EMU: Acquisition of an ultrasonic fatigue testing machine for advanced studies on very high-cycle fatigue of high-strength aerospace materials with surface treatments.

• Grant number: 23/16940-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Small Medium Sized
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanics of Solids
• Principal Investigator: Marcelino Pereira Do Nascimento
• Grantee: Marcelino Pereira Do Nascimento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Durval Rodrigues Junior

Abstract

The proposed project aims to acquire an ultrasonic fatigue machine for installation in the Multi-User Fatigue Laboratory at FEG/UNESP. This equipment will enable a new research area and the development of advanced fatigue studies on the very high-cycle fatigue regime of high-strength aeronautical materials with surface treatments. The Fatigue and Aeronautical Materials Research Group, with over 20 years of experience, is specialized in the study of the fatigue behavior of high-strength materials for aeronautical applications. Currently, the research group conducts tests on a servo-hydraulic fatigue machine with a frequency of 20 Hz. The acquisition of the ultrasonic fatigue machine will allow studies with a frequency approximately 1000 times higher than a conventional machine, enabling the study of 1 million cycles in 1 minute and 1 billion cycles in 14 hours. The project aims to extend the possibility of studies on surface-treated aeronautical materials not only to scientifically relevant stress levels but also to relevant stress levels in aeronautical and various industrial and technological applications. Currently, there is only one ultrasonic fatigue machine in Latin America, and the proposal is that, upon acquisition, this machine will be the first in the State of São Paulo, making the UNESP Fatigue Laboratory an innovative multi-user scientific center in very high-cycle fatigue studies. The researcher responsible for the proposal has extensive experience in leading and managing multi-user laboratories, featuring the development of academic research projects and collaborations with companies at the UNESP Fatigue Laboratory. As for the requested equipment, it is a Shimadzu Universal Fatigue Testing Machine, model USF-2000A. The equipment operates on the principle of resonance, applying an ultrasonic vibration of 20 kHz to the sample to be tested. This allows testing of aerospace materials, such as high-strength steels, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, among others. The project aims to fill a gap, as there are currently no similar machines available in the State of São Paulo. The UNESP Fatigue Laboratory has evolved, showcasing high scientific value contributions and international partnerships with companies through the acquisition and continuous use of rotating bending and servo-hydraulic test machines for low and high-cycle fatigue studies financed by FAPESP. This project aims to enable the creation of very high-cycle fatigue research areas with a pioneering ultrasonic fatigue machine in the State of São Paulo. (AU)