Implementation of a cooling system to develop experimental fatigue tests below zero grades Celsius

Abstract

Temperature is one of the matter properties with the greatest influence on the materials behavior existing in nature and those man designed. This physical magnitude allows to demonstrate and define behaviors and materials characteristics in the industry in general. Its influence is present in all the places where the materials fulfill functions, however, in some applications its influence is very little, which allows to disregard its effects. In the steels case (one of the most used materials at the industrial level today), the temperature variation produces dilation or contraction, depending on the temperature magnitude and its variation that affects them. Temperature increases generate an expansion phenomenon in the materials, which under load will reach a point where they present thermal fatigue failure. The opposite is that of temperature drops, where the phenomenon that occurs is contraction, often leading to the loss of adjustments and interference that compromise the equipment functionality and integrity. The fatigue failure mentioned is presented as a result of the stresses and deformations present in both cases. It is desired to condition a rotational flex fatigue test equipment with a cooling system to bring the sample material to temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, in order to check how low temperatures, affect the resistance of steel to fatigue. For this, a cooling system was designed and the fatigue equipment was adapted to reduce heat transfer. After carrying out this implementation and determining that the sizes of the devices were suitable for the proposed purposes, the initial temperature tests were carried out and, once this part was achieved, three repetitions of a rotary fatigue test were performed that demonstrated that the equipment can operate normally.