The thermal and mechanical aspects of grinding introduce locked-in stresses into finished parts; these residual stresses have been suspected of significantly affecting service life. Through an interdisciplinary examination of the cam grinding process, the project will develop the base science and engineering technology that will allow an engineer to predict and control residual stresses in ground components, and understand the role of residual stresses in the wear and fatigue of ground components. The research team will comprise of engineers and scientists from universities and American industries, with expertise in residual stress analysis and modeling, depth profiling of stresses, thermal analysis and modeling, statistics, tribology, mechanical metallurgy, fatigue, and failure analysis. Major producers of testing equipment, of abrasives and grinding equipment, and of automobile engines and their related components, have committed financial support, materials, equipment and facilities, as well as the unique capabilities of their engineers, to gain an understanding of how machine grinding alters a part's properties and durability. The results should provide a significant competitive advantage for American machine tool manufacturers in the development of uniquely instrumented grinding machines, and will have immediate applicability to manufactures of products involving precision ground components.
