Microstructure-based analysis of thermal- and mechanical behaviors of W/CuCrZr composites and porous W coating

In this work we applied an advanced simulation procedure on two heterogeneous random materials relevant for fusions, mapping high resolution micrographic images of their microstructures into FEM (finite element method) models. This technique enables one to calculate the local thermal and mechanical responses of a material on his real microstructure. This technique also allows one to interpret experimental observations based on the local effects captured by the simulation (within a two-dimensional approximation). The inputs for the FE simulations were created from SEM (scanning electron microscopy) micrographs using the dedicated software OOF2. In this paper, two examples are presented: tensile deformation up to plastic rupture of the W-CuCrZr particulate composite and thermal conduction of plasma-sprayed porous tungsten taking into account its dual-scale porosity. Essential role of the heterogeneous, random morphology of the microstructures is highlighted. Comparison with experimental measurements is discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.