Finite element mesh of fusion energy heat exchange component: hybrid CAD/IBSim model including a graphite foam interlayer

Image-Based Simulation (IBSim) mesh:
A finite element mesh of a conceptual design for a fusion energy heat exchange component (monoblock). The mesh is a hybrid from a computer aided design (CAD) drawing for the pipe and armour and IBSim for the interlayer. The IBSim interlayer is generated directly from a 3D volumetric image of a graphite foam block (KFoam). The 3D image was generated with an X-ray tomography scan performed by Dr Llion Evans with Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility equipment, which was funded in part by the EPSRC (grants EP/F007906/1, EP/F001452/1 and EP/I02249X/1). Conversion of the data to FE mesh was achieved using ScanIP, part of the Simpleware suite of programmes, version 7 (Synopsys Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA).

The FE mesh data uses the EnSight Gold file format and may be visualised using Paraview (https://www.paraview.org).

The CT data used for the mesh is available as a separate dataset:

This data was used originally for the following publications (please cite if re-using the data):
Ll.M. Evans, L. Margetts, P.D. Lee, C.A.M. Butler, E. Surrey, “Image based in silico characterisation of the effective thermal properties of a graphite foam”, Carbon, Vol. 143, pp. 542-558, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2018.10.031

Ll.M. Evans, L. Margetts, P.D. Lee, C.A.M. Butler, E. Surrey, “Improving modelling of complex geometries in novel materials using 3D imaging”, Proceedings of NEA International Workshop on Structural Materials for Innovative Nuclear Systems, Manchester, UK, July 2016. https://www.oecd-nea.org/science/smins4/documents/P1-18_LlME_SMINS4_paper_reviewed.pdf