College

College of Engineering and Polymer Science

Date of Last Revision

2025-12-11 06:52:25

Major

Mechanical Engineering

Honors Course

MECE 497-001: Honors Project in Mechanical Engineering Independent Study

Number of Credits

2

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Expected Graduation

Fall 2025

Abstract

This report outlines the design process and implantation of a tensile quenching rig that incorporated forced convection and a frequency generator. When any metal is quenched, a vapor barrier forms around it. When this happens, it limits the heat flux that may occur until the barrier turns into just nucleate boiling. The vapor barrier acts as an insulator and causes the heat flux to fluctuate, causing uneven hardening which would limit the use of some materials. To combat this effect, we are trying to use forced convection, and something new, which is adding high frequency waves into the quenching process. The idea is that the frequency generator will cause cavitation to occur in a basin filled with water, and when the metal is quenched, the vapor bubbles that form will implode, causing the vapor barrier to break down. Breaking down the vapor barrier will allow for even hardening in the quenched sample. The use of forced convection with high frequency waves should cause even better results. To prove the theory that high frequency waves do break apart from the vapor barrier that forms when a heat-treated metal is placed into water, certain objectives were set in place for this project to occur. The main objective for this project was to incorporate a high frequency generator. The plan also included the testing of the finished rig to see if the build does what it is built to do. With these objectives also come some constraints that must be considered. Our design had to have safety in mind, a modular set up, and universal testing. The rig needed to have a universal and modular set up so that the main structure can be used by the project advisor and future students to build ideas off and further improve the build. The set up also required the quenching process to be visible, while also being in a stainless-steel frame.

Research Sponsor

Dr. Gopal Nadkarni

First Reader

Dr. Hyeonu Heo

Second Reader

Dr. Saikishan Suryanarayanan

Honors Faculty Advisor

Dr. Scott Sawyer

Proprietary and/or Confidential Information

No

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