This study investigates crack healing of AISI 1020 steel using localized induction heating with a pancake coil. A wire-cut slit sample and a repetitive-bent sample containing fine cracks were subjected to induction heating. Geometrical changes in the slit and cracks before and after heating were evaluated. Healing of fine cracks and local melting of the slit tip were observed. Numerical simulations were conducted to understand the current flow, current density distribution and Joule heating behavior within the samples. Results showed that current detours around cracks and concentrates at crack tips during induction heating. This enables the ability of induction heating to selectively locate and treat cracks effectively. Localized induction heating using a pancake coil enhances the crack-healing effectiveness by providing a non-singular current flow direction within the material. It also offers the flexibility to treat a specific localized region in a component. While localized induction heating demonstrates strong potential for crack-healing applications, its effectiveness is primarily limited to fine surface cracks.
Aprilia et al. (Fri,) studied this question.