Abstract:

Three-dimensional microstructures of porous ceramic-metal composites are reconstructed using a series of 2D images. Reconstructed 3D models are discretized into 8-node brick elements and analyzed using a general-purpose commercial FEM software package. The effective Young’s modulus is calculated using a representative volume of microstructure and standard homogenization techniques, and is then used for macroscopic stress analysis in solid oxide fuel cell applications. The predicted modulus values for porous anode and cathode composites agreed very well with reported literature data at room and high temperatures. The unit macroscopic cell is analyzed for evaluating thermo-mechanical stress due to sintering-induced residual stresses and fabrication-induced mechanical stresses.