Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in Gears

Mechanical gears are essential in power transmission systems across various industrial applications. Their performance is critically influenced by residual stresses from manufacturing processes like induction hardening, case hardening, and shot peening. Surface compressive residual stresses enhance...

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Main Authors: Francesca Maria Curà, Luca Corsaro, Ludovica Tromba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/85/1/2
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author Francesca Maria Curà
Luca Corsaro
Ludovica Tromba
author_facet Francesca Maria Curà
Luca Corsaro
Ludovica Tromba
author_sort Francesca Maria Curà
collection DOAJ
description Mechanical gears are essential in power transmission systems across various industrial applications. Their performance is critically influenced by residual stresses from manufacturing processes like induction hardening, case hardening, and shot peening. Surface compressive residual stresses enhance resistance to pitting fatigue, bending fatigue and crack propagation, improving overall hardness. In the present work, a Non-Destructive Thermographic method (Active thermography), based on measurement of the thermal diffusivity parameter, is presented to characterize the surface treatments applied to gears. Surface hardness was measured using a micro-hardness tester, and residual stresses were determined with an X-Ray diffractometer, showing variations due to surface treatments. The variation in the thermal diffusivity parameter, obtained using the Slope Method, was found to be an indicator of the surface treatments’ effectiveness.
format Article
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spelling doaj-art-0500f4829c754ab09fbc198454ea133d2025-08-20T02:24:34ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912025-02-01851210.3390/engproc2025085002Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in GearsFrancesca Maria Curà0Luca Corsaro1Ludovica Tromba2DIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyMechanical gears are essential in power transmission systems across various industrial applications. Their performance is critically influenced by residual stresses from manufacturing processes like induction hardening, case hardening, and shot peening. Surface compressive residual stresses enhance resistance to pitting fatigue, bending fatigue and crack propagation, improving overall hardness. In the present work, a Non-Destructive Thermographic method (Active thermography), based on measurement of the thermal diffusivity parameter, is presented to characterize the surface treatments applied to gears. Surface hardness was measured using a micro-hardness tester, and residual stresses were determined with an X-Ray diffractometer, showing variations due to surface treatments. The variation in the thermal diffusivity parameter, obtained using the Slope Method, was found to be an indicator of the surface treatments’ effectiveness.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/85/1/2active thermographylock-in thermographyresidual stressesgearssurface treatment
spellingShingle Francesca Maria Curà
Luca Corsaro
Ludovica Tromba
Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in Gears
Engineering Proceedings
active thermography
lock-in thermography
residual stresses
gears
surface treatment
title Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in Gears
title_full Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in Gears
title_fullStr Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in Gears
title_full_unstemmed Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in Gears
title_short Lock-in Thermography for Surface Treatment Characterization in Gears
title_sort lock in thermography for surface treatment characterization in gears
topic active thermography
lock-in thermography
residual stresses
gears
surface treatment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/85/1/2
work_keys_str_mv AT francescamariacura lockinthermographyforsurfacetreatmentcharacterizationingears
AT lucacorsaro lockinthermographyforsurfacetreatmentcharacterizationingears
AT ludovicatromba lockinthermographyforsurfacetreatmentcharacterizationingears