East Midlands Knowledge Network: Routes To University Expertise

 

Northbridge Motorsport

Advanced Microscopy

Description and aims

The collaboration between Northbridge Motorsport and the University of Leicester Advanced Microscopy Centre consisted of careful examination of thread roots that had been rolled under different conditions of temperature and load. Fatigue failures in fasteners often initiate from thread roots where there is a high stress concentration factor and high stress in the application. Northbridge were developing new fasteners in a new high strength alloy and needed to understand the relationship between their rolling parameters and the quality of the thread root produced. Thread roots from different rolling conditions were examined using scanning electron microscopy which is ideal for this purpose owing to the high magnification and high depth of field that is available. Northbridge were able to use the images of the thread roots to optimise their thread rolling process and thus optimise the fatigue performance of their fasteners in this new alloy.

About Northbridge Motorsport

Northbridge Motorsport is a UK company based in Leicester. They are specialists in the design, manufacture and testing of bolts, studs and nuts that are used primarily in automotive applications. The company’s products are used in F1, World Rally Championship, MotoGP cars and other high performance motorsport applications.

The demands on the bolts and fasteners that Northbridge produce mean that quality and performance are key to their success. Northbridge work on developments in fasteners made from ultra-high strength titanium and with hi-tech coatings and are able to design specialist threads for unique applications.

How the project is being undertaken

The project was undertaken on a flexible basis with Northbridge Motorsport bringing specimens to the University of Leicester once they had run a series of different production tests. The Advanced Microscopy Centre aims to respond to external industrial needs on a flexible basis wherever possible and this fit into the needs and requirements of the project from Northbridge Motorsport.

Impacts and benefits
  • Improved understanding of how thread rolling parameters affected surface finish
  • Ability to supply high quality fasteners in a new alloy to meet specific requirements for fatigue performance
  • Development of a new product based on knowledge based production and testing
For more information about the project

If you would like to hear more about this project, please contact Dr Sarah Hainsworth, Department of Engineering, University of Leicester
Email: svh2@le.ac.uk
Telephone: 0116 252 5692

Duration

Two months

University

University of Leicester

Academic Lead

Dr Sarah Hainsworth

Department of Engineering

Contact

Dr Sarah Hainsworth

0116 252 5692