System and method for controlled vibration stress relief of metal parts with residual internal stresses

The paper presents a new method and a new equipment for the dimensional stabilization of metal parts using controlled mechanical vibration technique. The dimensional stabilization through vibrations consists in using controlled vibrations to reduce the residual stress in metal parts or structures. The mechanical characteristics of metal parts have two basic components: the functional mechanical strength and dimensional stability in time. These two components are interrelated to each other. The method is based on a new algorithm for adaptive vibration, depending on the behavior of the metal parts. The equipment for the stress relief through vibrations is a complex process computer system including a process computer, a frequency converter, an eccentric vibrator, a flexible shaft, an induction motor and an acceleration transducer. The system reduces the level of residual internal stresses in a certain metal part, following its own stress relief algorithm implemented in LabVIEW environment.