Design Automation and Test Solutions for Monolithic 3D ICs

Monolithic 3D (M3D) is an emerging heterogeneous integration technology that overcomes the limitations of the conventional through-silicon-via (TSV) and provides significant performance uplift and power reduction. However, the ultra-dense 3D interconnects impose significant challenges during physical design on how to best utilize them. Besides, the unique low-temperature fabrication process of M3D requires dedicated design-for-test mechanisms to verify the reliability of the chip. In this article, we provide an in-depth analysis on these design and test challenges in M3D. We also provide a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art solutions presented in the literature. This article encompasses all key steps on M3D physical design, including partitioning, placement, clock routing, and thermal analysis and optimization. In addition, we provide an in-depth analysis of various fault mechanisms, including M3D manufacturing defects, delay faults, and MIV (monolithic inter-tier via) faults. Our design-for-test solutions include test pattern generation for pre/post-bond testing, built-in-self-test, and test access architectures targeting M3D.

Problems in the investigation of fires of motor vehicles

The article pays great attention to the causes of fires that occur in motor vehicles. Statistical data indicate that fires that occurred in motor vehicles consistently occupy the second place in terms of quantity and material damage after fires that occurred in residential buildings. The investigation of fires related to the ignition of motor transport itself is quite complex. The article analyzes the causes of fires in motor vehicles. Some manufacturing defects of modern cars have been investigated. The statistics of fires in Russia are analyzed and presented. Certain features and directions of investigations of this category of criminal cases are considered.

Multiscale 3D Analysis of Defects and Temporal Development of Electrode Morphology in Lithium-Ion Batteries By X-Ray Computed Tomography

X-ray computed tomography is a 3D imaging technique that is able to provide information about both inner and outer parts of battery cells without their destruction. We will present this technique allowing us access to the batteries data in the whole range of scales – from the analysis of entire cells down to microstructure of electrodes. We will focus on the changes in the structure during the battery's aging process and the manufacturing defects.

Real-Time Monitoring of the Vacuum Degree Based on the Partial Discharge and an Insulation Supplement Design for a Distribution Class Vacuum Interrupter

The internal pressure of a vacuum interrupter (VI) is increased by arc heat, ceramic cracking, gas leakage, and manufacturing defects. Accordingly, the dielectric strength of VI rapidly decreases. To improve the reliability of power transmission, efficient maintenance through the real-time monitoring of the vacuum degree is essential. However, real-time monitoring of the vacuum degree is difficult, and related research is scarce. Additionally, due to the insulation problems of this technology, there are few commercially available products. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for real-time monitoring of the vacuum degree and an insulation supplement design for a distribution class VI. First, dielectric experiments were conducted to identify the section in which the dielectric strength of the VI rapidly decreased according to the vacuum degree. Second, for real-time monitoring of the VI, several factors were proposed through the partial discharge in the VI, while the capacitance characteristics of the VI were calculated to improve the signal of the internal partial discharge. Finally, to supplement the dielectric problems of the solid insulation high voltage apparatus that occur when real-time monitoring technology is applied, the insulation supplement design was performed through the finite element method (FEM).

SEGMENTATION OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS USING U-NET

Additive manufacturing (AM) provides design flexibility and allows rapid fabrications of parts with complex geometries. The presence of internal defects, however, can lead to deficit performance of the fabricated part. X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) is a non-destructive inspection technique often used for AM parts. Although defects within AM specimens can be identified and segmented by manually thresholding the XCT images, the process can be tedious and inefficient, and the segmentation results can be ambiguous. The variation in the shapes and appearances of defects also poses difficulty in accurately segmenting defects. This paper describes an automatic defect segmentation method using U-Net based deep convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures. Several models of U-Net variants are trained and validated on an AM XCT image dataset containing pores and cracks, achieving a best mean intersection over union (IOU) value of 0.993. Performance of various U-Net models is compared and analyzed. Specific to AM porosity segmentation with XCT images, several techniques in data augmentation and model development are introduced. This work demonstrates that U-Net can be effectively applied for automatic segmentation of AM porosity from XCT images with high accuracy. The method can potentially help improve quality control of AM parts in an industry setting.

Quality Control Approach for the Detection of Internal Lower Density Areas in Composite Disks in Industrial Conditions Based on a Combination of NDT Techniques

Voids in polymer matrix composites are one of the most common manufacturing defects, which may influence the mechanical properties and structural behavior of the final parts made of composites by various manufacturing methods. Therefore, numerous non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques were developed and applied for quality control and in-service testing of such structures. In this paper, the authors analyzed various alternatives to the reference technique, X-ray computed tomography (XCT) NDT, which is used for industrial testing of composite disks having defects in the form of the lower density areas. Different candidates, namely: vibration-based testing, infrared thermography, vibro-thermography, as well as ultrasonic testing were analyzed in terms of their sensitivity and technical feasibility. The quality of the results, the complexity of the testing procedure, time and labor consumption, and the cost of the equipment were analyzed and compared with the reference technique. Based on the conducted research the authors finally proposed a hybrid approach to quality control, using a combination of two NDT techniques–infrared thermography (for initial scanning and detection of near-surface defects) and ultrasonic testing (for a more detailed analysis of products that pass the first testing procedure). It allowed for replacing the costly XCT diagnostics with a much cheaper, but almost equally effective, alternative.

Release Rates of Short-lived Fission Gases from Modern Spherical Fuel Elements with TRISO-coated Particles

Measurement and prediction of fission product release is important in design, licensing and operation of HTRs. Latest development status is near zero particle manufacturing defects and in-pile failures combined with very low matrix contamination levels. In-pile Release over Birth rate measurements will be described and evaluated. Quantitative predictive analyses of short-lived gas release will be provided for MTR irradiation testing with a focus on the most recent experiment with Chinese fuel from HTR-PM production. For irradiation tests with no single particle failure, models describing particle kernel release are not applicable; instead modeling of matrix contamination release is essential. Good agreement between post calculations and in-line R/B measurements has been achieved.

RESIDUAL PLASTIC STRAIN STATE AND DELAMINATION PATTERN OF COMPOSITE LAMINATES WITH AUTOMATED INDUCED-GAP SUBJECTED TO HEMI-SPHERICAL IMPACT LOADING

Automated manufacturing defects are types of composite structure defects that occur during fiber deposition by advanced robots. The induced gap is the most probable type of defect in the Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technique. This defect can affect the mechanical performance of the composite structures at both material level by inducing the material inhomogeneity and the structural level by introducing the consolidation effect in the structure during the curing process. The current study investigates the effect of induced-gaps on the damage assessment of thin composite plates under Low-Velocity Impact (LVI) loading. The paper focuses on the delamination initiation and propagation and the residual plastic strain state of the impacted plates. The primary application of this study is to understand the interaction of induced gaps on the delamination pattern of composite samples subjected to LVI. For this purpose, a series of LVI tests are performed. Ultrasonic C-scan analysis and microscopic observation are implied to evaluate the internal damage due to impact loading. Finite Element (FE) analyses are then performed to evaluate the residual strain of the composite plates under Impact Energy (IE) loading less than 15 J. Then, the residual plastic strain in the impact zone is evaluated using a meso-macro method, and the effect of the local plasticity that occurs in the gap zones on the delamination initiation and propagation is studied. Results show that the stress relaxation due to the resin plasticity at the gap areas can affect the delamination pattern of the impacted composite plates. It is also shown that the residual strain of the impacted plates at the gap areas are new sources of the damages that need to be considered in the LVI analysis of the composite plates manufactured by the AFP technique.