• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.130-145
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• 2019

Widespread commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is expected to be realized in various application fields with the advent of cost-effective fabrication of cells and stacks in high volumes. Cost-reduction efforts have focused on production yield, power density, operation temperature, and continuous manufacturing. In this article, we examine several issues associated with processing for SOFCs from the standpoint of the bimodal packing model, considering the external constraints imposed by rigid substrates. Optimum compositions of composite cathode materials with high volume fractions of the second phase (particles dispersed in matrix) have been analyzed using the bimodal packing model. Constrained sintering of thin electrolyte layers is also discussed in terms of bimodal packing, with emphasis on the clustering of dispersed particles during anisotropic shrinkage. Finally, the structural transition of dispersed particle clusters during constrained sintering has been correlated with the structural stability of thin-film electrolyte layers deposited on porous solid substrates.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-131
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• 2012

Optimum packing of aggregate is an important aspect of mixture design, since porosity may be reduced and strength improved. It may also cause a reduction in paste content and is thus of economic relevance too. Several mathematic packing models have been developed in the literature for optimization of mixture design. However in this study, numerical simulation will be used as the main tool for this purpose. A basic, simple theoretical model is used for approximate assessment of mixture optimization. Calculation and simulation will start from a bimodal mixture that is based on the mono-sized packing experiences. Tri-modal and multi-sized particle packing will then be discussed to find the optimum mixture. This study will demonstrate that computer simulation is a good alternative for mixture design and optimization when appropriate particle shapes are selected. Although primarily focusing on aggregate, optimization of blends of Portland cement and mineral admixtures could basically be approached in a similar way.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.704-705
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• 2006

Discrete element analysis is used to map various log-normal particle size distributions into measures of the in-sphere pore size distribution. Combinations evaluated range from monosized spheres to include bimodal mixtures and various log-normal distributions. The latter proves most useful in providing a mapping of one distribution into the other (knowing the particle size distribution we want to predict the pore size distribution). Such metrics show predictions where the presence of large pores is anticipated that need to be avoided to ensure high sintered properties.