Session: Rising Stars of Mechanical Engineering Celebration & Showcase

Paper Number: 148638

148638 - Investigating Coupled Thermal, Mechanical, and Electrical Phenomena in High-Temperature Materials Using Thermal Wave Sensors 

The overall objective of this research is to comprehensively explore and understand the intricate interplay between thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties in high temperature solid materials, with a focus on heterogeneously microstructured ceramic composites. To accomplish this objective, we will develop both new theoretical frameworks and a new high temperature thermal wave sensor testing platform to enable in-situ measurements and validation of these models. Using these tools, we will quantify coupled thermal and electrical transport phenomena up to 1,500 °C in ceramic composites with variable doping and electrically conductive filler particles spanning multiple heat and charge transport regimes. We will further investigate these materials’ ability to resist thermal shock, thermal cycle fatigue, and thermal runaway. We will model and experimentally test how the dynamics of microcrack formation and growth as well as the temperature dependence of thermal and electrical transport properties control these electro-thermal and thermo-mechanical stabilities. This work will focus on three core aims.

(1) Investigate Coupled Transport Phenomena: Develop new theoretical frameworks to accurately predict the interdependent behavior of electrical and thermal transport properties at temperatures exceeding 1,000 °C. Utilize innovative high-temperature thermal wave sensors (HT-TWS) to enable in-situ measurement and validation of theoretical models.

(2) Explore Thermo-Mechanical Stability: Investigate the influence of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatched conductive additives on microcrack nucleation and evolution under extreme thermal conditions. Utilize HT-TWS to measure microcrack formation and distribution during thermal cycling, focusing on filler concentration and CTE- mismatch.

(3) Understand Electro-Thermal Dynamics: Examine the interaction between thermally promoted charge carriers and electron-phonon scattering, determining their impact on electrical (𝜎) and thermal (k) conductivities under simultaneous high-temperature heat and charge transport conditions. Develop new theoretical frameworks and validate them using HT-TWS.

This research proposal aims to tackle the challenges posed by the interdependence of thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties in solid materials at high temperatures. By investigating novel heterogeneously microstructured ceramic composites, we plan to develop new theoretical frameworks, advanced measurement capabilities, and comprehensive experimental studies. The Aims encompass understanding coupled transport phenomena, improving thermo-mechanical stability, and deciphering electro-thermal dynamics. Successful completion of these objectives promises to enrich our knowledge of high-temperature material behavior and facilitate the development of cutting-edge research capabilities for exploring coupled phenomena at extreme temperatures. The discoveries from this work will directly facilitate a deeper understanding of how to control thermal, electrical, and mechanical behavior in high temperature materials leading to the future development of superior composite materials with enhanced performance and stability. Additionally, the measurement tools developed in this work will enable the future multi-physics real-time investigation of coupled thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties in almost any solid material at temperatures exceeding 1,000 °C.

Presenting Author: Sean Lubner Boston University

Presenting Author Biography: Sean Lubner is an assistant professor at Boston University in mechanical engineering and materials science engineering. Before joining BU, Prof. Lubner was a research scientist at MIT and a Seaborg Fellow research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was an NSF fellow. He specializes in nano-to-macro energy transport and conversion, and has worked on a variety of energy-related systems including biomedical devices, electrochemical and thermal energy storage systems, solid state energy conversion devices, machine learning models, and water desalination. Prof. Lubner works extensively with both industry and academia, and holds numerous joint patents and publications.

Authors: