from planetesimal collisions. We show that intensely melted bodies with interior magma oceans became rapidly chemically equilibrated and physically differentiated. Therefore, collisional interactions among such bodies would have resulted in chondrule-like but basaltic spherules, which are not observed in the meteoritic record. This inconsistency with the expected dynamical interactions hints at an incomplete understanding of the planetary growth regime during the protoplanetary disk phase. To resolve this conundrum, we examine how the observed chemical and isotopic features of chondrules constrain the dynamical environment of accreting chondrite parent bodies by interpreting the meteoritic record as an impact-generated proxy of planetesimals that underwent repeated collision and reaccretion cycles. Using a coupled evolution-collision model we demonstrate that the vast majority of collisional debris feeding the asteroid main belt must be derived from planetesimals which were partially molten at maximum. Therefore, the precursors of chondrite parent bodies either formed primarily small, from sub-canonical aluminum-26 reservoirs, or collisional destruction mechanisms were efficient enough to shatter planetesimals before they reached the magma ocean phase. Finally, we outline the window in parameter space for which chondrule formation from planetesimal collisions can be reconciled with the meteoritic record and how our results can be used to further constrain early solar system dynamics.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication in Icarus; associated blog article at goo.gl/5bDqG

Magnetic Hybrid-Materials

Externally tunable properties allow for new applications of suspensions of micro- and nanoparticles in sensors and actuators in technical and medical applications. By means of easy to generate and control magnetic fields, fluids inside of matrices are studied. This monnograph delivers the latest insigths into multi-scale modelling, manufacturing and application of those magnetic hybrid materials

Recycling process of permanent magnets by polymer binder using injection molding technique

Seltene Erden-Elemente (REE) werden aufgrund ihrer technologischen Bedeutung und geopolitischen Versorgungskriterien als kritische Metalle eingestuft. Sie werden in einem breiten Spektrum von Anwendungen eingesetzt, einschließlich der Herstellung von Magneten, Batterieelektroden, Katalysatoren und Polierpulver. Viele dieser Anwendungen sind wichtig für die sog. „grünen“ Technologien. Dauermagneten sind hinsichtlich der Marktgröße die wichtigste Anwendung insbesondere für Neodym-, Praseodym-, Dysprosium- und Terbium-Magnete, die in NdFeB-Magneten verwendet werden. Die Nachfrage nach Seltenerdelementen für die Herstellung von Magneten nimmt zu und es wird erwartet, dass sich dieser Trend in den kommenden Jahren fortsetzt. Um die mit der Nachfrage verbundenen Risiken zu verringern, wurden Maßnahmen zur Entwicklung von Recyclingtechnologien zur Wiederverwendung von NdFeB aus Magneten ergriffen. Während der industrielle NdFeB-Schrott bereits zurückgewonnen wird, ist das Recycling von Magneten aus Altprodukten noch weitergehend auf Labor- und Pilotprojekte beschränkt. Diese Abhandlung stellt die Ergebnisse der Materialanalyse vor, die die Möglichkeit bestätigen, magnetische Materialien durch die Einarbeitung in eine Polymermatrix zu recyceln und mittels Spritzgussprozess vorzubereiten. Kern der vorliegenden Dissertation ist die Frage, wie der geschlossene Kreislauf und das Recyclingverfahren von Neodynium Magneten aus Elektroschrott gestattet sein soll. Um diese Frage zu beantworten, sind folgende Aspekte relevant: • Die Wahl der Technologien/Prozesse, die für das Recycling eingesetzt werden. • Nachweis der Wiederverwendung von Neodym-Magneten, die aus WEEE (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment) gewonnen sind. • Herstellung und Analyse von Polymer/Magnet- Compound. • Einfluss der Magnetpartikel, abhängig von ihrer Anzahl und Größe, auf die Viskosität und Fließverhalten des Materials während des Spritzgussprozess. • Analyse des Einflusses der Restmagnetisierung auf das Fließverhalten und einer gezielten Anordnung von magnetischen Partikeln im Bauteil. • Technisch-ökonomische Analyse, die entscheidend dazu beitragen wird, ob und in welchem Ausmaß die Einführung des Prozesses erreichbar ist und damit geschlossene Kreisläufe möglich sind. Auf der Grundlage einer umfangreichen Analyse wurden die optimalen Prozessparameter und die Spritzgussmöglichkeiten des verwendeten Materials vorgestellt. Die Nachfrage nach NdFeB-Magneten in Motoranwendungen wächst und wird in den nächsten Jahren voraussichtlich noch zunehmen. Vor allem die Nachfrage nach E-Bike und E-Autos gewinnt an Bedeutung. Infolgedessen wird die Nachfrage nach schweren Seltenen Erden steigen, was die Entwicklung von Recyclingsystemen für diese Materialien erforderlich macht.Rare earth elements (REE) are classified as critical metals due to their technological importance and geopolitical supply criteria. They are used in a wide range of applications, including the manufacture of magnets, battery electrodes, catalysts, and polishing powders. Many of these applications are important for so-called "green" technologies. Permanent magnets are the most important application in terms of market size, particularly for neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium magnets used in NdFeB magnets. The demand for rare earth elements for the production of magnets is increasing and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years (Langkau S. 2020; Li J. 2020; Goodenough K.M. et al. 2018). To mitigate the risks associated with that demand, have been taken to develop recycling technologies to reuse NdFeB magnets. While industrial scrap is already being recovered, recycling of magnets from end-of-life products is still further limited to laboratory and pilot projects. The following work presents the results of the material analysis, which confirm the possibility to recycle magnetic materials by using a polymer matrix. The main goal of this dissertation is the question of how the closed-loop and recycling process of neodymium magnets from electronic waste should be designed. To answer this question, the following aspects are relevant: • The choice of technologies/processes used for recycling and processing. • Evidence of reuse of neodymium magnets obtained from WEEE (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment). • Process flow analysis and final product evaluation (polymer/magnet compound). • The effect of magnetic particles characteristics (size, distribution, and contribution) on the viscosity and flow behavior of the material during the injection molding process. • Analysis of residual magnetization on the flow behavior and a targeted arrangement of magnetic particles in the component. • Technical-economic analysis, which decisively contributes to whether and to what extent the introduction of the process is achievable. Based on an extensive analysis, the optimal process parameters and the maximum injection possibilities of the material used is discussed along the whole processing line. The demand for NdFeB magnets in motor applications is growing and is expected to increase in the coming years. In particular, the demand for e-bikes and e-vehicles is gaining importance (Kampker A. et al. 2021; Pollák F. 2021; Flores P.J 2021). As a result, the demand for heavy rare earths will increase, necessitating the development of recycling systems for these materials, where this thesis is one basic concept to close the loop

New approaches for steel melt filtration in continuous casting of steel

Ziel der Arbeit war es die Modelle des Sonderforschungsbereiches (SFB) 920 zur Filtration von Stahlschmelzen erstmals im industriellen Maßstab zu überprüfen. Dafür wurden zwei Arten großformatiger Filter entwickelt: 1. Schaumfilter mit Zylindergeometrie mittels einer modifizierter Replikaroute und 2. “Spaghettifilter” mittels robotergestützten Gelcastings auf Alginatbasis. Die mechanischen und strukturellen Eigenschaften der Filtermaterialien wurden in Abhängigkeit verschiedener Herstellungsparameter untersucht und die Einsatzfähigkeit geeigneter Filterprototypen wurde im Stahlgusssimulator des SFB 920 evaluiert. Die finalen Filterbauteile wurden im Stranggießverteiler des Industriepartners thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG für circa 45 Minuten bei >1550 °C in die Stahlschmelze eingetaucht. Schaumfilter mit der richtigen Einsatzkonfiguration überstanden die Prozessbedingungen trotz Thermoschock und Schlackekontakt. Post-mortem-Untersuchungen der Filteroberfläche zeigten klare Anzeichen für reaktive und aktive Filterwirkung wie sie aus Laborversuchen bekannt sind. Die Industrietests zeigten somit den ersten Machbarkeitsnachweis für das neuartige Filterkonzept

Development of novel micropneumatic grippers for biomanipulation

Microbjects with dimensions from 1 μm to 1 mm have been developed recently for different aspects and purposes. Consequently, the development of handling and manipulation tools to fulfil this need is urgently required. Micromanipulation techniques could be generally categorized according to their actuation method such as electrostatic, thermal, shape memory alloy, piezoelectric, magnetic, and fluidic actuation. Each of which has its advantage and disadvantage. The fluidic actuation has been overlooked in MEMS despite its satisfactory output in the micro-scale. This thesis presents different families of pneumatically driven, low cost, compatible with biological environment, scalable, and controllable microgrippers. The first family demonstrated a polymeric microgripper that was laser cut and actuated pneumatically. It was tested to manipulate microparticles down to 200 microns. To overcome the assembly challenges that arise in this family, the second family was proposed. The second family was a micro-cantilever based microgripper, where the device was assembled layer by layer to form a 3D structure. The microcantilevers were fabricated using photo-etching technique, and demonstrated the applicability to manipulate micro-particles down to 200 microns using automated pick-and-place procedure. In addition, this family was used as a tactile-detector as well. Due to the angular gripping scheme followed by the above mentioned families, gripping smaller objects becomes a challenging task. A third family following a parallel gripping scheme was proposed allowing the gripping of smaller objects to be visible. It comprises a compliant structure microgripper actuated pneumatically and fabricated using picosecond laser technology, and demonstrated the capability of gripping microobject as small as 100 μm microbeads. An FEA modelling was employed to validate the experimental and analytical results, and excellent matching was achieved