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Atomistic Simulations of Materials: Methods for Accurate Potentials and Realistic Time-Scales

Citation

Tiwary, Pratyush (2012) Atomistic Simulations of Materials: Methods for Accurate Potentials and Realistic Time-Scales. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/J8W9-XS70. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05302012-182258575

Abstract

This thesis deals with achieving more realistic atomistic simulations of materials, by developing accurate and robust force-fields, and algorithms for practical time scales.

I develop a formalism for generating interatomic potentials for simulating atomistic phenomena occurring at energy scales ranging from lattice vibrations to crystal defects to high-energy collisions. This is done by fitting against an extensive database of ab initio results, as well as to experimental measurements for mixed oxide nuclear fuels. The applicability of these interactions to a variety of mixed environments beyond the fitting domain is also assessed. The employed formalism makes these potentials applicable across all interatomic distances without the need for any ambiguous splining to the well-established short-range Ziegler-Biersack-Littmark universal pair potential. We expect these to be reliable potentials for carrying out damage simulations (and molecular dynamics simulations in general) in nuclear fuels of varying compositions for all relevant atomic collision energies.

A hybrid stochastic and deterministic algorithm is proposed that while maintaining fully atomistic resolution, allows one to achieve milliseconds and longer time scales for several thousands of atoms. The method exploits the rare event nature of the dynamics like other such methods, but goes beyond them by (i) not having to pick a scheme for biasing the energy landscape, (ii) providing control on the accuracy of the boosted time scale, (iii) not assuming any harmonic transition state theory (HTST), and (iv) not having to identify collective coordinates or interesting degrees of freedom. The method is validated by calculating diffusion constants for vacancy-mediated diffusion in iron metal at low temperatures, and comparing against brute-force high temperature molecular dynamics. We also calculate diffusion constants for vacancy diffusion in tantalum metal, where we compare against low-temperature HTST as well. The robustness of the algorithm with respect to the only free parameter it involves is ascertained.

The method is then applied to perform tensile tests on gold nanopillars on strain rates as low as 100/s, bringing out the perils of high strain-rate molecular dynamics calculations. We also calculate temperature and stress dependence of activation free energy for surface nucleation of dislocations in pristine gold nanopillars under realistic loads. While maintaining fully atomistic resolution, we reach the fraction-of-a-second time scale regime. It is found that the activation free energy depends significantly and nonlinearly on the driving force (stress or strain) and temperature, leading to very high activation entropies for surface dislocation nucleation.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Accelerated Dynamics, Atomistic Simulations, Nanomechanics
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Materials Science
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • van de Walle, Axel
Thesis Committee:
  • Goddard, William A., III (chair)
  • Fultz, Brent T.
  • Greer, Julia R.
  • Johnson, William Lewis
  • van de Walle, Axel
Defense Date:4 May 2012
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:05302012-182258575
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05302012-182258575
DOI:10.7907/J8W9-XS70
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.100301DOIUNSPECIFIED
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.094104DOIUNSPECIFIED
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.80.174302DOIUNSPECIFIED
http://arxiv.org/abs/1202.4796arXivUNSPECIFIED
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:7104
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Pratyush Tiwary
Deposited On:01 Jun 2012 20:44
Last Modified:03 Oct 2019 23:56

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