The characterization and modeling of mechanical properties team

Team Leader: Bill Blumenthal

The team provides expertise in modeling and simulations for LANL strategic materials across length scales that comprise atomistic, nano, meso, and the continuum. Customers include enhanced surveillance, BES, and the AFCI programs. Research areas include the following areas:

• shock-dependent kinetics models for polymers and porous materials,
• phase stability in alloys and ceramics,
• kinetics of chemical reactions under shock loading,
• heat and mass transfer modeling and simulations,
• fracture mechanisms in ductile materials, and
• a new theory of non-local plasticity in application to static and dynamic loading conditions.

One focus has been on aging and phase stability of plutonium alloys. This effort has led to the development of plutonium/gallium/helium potentials and the first plutonium-gallium phase stability diagram obtained from first principles. Typically tools include molecular dynamics, the CALPHAD, SOLGASMIX method, and Truchas (casting simulation software).

(The characterization and modeling of mechanical properties team pose for photo.)

Team Members

Team Leader: Bill Blumenthal
TSMs: Don Brown, Del Harbor, George Kaschner, and Cheng Liu
TECs: Manuel Lovato and Thomas Sisneros
POST DOCs: Can Aydiner and Saurabh Kabra