Development of a methodology for evaluating the operational properties of elastic elements for various purposes by acoustic emission

Abstract

In transport engineering, elastic elements are widely used that work under static, dynamic and cyclic loads. Elastic elements are required to demonstrate specified operational properties within specified limits and for a long time. The most widely used mechanisms are tension, compression and torsion springs with a different profile and made from various materials. The main operational properties of elastic elements are strength, relaxation resistance and elastic characteristics. The existing methodology for assessing the relaxation resistance of elastic elements consists of building a relaxation curve using the results of measurements of the force before and after cyclic loads. This technique has the following disadvantages: the relaxation resistance of a sample batch of elastic elements is assessed; and the control implementation is associated with a significant complexity and high energy costs. To assess the most important indicators of reliability and durability, as well as relaxation resistance for a long period of operation, non-destructive testing methods, including the acoustic emission method, are of interest. Existing techniques are highly complex and do not always guarantee a good result. We propose to use a technique based on the registration of acoustic emission signals.