- Start: 01/07/2017
- End: 30/06/2021
STIFFCRANK will propose a novel laser-based processing strategy for surface hardening of microalloyed steel components, aimed at imparting a tailored distribution of residual stresses under the near surface by generating uniform and homogenous hardened layers in relation to improved fatigue resistance of the final steel component. In particular, the new laser surface methods will be used to induce the optimum distribution of compression-to-tensile stresses below the surface to maximize fatigue life of crankshafts. The new strategy will involve using Advanced Laser Surface Hardening (ALSH) techniques and will open the opportunity for produce high-performance fatigue-resistance engine steel components, overcoming the limitations of current induction surface hardening and deep-rolling methodologies. AIMEN will apply ALSH treatments on specimens, crankshaft sections and full-size crankshafts, and will carry out metallurgical characterization and hardness evaluation of laser surface hardened steels. Specifically, AIMEN will focus on shaping the laser beam methods to tailor the intensity profile across the beam and will define optimum conditions for ALSH of crankshaft sections. It will investigate the link between the metallurgy, the hardness and the respective residual stress profile in relation with the thermal parameters. It will contribute on the definition of laser parameters leading to enhanced fatigue through optimized residual stress distributions, including the parametrization of the laser beam trajectories for LSH of full-size crankshaft. Besides, AIMEN will be responsible of the LSH process modelling and simulation of the beam shape for tailoring energy distribution and calculation of residual stress under the crankshaft´s fillet together the fatigue life assessment.
**This project has received funding from the Research Fund for Coal and Steel under grant agreement No 754155. The dissemination of results herein reflects only the author's view and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
- Sectors: Automotive
- Financing programme: THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME OF THE RESEARCH FUND FOR COAL AND STEEL (RFCS)
- R&D&i: Laser assisted processing, Materials under extreme conditions
- Partners: SIDENOR, LULEA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF KASSEL
- Acronym: STIFFCRANK
- Ambit: International
- Web: https://stiffcrankproject.aimen.es/
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