In this proposal, we propose to perform numerical studies on a newly developed surface
modification technique called Ultrasonic Nano-crystalline Surface Modification (UNSM) to enhance the fretting wear and fretting fatigue of aerospace materials. The main aim of this proposal is to bring the applicant’s expertise of UNSM to Labo Soete, UGent, and to collaborate in developing numerical technique using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Finite Element (FE) models will be built for fretting wear and for fretting fatigue taking into account the effects of UNSM technique such as nano-grains, compressive residual stress, surface roughness, mechanical properties, mechanistic and fretting parameters, which are important factors in enhancing the fretting wear and fretting fatigue of aerospace materials. The fretting wear and fretting fatigue of nickel-based
superalloy Inconel 718 and Ti-6Al-4V alloys, which are widely used in the aerospace industry, will be investigated numerically. The significant beneficial effects of UNSM technique on the improvement in fretting wear and fretting fatigue that could be applied for a wide range of those materials have already been validated experimentally. Quantitative numerical studies results will be compared with those experimental results. It is highly expected that the amalgamation of the experimental and numerical studies will give an insight into the research, which contributes to the further improvement in fretting wear and fretting fatigue.