Remote optical addressing of single nano-objects

We present a scheme for remotely addressing single nano-objects by means of near-field optical microscopy that makes only use of one of the most fundamental properties of electromagnetic radiation: its polarization. A medium containing optically active nano-objects is covered with a thin metallic film presenting sub-wavelength holes. When the optical tip is positioned some distance away from a hole, surface plasmons in the metal coating are generated which, by turning the polarization plane of the excitation light, transfer the excitation towards a chosen hole and induce emission from the underlying nano-objects. The method, easily applicable to other systems, is demonstrated for single quantum dots (QDs) at low temperature. It may become a valuable tool for future optical applications in the nanoworld

As-Cast Residual Stresses in an Aluminum Alloy AA6063 Billet: Neutron Diffraction Measurements and Finite Element Modeling

The presence of thermally induced residual stresses, created during the industrial direct chill (DC) casting process of aluminum alloys, can cause both significant safety concerns and the formation of defects during downstream processing. Although numerical models have been previously developed to compute these residual stresses, most of the computations have been validated only against measured surface distortions. Recently, the variation in residual elastic strains in the steady-state regime of casting has been measured as a function of radial position using neutron diffraction (ND) in an AA6063 grain-refined cylindrical billet. In the present study, these measurements are used to show that a well-designed thermomechanical finite element (FE) process model can reproduce relatively well the experimental results. A sensitivity analysis is then carried out to determine the relative effect of the various mechanical parameters when computing the as-cast residual stresses in a cylindrical billet. Two model parameters have been investigated: the temperature when the alloy starts to thermally contract and the plasticity behavior. It is shown that the mechanical properties at low temperatures have a much larger influence on the residual stresses than those at high temperature

Simulation of Semi-Solid Material Mechanical Behavior Using a Combined Discrete/Finite Element Method

As a necessary step toward the quantitative prediction of hot tearing defects, a three-dimensional stress-strain simulation based on a combined finite element (FE)/discrete element method (DEM) has been developed that is capable of predicting the mechanical behavior of semisolid metallic alloys during solidification. The solidification model used for generating the initial solid-liquid structure is based on a Voronoi tessellation of randomly distributed nucleation centers and a solute diffusion model for each element of this tessellation. At a given fraction of solid, the deformation is then simulated with the solid grains being modeled using an elastoviscoplastic constitutive law, whereas the remaining liquid layers at grain boundaries are approximated by flexible connectors, each consisting of a spring element and a damper element acting in parallel. The model predictions have been validated against Al-Cu alloy experimental data from the literature. The results show that a combined FE/DEM approach is able to express the overall mechanical behavior of semisolid alloys at the macroscale based on the morphology of the grain structure. For the first time, the localization of strain in the intergranular regions is taken into account. Thus, this approach constitutes an indispensible step towards the development of a comprehensive model of hot tearin

Neutron Diffraction Measurement of As-Cast Residual Stresses in Aa7050 Rolling Plate Ingots: Influence of A Wiper

During casting, thermally induced deformations give birth to ingot distortions and residual stresses. For some high strength alloys, ingot cracking can happen during casting per se or during cooling down. Ingot distortions such as rolling face pull-in, but curl and but swell are rather easy to quantify as opposed to internal stresses. As aluminium is rather transparent to neutrons, residual stress measurements using neutron diffraction appeared to be a good way to validate the thermomechanical models aimed at simulating the stress build-up during casting. This technique has been applied to DC cast AA7050 rolling plate ingots with special attention to the stress generation in the transient start-up phase, i.e. in the foot of the ingot. Additional results using the hole drilling method complement the measurements. The measured stress distributions are compared with the results of a numerical model of DC casting for ingots cast with and without a wiper

Modeling of ingot distortions during direct chill casting of aluminum alloys

A comprehensive three-dimensional mathematical model based upon the Abaqus software has been developed for the computation of the thermomechanical state of the solidifying strand during direct chill (DC) casting of rolling sheet ingots and during subsequent cooling. Based upon a finite element formulation, the model determines the temperature distribution, the stresses and the associated deformations in the metal. For that purpose, the thermomechanical properties of the alloy have been measured up to the coherency temperature using creep and indentation tests. The thermophysical properties as well as the boundary conditions associated with the lateral water spray have been determined using inverse modeling. The predicted ingot distortions, mainly butt curl, butt swell and lateral faces pull-in are compared with experimental measurements performed during solidification and after complete cooling of the ingot. Particular emphasis is placed on the non-uniform contraction of the lateral faces. The influence of the mold shape and the contributions to this contraction are assessed as a function of the casting conditions

Influence of a wiper on residual stresses in AA7050 rolling plate ingots

As-cast stresses in the foot of the ingot corresponding to the transient start-up phase of the direct chill casting have been determined in aluminum alloy AA7050 rectangular ingots. This high strength alloy is usually cast with a wiper that is placed below the mold and ejects the falling water from its surface thus reducing the cooling intensity. The ingot being hotter, internal stresses are relaxed. The efficiency of a wiper has been evaluated using both neutron diffraction measurements on ingots cast with and without a wiper and a 3D numerical model simulating the stress generation during casting. The stress level is reduced by 33% when a wiper is used during casting and the stored elastic energy by 50%. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved