Papers by Author: M. Uryu

Abstract: Radial ball bearings made of metal, ceramics and plastics are commonly used as important components in industrial machinery. Usage of high performance engineering plastic polymers is increasing progressively as a replacement for metal components due to the latest markets demands. Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is a promising material for precision-machined custom bearings, products that are expected to suit special market needs. In the present study, PEEK radial ball bearings were manufactured by lathe machining under different parameters and their rolling contact fatigue (RCF) resistance under water lubricated conditions was investigated. We observed the surface of the bearings prior and after testing by laser confocal microscope. The wear loss was measured by weighing the bearings before and after test. Cracks and/or flaking failures were identified on the bearing surface after testing. From the RCF tests results, we found that, at water lubricated conditions, crack initiation occurred later in the material that was machined at slower feed rate while at dry condition, the feed rate had little influence on the wear loss and cracking. Wear loss in the case of bearings tested under water was much less severe than that of bearings tested at dry conditions.

Abstract: Fatigue failure of steel occurs when cracks form and grow in the material’s stress concentration area. In order to understand the relation between stress concentration and crack propagation phenomena, non-destructive evaluation methods that can be related to in-situ measurements around the stress concentration area are necessary. In the present work, we developed a scanning Hall probe microscope (SHPM) equipped in a GaAs film sensor and observed three dimensional magnetic fields at room temperature in air. Medium carbon low alloy steels specimens (JIS, S45C) were used in the experiments. Only the area around the artificial slit had been magnetized and the effect of the magnetization area on the artificial slit was observed.

Abstract: Fatigue failure of steel occurs when cracks form in a component and continue to grow to a size large enough to cause fracture. In order to understand the strength of a steel component, it is important to locate these cracks. We developed a scanning Hall probe microscope (SHPM) equipped with GaAs films sensors and observed fatigue cracks at room temperature in air while they were growing. In our previous works, we determined the correlation between crack growth and magnetic field in high carbon tool steels (JIS SKS93 and JIS SUJ2). We also reported the sensitivity of the SHPM equipped with a three-dimensional line-probe that was developed to decrease the sensor gaps. By using the line-probe sensor we succeeded to measure the magnetic flux density distributions in very close proximity to the specimen’s surface. However, in order to further understand the relation between magnetic flux density and crack growth, other materials, microstructures and fatigue test conditions should be evaluated. In the present work, we focus on the effect of stress ratios on the changes of the magnetic flux density in annealed carbon tool steel.