Masters Theses
Alternative Title
Computer simulation of radiation damage in iron aluminide
Abstract
"A computer program, designed to simulate the ordered state of the B.C.C. alloy, Fe₃Al, was used to study the effects of irradiation on an order-disorder alloy. Twenty-six runs were made with this program representing a variety of initial conditions. In all cases, the final damaged state consisted of Frenkel defects, vacancy-interstitial pairs; and the distance separating these pairs was a sensitive function of the energy and direction imparted to the primary knock-on. Both the vacancy and the interstitial were found to be normal, stable defects, with the interstitial residing in a "split"-configuration oriented in the [110] direction. The threshold energies for permanent atomic displacement were also found to be strongly directionally dependent. The [100] direction proved to have the lowest threshold with a value of 22 eV (for a chain of all Fe atoms) for the directions studied. The threshold for the [110] direction was about 44 eV, while that for the [111] direction was not determined because of its very complex behavior. "Replacement chains" were prevalent in the [100] and the [110] directions. After an initial energy loss of about 10 to 15 eV, the replacement chains progressed with relatively little loss of energy per atomic collision. "Focusons" were also prevalent and served as the primary mechanism for dissipating energy from the collision chain. This mechanism was operative in the [100] and [lll] directions and was especially noticeable during the "defocusing" collisions. The defocusing replacement chains were introduced at energies of about 110 eV and knock-on directions from 1 to 1.5' away from the [100] and [111] directions. The energy dissipation along a defocused chain closely resembled the "thermal spike" concept; while, the extensive expansion of the lattice near the end of the defocused chain (especially in the [111] direction) was reminiscent of a "plasticity spike." The presence of aluminum atoms had a strong influence on several of the dynamic events. The small mass of the aluminum atoms present in the [lll] chain impeded the progress of the replacement chain; while, the defocusing in the [100] and [111] directions was enhanced by the aluminum's low mass and high mobility. Disordering was found to be most significant in the defocused chains. The [100] and [110] replacement chains containing all iron atoms showed no disordering when the iron atoms exchanged places. Since the aluminum atoms were not replaced in either the [111] direction or the [100] (alternate iron and aluminum atoms) direction, no disordering occurred. The disordering in the defocused chains arose from the general mixing of the lattice atoms along the chain especially in the "plasticity spike" region"--Abstract, page ii-iv.
Advisor(s)
Leighly, Hollis P., 1923-2004
Committee Member(s)
Edwards, D. R.
Hill, Otto H.
Department(s)
Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science
Degree Name
M.S. in Nuclear Engineering
Publisher
University of Missouri at Rolla
Publication Date
1968
Pagination
ix, 106 pages
Note about bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 85-88), footnotes (pages 82-84) and index (pages 89-97).
Rights
© 1968 Roland Otto Jackson, All rights reserved.
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
File Type
text
Language
English
Subject Headings
Iron-aluminum alloys -- Effect of radiation on
Order-disorder in alloys
Radiation -- Simulation methods
Thesis Number
T 2122
Print OCLC #
5995639
Electronic OCLC #
805723850
Link to Catalog Record
Recommended Citation
Jackson, Roland Otto, "Computer simulation of radiation damage in Fe₃Al" (1968). Masters Theses. 5251.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/5251