Measuring residual stresses in laser peened samples

If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding thesis project, the NLR is the perfect place for you!

The Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) is a dynamic and innovative organization that is dedicated to advancing aviation and space technology. At NLR, you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, as well as the support of a highly qualified team of researchers and engineers. You will also have the opportunity to work on real-world projects and be part of a team that is shaping the future of air and space travel. Our projects are at the forefront of aerospace technology, and you will have the opportunity to make a real impact in this field. Join the NLR and be part of a team that is dedicated to advancing aviation and space technology. Apply now and take the first step towards a rewarding career in this field.

The assignment

NLR, a research organization focused on aerospace engineering, is offering a Master’s thesis project opportunity to investigate validation methods for residual stress measurement methods. The aim is to develop NLR's capabilities to measure residual stresses in the surface of structural metals, particularly for laser peening. Laser peening is a process that involves creating compressive stress in the metal's surface to increase its resistance to cracking or corrosion, which improves the lifetime of components. By finding a relationship between the process parameters of the laser peening process and residual stresses it is possible to facilitate the development of a predictive model for the induced stresses by laser peening. However, a reliable stress measurement method is essential for this purpose. The focus of this assignment is to explore and evaluate both destructive and non-destructive techniques for measuring residual stresses through a comprehensive literature review. Furthermore, an experimental investigation will be conducted to compare and contrast the effectiveness of various measurement methods on laser peened AA7075 samples. Moreover, a prescribed stress can be applied to metal test coupons with an experimental setup to validate a residual stress measurement method.

Result

The internship is suited for a Master’s thesis and is flexible with regards to start dates. It will take place at the NLR location at Voorsterweg 31, 8316 PR Marknesse. Many opportunities regarding places to stay, transport, and working from home can be arranged in discussion. At the end of the assignment it is expected that the student has delivered a report including a literature study and an experimental study in which different methods to measure residual stresses are compared.