Abstract: Devices including a magnetostrictive transducer, an oscillating system and a tool for ultrasonic impact treatment of constructions, construction units and components of machines and mechanisms are disclosed. The invention provides high reliability of magnetostrictive transducers, oscillating systems and their components, tools and their parts affected by simultaneous action of static, dynamic and impact load on a work surface, high stability of characteristics and interchangeability thereof under conditions of small-scale, full-scale and mass production. The invention also includes design solutions with the use of new methods of the realization and manufacturing technique of the above.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic impact machining (UIM) of straight or curved surfaces using a tool with a free rod-shaped indenter to execute ultrasonic impacts by an action of the tool natural vibrations and ultrasonic transducer resonance oscillations, with goals of strengthening a surface, increasing hardness, creating compressive stresses, and/or modifying surface structure based upon diminishing mosaic blocks up to an amorphous structure is disclosed. These physical effects result in at least one of increased abrasive damage resistance, increased contact injury resistance, increased corrosive damage resistance under stress, increased endurance, increased resistance to fatigue and dynamic fractures, creation of conditions for forming prescribed physical and mechanical properties in the surface. The method provides machining of external and internal faces of straight and curved shapes, and provides indenter axis orientation perpendicular to a workpiece surface at every point of mechanical trajectory of the tool.

Abstract: A method of improving and strengthening the performance of metal and protecting the metal against degradation and suppression thereof by controlling ultrasonic impact is disclosed. The method addresses the problems of degradation of metal properties during prolonged service under external forces, thermodynamic fluctuations and negative environmental factors. The method also relates to the technologies oriented to protect against (prevent) and to suppress the danger of materials failure due to unfavorable change in performance over time. The well-known methods of “combating” metal degradation cover a wide range of technologies from metallurgical alloying during melting, casting, welding and application of coatings to various thermal treatments and effects on the surface. The invention provides a new versatile method of addressing degradation problems in all these cases.

Abstract: Devices including a magnetostrictive transducer, an oscillating system and a tool for ultrasonic impact treatment of constructions, construction units and components of machines and mechanisms are disclosed. The invention provides high reliability of magnetostrictive transducers, oscillating systems and their components, tools and their parts affected by simultaneous action of static, dynamic and impact load on a work surface, high stability of characteristics and interchangeability thereof under conditions of small-scale, full-scale and mass production. The invention also includes design solutions with the use of new methods of the realization and manufacturing technique of the above.

Abstract: Metallic workpieces of diverse shapes having work surfaces which are deformed at the surface and adjacent sub-surface layers by surface impact from ultrasonic transducers employing freely axially moving impacting elements propelled and energized by a transducer oscillating surface vibrating periodically at an ultrasonic frequency. The impacting elements are propelled in a random aperiodic and controlled impact mode at different phases of the periodic oscillation cycles. The transducer may be portable and provides a series of mechanically interconnected stages having mechanical resonances harmonically related as a multiple of the primary ultrasonic frequency and have matched stage resistances under instantaneous loading when the impact elements are driven by the transducer oscillating surface into the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for improving the performance of sections of rails joined together by welding by reworking welded joints utilizing an ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) process either before welding, during welding, after welding or during repairs of used rails, including treatment of a joint, around a joint and/or length of a rail, in order to increasing fatigue life and/or other properties of welded rail sections is disclosed. The method provides reduction of stress defects and redistribution of internal stress patterns in the vicinity of weld seams of rails. The UIT provides periodic pulse energy impact treatment with surfaces in welded rails to induce internal compression waves inducing a metal plasticity state in the vicinity of the weld seam of the rail or in the rail itself.

Abstract: A method of impulse treatment which modifies at least one specified property of a material or object (such as a welded joint), or produces a material or object with at least one specified physical, mechanical or structural property, by adaptively controlling an impulse action upon the material/object is described. An impulse action includes normalized impulses and pauses, i.e., a controlled and adaptive alternation of periods of material condition impulse activation with periods of relaxation therebetween, wherein the pauses allow the material to recover from the impulse before the next impulse is applied to the material. The energy of the impulse actions can originate from various sources, but the method of the invention is in particular advantageous when the energy of action is initiated and delivered by ultrasonic impact, wherein the energy is applied to any suitable material so that at least one property of the material is modified or produced in order to attain a desired technical effect.

Abstract: Non-detachable welded joints with certain new or improved properties and the provision of such non-detachable welded joints by ultrasonic impact treatment, is described involving conforming to select treatment parameters to control the formation of predetermined properties and thus provide improved qualities and reliability to a joint based on the task to be served by the welded joint. The treatment parameters include repetition rate and length of the ultrasonic impact, pressing force exerted on the ultrasonic impact tool against the surface being treated, and impact amplitude.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of treatment for work products of materials such as steel, bronze, plastic, etc. and particularly welded steel bodies by pulse impact energy, preferably ultrasonic, to relax fatigue and aging and extend expectant life. The treatment may occur (a) at original production, (b) during the active life period for maintenance or (c) after failure in a repair stage. The ultrasonic treatment improves the work product strength. In welded products residual stress patterns near the weld sites are relaxed and micro-stress defects such as voids and unusual grain boundaries are reduced. The basic method steps are non-destructive in nature, inducing interior pulse compression waves with ultrasonic transducers and accessory tools impacting an external product surface with enough impulse energy to heat and temporarily plasticize the metal interior and relax stresses.