Speaker
Description
Surface preparation of steelwork for structural repainting is often conducted by sandblasting method in which abrasives (sands) are blasted onto the painted surface at high speed, removing the old paint and rust/dirt by the impact of the blast. This conventional method would cause irreversible damage to the underlying substrate, deteriorating its mechanical and fatigue performance. Laser cleaning has attracted attention as an alternative to conventional cleaning methods as an environmentally friendly and economical technology that removes paint and corrosion efficiently while inducing minimal damage to the surface of the material.
This research investigates the mechanical properties and residual stresses of the laser cleaned steel samples from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Laser cleaning using nanosecond laser was performed on the structural steel plates removed from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The plates were then tested at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) for residual stress measurement and the University of Sydney for the microstructure characterisation and microhardness testing.
Results of the residual stress measurements indicated that the residual stress profile changes at the surface after cleaning. This study enhances the understanding of changes in residual stress and mechanical properties at the surface of a steel subjected to laser cleaning.
| Level of Expertise | Student |
|---|---|
| Which facility did you use for your research | Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering |
| Presenter Gender | Man |
| Condition of submission | Yes |
