• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 2019

Through this study, we investigate the effects of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technology on the fatigue life of needle roller bearings. The fatigue life of untreated and UNSM-treated needle roller bearings is evaluated using a roller fatigue tester at various contact stress levels under oil-lubricated conditions. We can ascertain that the fatigue life of an UNSM-treated needle roller bearing was extended by approximately 34.3% in comparison with an untreated one, where the effectiveness of UNSM technology diminishes with increasing contact stress. The surface roughness and surface hardness of needle roller bearings before and after being treated by UNSM technology are compared and discussed to understand the role of UNSM technology in improving the fatigue life of needle roller bearings. In addition, a fractograph of the damaged bearings is observed using a scanning electron microscopy to shed light on the fracture mechanisms of bearings under different contact stress levels. We can therefore conclude that the application of UNSM technology to the needle roller bearings improves the fatigue life by reducing the friction coefficient and increasing the wear resistance; this may be attributed to a reduction in surface roughness from 0.5 to $0.149{\mu}m$ and an increase in surface hardness from 58 to 62 HRc.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.176-182
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• 2019

The primary objective of this study is to treat a monocrystalline silicon (Si) wafer having a thickness of $279{\mu}m$ by employing the ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technology for improving the efficiency and service life of nano-electromechanical systems (NEMSs) and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMSs) by enhancing of wear and corrosion resistances. The wear and corrosion resistances of the Si wafer were systematically investigated before and after UNSM treatment, wherein abrasive, oxidative and spalling wear mechanisms were applied to the as-received and subsequently UNSM-treated Si wafer. Compared to the asreceived state, the wear and corrosion resistances of the UNSM-treated Si wafer are found to be enhanced by about 23% and 14%, respectively. The enhancement in wear and corrosion resistances after UNSM treatment may be attributed to grain size refinement (confirmed by Raman spectroscopy) and modified surface integrity. Furthermore, it is observed that the Raman intensity reduced significantly after UNSM treatment, whereas neither the Raman shift nor new phases were found on the surface of the UNSM-treated Si wafer. In addition, the friction coefficient values of the as-received and UNSM-treated Si wafers are found to be about 0.54 and 0.39, respectively. Hence, UNSM technology can be effectively incorporated as an alternative mechanical surface treatment for NEMSs and MEMSs comprising Si wafers.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.80-85
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• 2011

The Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (UNSM) technology improves the fatigue life of a torsion bar by inducing compressive residual stress on the surface layer. The UNSM is applied to replace the presetting method and shot peening technology. The torsion bar must be changed periodically because of a lack of durability and a phenomenon related to the stress relaxation. The torsion fatigue test specimens were made of DIN17221 material, and the results showed that the fatigue life was 5 times more than under durability test conditions. A comparison test between the commercial vehicles' presetting method and shot peened torsion bar and the UNSM torsion bar showed that the UNSM could replace the presetting method and shot peening.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.40-46
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the effect of ultrasonic nano crystal surface modification (UNSM) on residual stress mitigation after Weld Inlay repair for butt dissimilar metal weld with Alloy 82/182 in reactor vessel In/Outlet nozzle. As-welded and Weld Inlay specimens were made in accordance with design standard of ASME Code Case N-766, and two planes of their weld specimens were peened by the optimum UNSM process condition. Peening characteristics for weld specimens after UNSM treatment were evaluated by surface roughness and Vickers hardness test. And, residual stress for weld specimens developed from before and after UNSM treatment was measured and evaluated by instrumented indentation technique. Consequently, it was revealed that the mitigation of residual stress in weld metal after Weld Inlay repair of reactor vessel In/Outlet nozzle could be possible through UNSM treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.380-385
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• 2016

Railway tracks are repeatedly overstressed and damaged owing to increase in passing tonnage and numerous contact cycles between wheels of train and rails. In order to ensure safe train operation, heat-treated rails are used in addition to regular inspection and maintenance of these rails. Normal rails were treated using ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) to strengthen the surface of rails. A few changes in surface properties were detected with respect to hardness and compressive residual stress after UNSM treatment. Wear and rolling contact fatigue tests were performed using rails whose surfaces were hardened by UNSM and heat-treated rails. The amount of wear and fatigue life cycles were measured to estimate the effect of UNSM on the rail material. The material of the surfacehardened rail showed improved wear and rolling contact fatigue properties.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.270-278
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• 2018

STS 316L prepared by additive manufacturing (AM) exhibits deterioration of mechanical properties and wear resistance due to the presence of defects such as black-of-fusion defects, internal porosity, residual stress, and anisotropy. In addition, high surface roughness (integrity) of AM products remains an issue. This study aimed to apply ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technology to STS 316L prepared by AM to increase the surface hardness, to reduce the surface roughness, and to improve the friction and wear behavior to the level achieved by bulk material manufactured using traditional processes. Herein, the as-received and polished specimens were treated by UNSM technology and their resulting properties were compared and discussed. The results showed that UNSM technology increased the surface hardness and reduced the surface roughness of the as-received and polished specimens. These results can be attributed to grain size refinement and pore elimination from the surface. Moreover, the friction of the as-received and polished specimens after UNSM technology was lower compared to those of the as-received and polished specimens, but no significant differences in wear resistance were found.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.530-534
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• 2015

Ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) is an example of a nanoscale-surface modification that has become noticeable because of its effects on the mechanical improvement of metallic materials. UNSM equipment needs to be both utilized and improved. The equipment is based on an ultrasonic waveguide whose role is to strike surfaces of metallic materials to achieve nanoscale deformation. In this paper, we introduce the development of one kind of UNSM equipment. Using piezoelectric elements, we repeatedly design and fabricate a 20-kHz ultrasonic waveguide. With respect to the composition of the equipment, the waveguide is automatically transferred by two axial stages automatically. In addition, a static force is constantly applied by pneumatic devices. We perform an experiment to verify the feasibility of the equipment.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2008

Ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) is a method to induce severe plastic deformation to a material surface, so that the structure of the material surface becomes a nanocrystal structure from the surface to a certain depth. It improves the mechanical properties, namely hardness, compressive residual stress, and fatigue characteristics. Specimens of SKD61 were tested to verify the effects of the variation of UNSM static load level on fatigue characteristics. The results were as follows: the grain size of SKD61 treated with UNSM became very fine from the material surface to a $100{\mu}m$ depth. The surface hardness of SKD61 was increased up to 37% after UNSM. And fatigue strength at $10^7$ cycles was increased by 8.3, 11.2, and 17.9% respectively, when the static load levels of UNSM were 4, 6, 8 kgf.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.49-55
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• 2011

In order to analyze feasibility of replacing a conventional 6-mm Ti bar with a 5-mm bar, a series of rotating bending fatigue tests were carried out on Ti-6Al-4V bars by strengthening the fatigue performance using a special technique called UNSM (Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification). The results of S-N curves clearly showed that the performance of the 5-mm titanium specimen was similar to that of the 6-mm specimen when the UNSM treatment was applied. The 5-mm treated specimen converged with small scattering band into the linear line of the non-treated 6-mm one. Below the fatigue life of $10^5$ cycles, the UNSM treatment did not show any significant superiority in the bending stress and fatigue life. However, over the fatigue life of $10^5$ cycles, the effect of UNSM was superior for each fatigue life, and the bending stress became longer and higher than that of the untreated one. In the case of 6-mm Ti-bar with UNSM, the fatigue limit was about 592 MPa, and there was fatigue strength increase of about 30.7% at the fatigue life of $10^4$ cycles compared to the untreated 6-mm bar. Therefore, the compressive residual stress made by the UNSM in Ti-6Al-4V increased the fatigue strength by more than 30%.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.170-178
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• 2022

Mechanical surface treatment is an excellent approach widely used to modulate and improve the performance and service life of bearings, gears, and frictional joints. The main purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effect of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) and wonder process craft (WPC) on the surface and tribological properties of SUJ2 bearing steel. The surface roughness and hardness of the untreated and treated (UNSM- and WPC-treated) specimens were measured and compared. Their tribological properties were evaluated using a micro-tribometer under grease-lubricated and dry conditions against itself. Surface hardness measurement results revealed that both the UNSM- and WPC-treated specimens had a higher hardness than that of the untreated specimen. The surface roughness of the untreated specimen was reduced after UNSM and WPC treatments. Abrasive wear mode was observed on the surface of the specimens worn under grease-lubricated conditions, while adhesive wear mode was found on the surface of the specimens worn in dry conditions. According to the tribological test results, the friction coefficient and wear rate of the untreated specimens were reduced by the application of both the UNSM and WPC treatments under grease-lubricated and dry conditions.