R&D Project: Strain gaging inside a tube

We are always trying to improve upon existing techniques and explore new methods so we can assure our customers that they are receiving the best services we have to offer.

After we spread out into our new laboratory space, we found some interesting things during the move that were hidden away. Something that caught our eye was a project a member of our lab team did, dealing with applying a strain gage to the inner diameter of a long tube with limited access.

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2024 SEM Annual Conference and Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics

Hill Engineering will be presenting at the 2024 SEM Annual Conference and Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics in Vancouver, WA, from June 3rd through June 6th. We invite you to come see us!

This conference focuses on all areas of research and applications pertaining to experimental mechanics and has evolved to encompass the latest technologies supporting optical methods; additive & advanced manufacturing; dynamic behavior of materials; biological systems; micro-and nano mechanics; fatigue and fracture; composite and multifunctional materials; residual stress; inverse problem methodologies; thermomechanics; and time dependent materials. Hill Engineering’s presentation will include a summary of recent work related to residual stress measurement using the hole drilling method. The abstract text is presented below.

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Senior Design 2023: An automated wire preparation device

Over the years, Hill Engineering has had the opportunity to work with mechanical engineering undergraduate students at University of California, Davis, as part of their senior design capstone. The capstone pairs a group of students with a sponsor company in the industry to address a design challenge presented by the sponsor. For the 2022-23 school year, Hill Engineering submitted a project to the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department for an automated wire preparation device. This device would mainly be used by our engineers to cut “jumper wires” for a strain gage assembly, which are used for the many residual stress measurements we perform.

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IMx+ system receives ATO from USAF

You might recall a previous post introducing the Integrated Maintenance System, or IMx+ system, that uses next generation technologies to address the quality assurance needs of the aerospace industry. We’re happy to announce that the IMx+ system is now authorized to operate and connect to the USAF NIPRNET, a huge milestone for Hill Engineering and all groups involved.

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Inside Hill Engineering’s Quality Control Program

In a previous post, we highlighted the steps we took to develop a Quality System that is compliant with ISO. Since then, we have successfully completed three renewal audits and are currently accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, the most recent revision of the standard. Part of our Quality System requirements includes the creation and maintenance of a quality control program for the various residual stress measurement techniques we perform in our laboratory. Consistently providing high quality results to our customers is something we pride ourselves in and the best way for us to assure that is through a quality control program.

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Hunting for Meteors at Caswell Memorial State Park

Nothing sums up summer quite like a good camping trip. A handful of Hill Engineering families made their way to the Stanislaus River and Caswell Memorial State Park for a weekend of nature, campfires, and s’mores.

A sunlit meandering dirt path surrounded by green trees and foliage.
Heading to the river through the lush riparian environment
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AS7045 – Residual Stress Measurement and Classification, Metallic Structural Alloy Products and Finished Parts

A new Aerospace Standard, AS7045 – Residual Stress Measurement and Classification, Metallic Structural Alloy Products and Finished Parts, was recently published by SAE International. Hill Engineering was actively involved in the development of the standard along with many of our collaborators in the aerospace industry. AS7045 offers tremendous potential to revolutionize the management of residual stress during metallic material procurement.

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New publication: Effects of high‑energy laser peening followed by pre‑hot corrosion on stress relaxation, microhardness, and fatigue life and strength of single‑crystal nickel CMSX‑4® superalloy

Hill Engineering recently published new collaborative research in the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology titled Effects of high‑energy laser peening followed by pre‑hot corrosion on stress relaxation, microhardness, and fatigue life and strength of single‑crystal nickel CMSX‑4® superalloy and appears in International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology. The abstract text is available here along with a link to the publication.

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Renovations finished at Hill Engineering’s Utah office

Hill Engineering is happy to announce the completion of our Utah office renovations. Working with Gladwell Construction, a licensed general contractor based in Ogden, Utah, we created a thoughtfully designed and functional workspace with our employees, current projects, and future opportunities in mind. Thank you to Gladwell Construction for a job well done.

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