• 한국해양공학회지
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• 제22권2호
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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.

• 한국생산제조학회지
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• 제23권6호
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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.

• 한국생산제조학회지
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• 제24권5호
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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.

• 한국압력기기공학회 논문집
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• 제17권2호
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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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• 제35권4호
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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.

• 한국해양공학회지
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• 제25권6호
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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.

• 한국해양공학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.42-48
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• 2011

The present study makes three original contributions to nanoskinned Ti-6Al-4V materials. The nanoskins were fabricated on Ti-6Al-4V material using various surface treatments: deep rolling (DR), laser shot peening (LSP), and ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM). These surface treatments are newly developed techniques and are becoming more popular in industrial fields. A fatigue strength comparison at up to 106 cycles was conducted on these nanoskinned Ti-6Al-4V materials. Fatigue tests were carried out using MTS under axial loading tension-compression fatigue (R = -1, RT, 5 Hz, sinusoidal wave). The analysis of the crack initiation patterns in the nanoskinned Ti-6Al-4V materials found an interior originating crack pattern and surface originating crack type. Microscopic observation was mainly used to investigate the fatigue fractured sites. These surface modification techniques have been widely adopted, primarily because of the robust grade of their mechanical properties. These are mainly the result of the formation of a large-scale, deep, and useful compressive residual stress, the formation of nanocrystals by the severe plastic deformation (SPD) at the subsurface layer, and the increase in surface hardness.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제38권4호
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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.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.47-54
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• 2020

In this study, the effects of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) treatment at room and high temperatures (RT and HT of 400℃) on friction and wear behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared by selective laser melting (SLM) were investigated. The objective of this study is to improve the mechanical properties and frictional behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy by UNSM treatment. Dry friction and wear tests were conducted using a ball-on-disk method at RT with a bearing steel as the counter ball. Due to the high HT and UNSM treatment, the surface hardness tended to increase and surface roughness tended to reduce. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that nanocrystallization structure and compressive residual stress were formed at the surface layer after UNSM treatment at both RT and HT. After UNSM treatment, it was observed that the wear rate was reduced by about 6% for the specimen treated at RT and a 28% reduction for the specimen treated at HT in comparison with the untreated one. Based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the damage caused by fatigue wear occurred in the wear track of the heat-treated specimen, and it is believed to be the cause of the highest wear rate. Mechanical properties and wear resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were improved and prospect of industrial application was confirmed. Further research is still required to improve the characteristics of SLM Ti-6Al-4V alloy to the level of wrought Ti-6Al-4V alloy.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제35권3호
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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.