Experimental analysis of dynamic behaviors of induction hardened shafts

Rotating shafts have many critical roles in the rotating machineries. The performance of any rotating machinery is very dependent on vibrations generated by the rotating shafts. The selection of the rotating shaft material is very important to meet the enormous demand of industrial users on the capability of vibration resistance of rotating machinery. Recent requirements for using of rotating shaft have heightened the need for materials used. Heat treatment of material has received much attention over the last few decades.The research to date has tended to focus on material properties for resistance and strength rather than dynamic behavior. The main objective of the present study is to experimentally investigate the role of induction surface hardening which is one of the most commonly used types of heat treatments on AISI 1045 steel dynamic behavior. Heat treatable AISI 1045 steel is among the most widely used in all industrial applications requiring more resistance and strength. It has received much attention over the last several decades due to its usage for rotating shafts, axels, crankshaft, and spindles. Induction surface hardening is used to sustain the service life by increasing the surface hardness and vibration reliability of material. Since induction hardened surface depth plays a very important part in stability of rotating shaft, three different hardened surface depths (0.5 mm, 1.0 mm, and 1.5 mm) are utilized. The results showed that the hardened surface depth of 1.0 mm surprisingly and positively affects the dynamic behavior of the rotating shaft compare to the hardened surface depths of 0.5 and 1.5 mm.