Technical Developments and Recent Trends in Crankshaft Materials
Technical Developments and Recent Trends in Crankshaft Materials
Technical Developments and Recent Trends in Crankshaft Materials
Materials
Haruyoshi KUBO, Technology Department, Steel Casting & Forging Plant, Steel Casting & Forging Division,
Iron & Steel Sector
Dr. Hiroyuki MORI, Production Department, Steel Casting & Forging Plant, Steel Casting & Forging Division,
Iron & Steel Sector
Photo 1
Web
Journal
Journal
Crankthrow
Fig. 1
Fillet
Rough
machining
Forging
design
Flame
cutting
Cast
throw
Pattern
making
Hot rolling
on pin & fillet
Molding
Heat
treatment
Steel making
& pouring
Preliminary
final machining
Riser cutting
Cold rolling
on fillet
Annealing
Final machining
for shrink
fitting
Table 2
Forged
shafts
(Journal)
Steel making
Ingot making
Heat
treatment
Heating
Rough
machining
Forging
Final machining
for shrink
fitting
Shrink
fitting
RR forging
Refining (Vacuum
holding furnace)
Heat treatment
Ingot making
Mechanical property
test
Forging
Final machining
Machining
Non-destructive
tests
Final
machining
Fig. 2
Photo 2
RR forging
Casting design
Electoric furnace
Tap degassing process (TD method)
Ladle furnace process (LF)
Grade 1
Cast steel
material
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Low-Si
Ultrasonic test
apparatus
Automatic apparatus
38
100ton electric
arc furnace
Arc heating
furnace
Vacuum
treatment
S
LF
100
93
TD
LF
96
11
TD
170
ppm
150
130
70
110
60
130
110
TD
LF
o 12.6 8.1
90
50
90
70
40
70
50
30
50
30
10
0
LF
LF
X 46.0 26.3
o 53.0 4.3
ppm
150 TD
o 28.8 18.2
ppm
Normalizing
Tempering
600
Quenching
Tempering
500
400
300
200
100
Tensile strength
Yield point
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade S2 Grade 3 Grade 4
TD
LF
20
10
P
TD
Vac.
Adjustment
Fig. 3
Photo 3
Main body
Throw
Burner
Cylinder
Back-up roll
Turn table
Fig. 7
Non
Cast steel
(Grade 2) Treated
557.6
557.6
176.4
313.6
137.2
78
550
Area with no
micro-shrinkage
Pin
140
120
100
10
80
20
30
60
Fillet
40
Cast steel
Forged steel
500
Yield point(MPa)
160
Y position(mm)
Type 80
(730)
Fillet
cold
rolling
Fatigue strength
Tensile
strength Fatigue Degree of increase
B
strength Amount
Rate
(MPa) W (MPa ) (MPa)
()
180
Work roll
20
Grade 5
450
20
40
S34MnV
350
300
Grade 3
Grade 4
400
60
Fig. 8
S44S
250
200
500
600
Tensile strength(MPa)
700
40
800
700
600
500
400
300
Hertzian contact
pressure (MPa)
Non-rolled
2,070
3,620
106
107
105
Number of cycles to failure(N)
Share of crankshafts
with TS950 MPa()
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Year
Conclusions
The long history of crankshafts, which are one of
our major product items, has been reviewed and
major technologies have been described including
their development background and recent trend.
Diesel engines are excellent propulsion engines
from the viewpoint of fuel economy and the
crankshafts, being important parts of the diesel
engines, are required to have higher performances
and qualities. We will continue to respond the
needs for crankshafts from the engine
manufacturers by continuing further research and
development.
References
1) H. Mori, et al, R&D Kobe Steel Engineering Reports, Vol.50,
No.3, p.41 (2000).
2) M. Okamura, et al., R&D Kobe Steel Engineering Reports,
Vol.33, No.3, p.3 (1983).
3) A. Suzuki, 10th International Forging Conference Sheffield
(1985).
4) B. Ann, et al., R&D Kobe Steel Engineering Reports, Vo.19,
No.2, p.88 (1969).
5) M. Nishihara, Bulletin of the M.E.S.J., Vo.8, No.10, p.48
(1973).
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