Residual Stress Analysis for Engine Block by the Grooving Method

Abstract

The study of residual stress in engine block has the potential to provide the necessary infrastructure for a wide range of scientific and technological developments concerning the automobile industry. Such study can act as centre of excellence for scientific studies in the field of materials science and machinery as well as for industrial applications. The basic principle of measuring residual stress with grooving method and the main measuring steps were introduced in this paper. Groove cutting in the internal surface of engine block surrounds a given area in which the remaining stress is released, and then the strain results are recorded through strain gauge. The residual stress test data were compared at different positions of each engine block. It is found that engine blocks A and D on the sides of engine develop higher residual stresses than blocks B and C in the centre of engine. The stresses can be higher than 200MPa in tension in engine block A, depending on the geometry, size, microstructure, subsequent welding process, and cutting sequence. In addition, residual stress at the bottom of engine is higher than that at the top because of the structure of the engine. The residual stress is also calculated by numerical modeling method from which it shown that the condition is commendably fit the results which the distribution of stress.