• 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 the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.576-579
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• 2014

Rails are continuously exposed to severe environments due to increases in train service frequency, passing tonnage, and speed. Wear is one of the most common types of damage observed on rails. The surface of railsis heat treated to secure safety at critical sites, such as curved tracks or turnouts. Ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM), a new approach for rails, was examined to strengthen the rail surface. The effect of UNSM on the wear resistance of rail specimens was compared with that of heat treatment. Wear resistance was improved after UNSM treatment due to increased hardness and surface compressive residual stress.

• 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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2021

Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (UNSM) is a peening technology that generates elastic-plastic deformation on the material surface to which a static load of a air compressor and a dynamic load of ultrasonic vibration energy are applied by striking the material surface with a strike pin. In the UNSM-treated material, the structure of the surface layer is modified into a nano-crystal structure and compressive residual stress occurs. When UNSM is applied to welds in a reactor coolant system where PWSCC can occur, it has the effect of relieving tensile residual stress in the weld and thus suppressing crack initiation and propagation. In order to quantitatively evaluate the compressive residual stress generated by UNSM, many finite element studies have been conducted. In existing studies, single-path UNSM or UNSM in a limited area has been simulated due to excessive computing time and analysis convergence problems. However, it is difficult to accurately calculate the compressive residual stress generated by the actual UNSM under these limited conditions. Therefore, in this study, a minimum finite element peening analysis area that can reliably calculate the compressive residual stress is proposed. To confirm the validity of the proposed analysis area, the compressive residual stress obtained from the experiment are compared with finite element analysis results.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.56-61
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of an ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technique on the mechanical and wear properties of tungsten carbide (WC). The UNSM technique is a newly developed surface modification technique that increases the mechanical properties of materials by severe plastic deformation. The objective of this study was to improve the wear resistance of press die made of WC by applying the UNSM technique. We observed the microstructures of the untreated and UNSM-treated specimens using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to investigate the chemical composition. The SEM observations showed the pore size and the number of pores decreased after the UNSM treatment. We assessed the wear behavior of both the untreated and UNSM-treated specimens using a scratch test. The test results showed that the wear resistance of the UNSM-treated specimens increased by about 46% compared with the untreated specimens. This may be attributed to increased hardness, reduced surface roughness, induced compressive residual stress, and refined grain size following the application of the UNSM technique. In addition, we found that the UNSM treatment increased the carbon concentration to 63% from 33%. We expect that implementing the findings of this study will lead to an increase in the life of press dies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.94-103
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• 2020

This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) on the deteriorated surface of AISI SUS316L additively manufactured (AM) using the powder bed fusion (PBF) technique. Specifically, the effects of UNSM conditions on surface topology, hardness, and anti-corrosion were examined. Before UNSM treatment, the stainless steel 316L powder was processed via the PBF machine to prepare a substrate. We observed surface changes due to UNSM treatments in PBF SUS316L substrates and examined the correlation between topology changes, roughness, hardness, and anti-corrosion. After UNSM treatment, the coarse as-built surface was refined, and a regular micro-profile was implemented. Compared to the non-treated PBF sample, the waviness and roughness of the surfaces after UNSM treatment decreased by up to 56.0% and 94.5%, respectively, and decreased further as the interval decreased. The hardness improved by up to 63.0% at a maximum depth of 500 ㎛ from top surface by the UNSM treatment. The results of the corrosion test showed that the corrosion resistance of the UNSM specimens was moderately improved compared to that of the untreated surface. This study confirmed that UNSM is an effective post-processing technique for additively manufactured parts.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

In this study, we apply an ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technique to radial journal bearings (JBs) and disks made of SUJ2 and SCM440, respectively. We investigate frictional properties of untreated and UNSM-treated specimens using a ball-on-disk tester. We construct the Stribeck curve at the boundary, under mixed and full hydrodynamic lubrication conditions for the specimens using friction data obtained from JB tests. The friction at the boundary lubrication condition and the transition period to mixed lubrication condition on the UNSM-treated specimens is reduced, which improves the service life of JBs. The major effects of this reduction in the three lubrication regimes can be explained in the terms of improved mechanical properties and the presence of micro dimples. Moreover, we estimate the friction and fatigue properties of SCM440 specimens using a ball-on-disk specimen under dry and oil-lubricated conditions. Friction test results reveal that the UNSM-treated specimens show lower friction coefficient than the untreated specimens under both dry and oil-lubricated conditions. We evaluate the fatigue properties of SCM440 specimens by calculating the Hertzian stress with respect to the failure cycles. Fatigue tests results also reveal that the UNSM-treated specimens possess a longer fatigue life than the untreated specimens. The improved properties are effective in increasing the energy efficiency of bearings.

• 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.31 no.4
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• pp.157-162
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• 2015

In this study, an ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) technique is applied to tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) to extend the service life of carbide parts used in press mold. The UNSM technique modifies the structure, reduces the surface roughness, increases the surface hardness, induces the compressive residual stress, and increases the wear resistance of materials by introducing severe plastic deformation. The surface roughness, hardness, and compressive residual stress of WC after UNSM treatment improve by about 42, 10, and 71%, respectively. A wear test under dry conditions is used to assess the effectiveness of the UNSM technique on the friction and wear behavior of WC. The UNSM technique is found to reduce the WC friction coefficient by approximately 21% and enhance the wear resistance by approximately 85%. The improved friction and wear behavior of WC may be mainly attributed to the increased hardness and compressive residual stress. Moreover, the WC specimen is treated by UNSM technique using three different WC, silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) and stainless steel (STS304) balls. The surface treated by WC balls shows the highest hardness when compared with treatment by stainless steel and silicon nitride balls. According to the obtained results, the UNSM technique is believed to increase the durability of the carbide component by improving the friction and wear behavior.

• 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.