Residual Stress Measurement Services

Expert solutions for engineering and manufacturing consultancy tailored to your application and needs.

Manufacturing Solutions Provided

We use novel mechanical methods based on machining to release the locked-in stresses and back calculate the stress field, coupling strain and displacement measurements with analytical and Finite-Element modelling.

• Machining methods vary as per application and requirements, i.e. sectioning of parts or machining of features (milling of slots and rings, drilling of holes), to gain access to the region and capture the information of interest.

• Method selection and application are based on customer requirements supported by our experience and modelling analysis.

Advantages

• Mechanical (true) response of the material in the presence of a stress field.

• High accuracy and resolution from CNC tool positions and high sensitivity strain/displacement gauges or surface scanning equipment.

• Break through the limitations of existing techniques with regards to depth analysis, access to location and scale of parts with industrial equipment and Finite element analysis..

• More robust residual stress assessment from Finite Element models which can cope with anisotropy, complex geometries and variation of material properties and stresses as a function of depth.

• Detailed mapping of stresses as a function of depth or location.

• Transfer of measurements and mapping to Finite element models for further modelling activities.

• Surface, sub-surface and bulk residual stress measurements for all shapes and sizes of parts, from a few millimetres to multiple meters.

• Sectioning methods like Contour Method and Slitting Method provide access to bulk stresses.

• Hole Drilling Method and Slotting Method provide localized info at difficult to reach locations. These two techniques are applicable to deploy during actual machining trials.

• Mechanical techniques do not need a specialised laboratory or equipment and can be deployed in existing machining workshops.

• Faster turnaround and lower costs compared to other alternatives.

Disadvantages

• Fully or semi-destructive techniques as per application, though an intelligent application of slitting, hole drilling and slotting methods (partial machining) can provide valuable info without the need to sacrifice a part.

Available techniques

• Contour Method: sectioning technique capable of mapping the stress component of interest over the entire cross-section of a part from the distortion of the cut face as measured by surface scanning equipment (CMM, GOM or other).

• Slitting Method: sectioning technique capable of providing a stress profile through the thickness of a part based on strain gauges strategically placed at locations of interest on the surface of parts.

• Hole Drilling Method: incremental hole drilling is a well established technique which can provide a profile of in-plane stresses through the thickness of a part from strain measurements on the surface of a part.

• Slotting Method: similar to hole drilling, used when location specific information are need for a single stress component.

• Ring and Boring Methods: similar to hole drilling, used to reduce material wastes and take out sample for further studies.

• Machining trials: stress assessment and distortion monitoring from instrumented machining trials (simplified or actual method of manufacture).

• other techniques: non destructive techniques based on X-Ray Diffraction, Ultrasounds, Neutron Diffraction, Eddy Current or nanoindentation can be provided through our vendors.

EDM sectioning
Contour and Slitting Methods

Bandsaw sectioning
Contour and Slitting Methods

Milling
Slotting, Coring, and Slitting Methods

Metrology - CMM scanning
Contour Method & Machining trials

Analysis

Raw Data & FEM

We offer flexible, agile and decentralized residual stress measurement services aiming for a first-class customer experience and satisfaction.

• Development of local supply chain and vendors for experimental work

• No need for specialized equipment and investment in facilities

• Transition to industrial set-ups in machining shops

• Licensing of propriety analysis software

• Consultancy and contractual work

• Training and support of technical staff on experimental and analytical aspects of the residual stress measurement work

Consultancy Services Offered

We aim to

• facilitate the wider adoption of residual stresses as part of the materials specification and certification.

• develop and implement Design for Manufacturing practises to boost productivity and efficiency in manufacturing.