Analytical and Numerical Modelling of Interfacial Stress Distribution of a Piezoresistive Coating Layer

Thermally sprayed coatings can be used in structural health monitoring devices where the coatings can reveal defects in the real-time integrity of the component through changes in mechanical, thermal or modal properties during service. In this emerging application, the mechanical properties of the coating are strongly affected by the interfacial bond between the coating and the substrate. This paper presents an analytical study of the interfacial stress distribution based on piezoresistive-stress constitutive relation of a coating layer. Both a single layer coating- and a bilayer coating-substrate system were considered. An analytical solution of the interfacial stress was developed by solving a Fredholm-Volterra singular integro-differential equation of a coating-substrate model using Chebyshev polynomials. Numerical simulation was conducted to analyze the effects of geometric and effective material properties of the coating-substrate system on the interfacial stress distribution. It was found that the susceptibility of the piezoresistive layer to delamination primarily relies on thicknesses of the coating layers and the stiffness of the intermediary insulating layer and substrate.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Residual Stress of Cold Sprayed Nickel-Base Superalloys

Residual stress can be developed in most thermally sprayed coatings due to the momentum of molten particles during impact; and heat transfer during solidification of the splats. Another reason for residual stress built-up in thermally sprayed coatings is due to splat curl-up during solidification and the differences in thermal expansion coefficients between the coating and the substrate. However; in the cold spraying process; it is believed that the main reason for residual stress formation is plastic deformation during impact and flattening of solid particles. Residual stresses can drastically influence coating quality and reduce its service time. In this study; residual stress is measured for two well-known nickel based super alloys (Inconel 625 and Inconel 718) deposited on 7074 aluminum alloy substrates by the cold spraying technique. Residual stress in Inconel 625 was found to be highly tensile on the surface and compressive on the subsurfaces. After heat treatment the residual stress was relieved and was compressive in nature. Whereas for Inconel 718; residual stress was compressive on the surface and tensile on the subsurfaces in the as-sprayed condition. After heat treatment; the residual stress was compressive with increased magnitude. The heat treatment at 800°C made the residual stress more compressive. The porosities of both Inconel 625 and Inconel 718 were reduced after heat treatment.