Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / Our planet is continuously being depleted of its natural resources leading to a need to conserve energy and the environment. One of the major energy consumers is the conventional internal combustion engine. Many attempts have been made to make these conventional internal combustion engines more efficient focussing mostly on the combustion side of the engine. The focus of this study is on the modification of the reciprocating and rotating components of the sub-assembly of a conventional internal combustion engine. An in-depth review was carried out on the fundamentals of spark ignition internal combustion engines and savings on fuel consumptions. A prototype single piston internal combustion engine was developed that can adjust its stroke length. Lengthening or shortening the stroke and simultaneously extending or retracting the connecting rod’s travel distance, allows the internal combustion engine to function very efficiently consequently reducing the free space between the piston and cylinder head at TDC position. This allows the internal combustion engine to alter its power capability on demand whilst maintaining relatively high compression efficiency. The method of altering the stroke length is achieved by manipulating gears situated internally and externally of the engine sub-assembly. The control of these eccentric gears lowers or lifts the crankshaft in a radial motion. The eccentrics also control the automatic extension or retraction of the connecting rod’s travel distance. The externally concentric gears control the mechanism that allows the internal combustion engine to change its capacity easily as adapted for automation. This study does not extend into the automation issues of the external mechanism. The prototype engine that was built could not endure vigorous testing and it failed after running for a short while. The primary focus had been on the kinematics of the engine mechanism – and to show whether the idea was feasible. The engine passed the kinematics test but failed possibly due to dynamic loads. Investigating this requires measuring instantaneous temperatures from which peak pressures can be deduced. This was not done because it was outside the scope of the project.

In order to study the degree of accuracy with which the analytical methods used in crankshaft design would predict the actual operating stresses in the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, electrical resistance strain gauges were applied to the accessible parts of the crankshaft of a single-cylinder gasoline engine to sense the actual operating strains. From the recorded strains the operating stresses were determined and were compared to the analytically determined stresses. Oscilloscope and camera were used as the indicating and recording instruments while simplified formulas were used in the calculations. Stresses at various engine speeds and engine loads were determined by both methods and were plotted in curves against engine speeds and crank angles. In the graphical comparisons, the stresses determined by using electrical resistance strain gages agreed well with the stresses obtained analytically. / Master of Science

[pt] Inúmeros sistemas de Engenharia estão submetidos a cargas cíclicas durante longos tempos quando em serviço. Sendo assim, a determinação do desempenho de materiais no regime de super longa vida em fadiga (107–1012ciclos) tornou-se de grande relevância na estimativa da vida útil de componentes mecânicos e estruturas. Neste contexto, o uso de equipamentos de ensaios que operem em frequências ultrassônicas, normalmente em 20 kHz, viabilizou estudos sobre a resistência à fadiga de materiais em regime de altíssimo ciclo. Até o momento, a principal contribuição destes estudos foi mostrar que não existe um limite de fadiga para materiais após 107ciclos, o que permite questionar várias metodologias de projeto desenvolvidas ao longo dos anos com base em uma vida infinita do material sob condições cíclicas de carregamento. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a resistência à fadiga de altíssimo ciclo de dois aços estruturais, DIN 34CrNiMo6 e DIN 42CrMo4, adotados na fabricação de eixos virabrequins de centrais termoelétricas que falharam por fadiga em serviço, de maneira prematura. Os corpos de prova selecionados para os testes foram dos tipos ampulheta, ampulheta entalhado e cilíndrico entalhado, com dois diferentes raios de arredondamento. Os ensaios foram realizados em equipamento ultrassônico, com amplitude de tensões que variaram entre 0,3 – 0,5 do limite de resistência mecânica dos materiais e conduzidos até um número alvo de ciclos para falha de 109 ciclos. Considerando os ensaios de corpos de prova ampulheta, os resultados revelaram a maior resistência à fadiga do aço DIN 34CrNiMo6, apesar dos dois materiais apresentarem propriedades mecânicas semelhantes. Como poderia ser esperado, a presença de concentradores de tensão reduziu a vida em fadiga de ambos os materiais. Entretanto, o aço DIN 42CrMo4 apresentou a maior sensibilidade ao entalhe, com uma pequena diminuição do número de ciclo para a falha. / [en] The DIN 42CrMo4 e DIN 34CrNiMo6 steel behavior analysis in fatigue regime in very high cycle. The uncountable engineering systems are submitted loading cyclic during long time in services. So, the determination of material performance in regime in super long life in fatigue (107–1012cycles) belong the high relevance to estimate the live cycle of mechanical of components and structures. Based on it, the use of testing equipment to operate in ultrasonic frequency, normally in 20 kHz. That permits the studies about material fatigue resistance in very high cycle. In this moment, the main contribution of these studies was to demonstrate that no exist fatigue limit to material after 107 cycles, that it allows to question many projects methodologic that was developed long of years based on infinite material life under of loading cyclicals conditions. This present work had the objective to investigate the fatigue resistance in very high cycle of two structure steels (DIN 42CrMo4 and DIN 34CrNiMo6). These steels are used to manufacturing of crankshaft of thermoelectric central that failure due to fatigue in services in premature way. The selected specimens had the three types of format; Hourglass, notched Hourglass and notched Cylindrical with two different rounding of radius. These tests were performed in ultrasonic equipment, with variation of stress between 0,3 – 0,5 of material mechanical resistance and they are performed until maximum number of cycles per failure of 109 cycles. Considering the test of hourglass specimens, the results presented higher fatigue resistance of DIN 34CrNiMo6 steel, although DIN 42CrMo4 as same mechanical properties of DIN 34CrNiMo6 steel. And as it is waited the existence of stress concentrators accelerated the fatigue life in both materials. However, the DIN 42CrMo4 presented higher sensibility to notch, with small decrease of number of cycles to failure.

[pt] O presente trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a influência de heterogeneidades metalúrgicas sobre o limiar de propagação de trincas de fadiga e apresentar alternativas de materiais para a fabricação de eixos virabrequins de motores Diesel / gás natural de unidades geradoras de plantas termoelétricas, uma vez que tais componentes mecânicos fabricados com aço DIN 34CrNiMo6 vêm apresentando falhas por fadiga com baixo número de ciclos de carregamento. Corpos de prova foram usinados de aços SAE 4140, SAE 4340 e DIN 42CrMo4. Inicialmente, conduziram-se ensaios de tração para a determinação das propriedades mecânicas dos materiais. Ensaios de propagação de trincas de fadiga foram realizados em espécimes do tipo C(T) entalhados, submetidos a um carregamento cíclico. Pré-trincas de fadiga, com comprimentos variando entre 1,3 mm e 1,6 mm, foram induzidas nos corpos de prova de acordo com a norma ASTM E647. Em sequência, foram levantadas as curvas da/dN versus delta K dos materiais, com ênfase para a determinação da variação do fator de intensidade de tensão do limiar de propagação (delta Kth) de cada aço. Neste contexto, o aço SAE 4140 apresentou um valor de (delta Kth) superior aos demais, o que significa que suporta maiores tamanhos de trinca antes do início da propagação. Análises por técnicas de microscopia evidenciaram a presença de inclusões na região de propagação das trincas, dando origem a um caminho preferencial para o crescimento das mesmas. Os resultados destas análises indicaram a presença de uma menor quantidade de inclusões no aço SAE 4140, permitindo uma associação desta característica microestrutural com o valor do delta Kth do material. Desta maneira, no que se refere à iniciação de trincas de fadiga, o aço SAE 4140 apresenta-se como alternativa viável para substituição do aço 34CrNiMo6 na fabricação de eixos virabrequins para motores de usinas termoelétricas. / [en] The present study had as objectives to evaluate the influence of metallurgical heterogeneities on the fatigue cracking propagation threshold and to present alternative materials for the manufacture of crankshafts of diesel / natural gas engines of thermoelectric plants generating units, since such components mechanics manufactured with DIN 34CrNiMo6 steel has been presenting faults due to fatigue with a low number of loading cycles. Test specimens were machined from SAE 4140, SAE 4340 and DIN 42CrMo4 steels. Initially, tensile tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of the materials. Fatigue crack propagation tests were performed on C(T) specimens subjected to cyclic loading. Fatigue pre-cracks, with lengths ranging from 1.3 mm to 1.6 mm, were induced in the test specimens according to ASTM E647. In sequence, da/dN versus delta K curves of the materials were raised, with emphasis on the determination of the tensile strength factor of the propagation threshold (delta Kth) of each steel. In this context, the steel SAE 4140 presented a value of (delta Kth) superior to the others, which means to support larger crack sizes before the beginning of the propagation. Analysis by microscopy techniques evidenced the presence of inclusions in the region of crack propagation, giving rise to a preferential path for their growth. The results of these analyzes indicated the presence of a smaller number of inclusions in the steel SAE 4140, allowing an association of this microstructural characteristic with the value of the delta Kth of the material. In this way, with regard to the initiation of fatigue cracks, the SAE 4140 steel is presented as a viable alternative for the replacement of 34CrNiMo6 steel in the manufacture of crankshafts for motors of thermoelectric power plants.

[pt] As previsões de falhas por fadiga tornam-se críticas sob condições multiaxiais de carregamento, uma vez que a complexidade do estado de tensões requer uma análise com base em modelos mais avançados do que aqueles adotados para carregamentos uniaxiais. Neste contexto, alguns critérios foram desenvolvidos para tentar prever a falha de componentes submetidos a carregamentos cíclicos multiaxiais. Um exemplo de componente mecânico sujeito a fadiga multiaxial quando em serviço são os eixos virabrequim de unidades geradoras de plantas termoelétricas. Usualmente projetados segundo o critério de Findley, falhas recentes de eixos virabrequim ocorridas no parque termoelétrico nacional, tem provocado o questionamento da eficiência de tal critério. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a aplicabilidade de seis modelos (Papadopoulos, Findley, Matake, McDiarmid, Carpinteri e Spagnoli e Liu e Mahadevan) de fadiga multiaxial de alto ciclo, baseados no plano crítico, para prever a falha de eixos virabrequim de unidades geradoras. Para aplicação dos modelos, adotaram-se diferentes parâmetros de carregamento (tensão média e defasagem de aplicação das tensões normais e cisalhantes) e propriedades de material (resistência à fadiga), partindo de valores encontrados na literatura. Observou-se uma divergência entre os resultados de cada modelo estudado, sendo uns mais conservadores do que os outros, em função do carregamento e propriedades do material. Entretanto, o modelo de Papadopoulos, com base na facilidade de aplicação e sensibilidade de previsão da falha, mostrou-se mais adequado. / [en] The fatigue failure prediction becomes critical under multiaxial loading conditions, since the complexity of the stress state requires analysis based on models more advanced than those adopted for uniaxial loads. In this context, some criteria were developed in an attempt to predict the failure of components subjected to multiaxial cyclic loads. An example of mechanical component subject to multiaxial fatigue is the crankshaft of thermoelectric plants. It is usually projected according to the Findley criterion. However, recent failures of crankshafts occurring in the national thermoelectric park, put on doubt the efficiency of such criterion. In this way, the present study aimed to analyze the applicability of six models (Papadopoulos, Findley, Matake, McDiarmid, Carpinteri e Spagnoli and Liu e Mahadevan) of high cycle multiaxial fatigue, based on the critical plane, to predict failure on crankshaft of generating units. For the models application, different loading parameters (medium stress and out-of-phase stresses) and material properties (fatigue limit) were adopted, starting from values found in the literature. A divergence between the results of each model was observed, some of them were more conservative than the others, depending on the loading and material s properties. However, the Papadopoulos model, based on easy application and failure prediction sensitivity, proved to be more suitable than the others.

Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich im ersten Teil mit der Untersuchung des Einflusses der Prozessgrößen auf die Zielgrößen, Randschichthärtetiefe und die Oberflächenhärte beim Laserhärten. In einem weiteren Kapitel werden die Ergebnisse von verschiedenen Möglichkeiten der laserbasierten Härteverfahren zur Steigerung der Prozessgrenzen dargestellt. Eine Möglichkeit ist das Laserlegieren von kohlenstoffhaltigen Zusatzwerkstoffen, wie zum Beispiel mit Eisencarbid, Eisenchromcarbid oder Glaskohlenstoff. Dazu sind die Einflussgrößen auf die Einhärtetiefe sowie die Schmelzbaddynamik der jeweiligen Werkstoffe analysiert worden. Auf der Basis der neu erworbenen Kenntnisse ist ein Model zur Schichtdickenberechnung und eine numerische Simulation des Laserlegierprozesses entwickelt worden. Eine andere Möglichkeit die Prozessgrenzen zu erweitern ist, in der Arbeit durch das Laserauftragschweißen beschrieben worden. Dabei sind unterschiedliche Düsen und Beschichtungsstrategien zum Einsatz gekommen. Die letzte in der Arbeit beschriebene Methode zur Steigerung der Prozessgrenzen ist das Gaslegieren. Dabei sind Versuche zum Laserhärten unter Stickstoffatmosphäre sowie zum Lasercarbonitrieren als auch Lasercarburieren gemacht worden. Im letzten Kapitel werden konkrete Anwendungsgebiete zum Laserhärten von Powertrain-Komponenten vorgestellt. Dabei werden unterschiedliche Lösungsansätze zum Laserhärten von Bohrlöchern in Flanschwellen und zum Laserhärten der Hohlkehlen von Kurbelwellen aufgezeigt.

Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich im ersten Teil mit der Untersuchung des Einflusses der Prozessgrößen auf die Zielgrößen, Randschichthärtetiefe und die Oberflächenhärte beim Laserhärten. In einem weiteren Kapitel werden die Ergebnisse von verschiedenen Möglichkeiten der laserbasierten Härteverfahren zur Steigerung der Prozessgrenzen dargestellt. Eine Möglichkeit ist das Laserlegieren von kohlenstoffhaltigen Zusatzwerkstoffen, wie zum Beispiel mit Eisencarbid, Eisenchromcarbid oder Glaskohlenstoff. Dazu sind die Einflussgrößen auf die Einhärtetiefe sowie die Schmelzbaddynamik der jeweiligen Werkstoffe analysiert worden. Auf der Basis der neu erworbenen Kenntnisse ist ein Model zur Schichtdickenberechnung und eine numerische Simulation des Laserlegierprozesses entwickelt worden. Eine andere Möglichkeit die Prozessgrenzen zu erweitern ist, in der Arbeit durch das Laserauftragschweißen beschrieben worden. Dabei sind unterschiedliche Düsen und Beschichtungsstrategien zum Einsatz gekommen. Die letzte in der Arbeit beschriebene Methode zur Steigerung der Prozessgrenzen ist das Gaslegieren. Dabei sind Versuche zum Laserhärten unter Stickstoffatmosphäre sowie zum Lasercarbonitrieren als auch Lasercarburieren gemacht worden. Im letzten Kapitel werden konkrete Anwendungsgebiete zum Laserhärten von Powertrain-Komponenten vorgestellt. Dabei werden unterschiedliche Lösungsansätze zum Laserhärten von Bohrlöchern in Flanschwellen und zum Laserhärten der Hohlkehlen von Kurbelwellen aufgezeigt.:Einleitung Motivation Stand der Technik Umwandlungskinetik eisenhaltiger Werkstoffe Versuchsaufbau Versuchsauswertung Einfluss der Prozessgrößen auf die Randschichthärtetiefe und die Oberflächenhärte Erweiterung der Prozessgrenzen durch die Anwendung verschiedener Laseroberflächenverfahren Laserhärten von Powertrain-Komponenten Zusammenfassung Anhang