No reference was found in ASM Handbooks on such an application for steel.
Besides non destructive testing and evaluation, including microstructural differences determination, the following applications are mentioned:
Ultrasonic cleaning,
Ultrasonic welding, brazing, soldering,
Ultrasonic impact grinding,
Ultrasonic machining
You might not want to give up just yet. The article below might be of interest in your endeavors regarding grain refinement in aluminum alloys using mechanical vibration (sound);
Thanks for that link. Very interesting. I ran into that 20 letter word several years ago, while working for the Navy. Magnetohydrodynamics. Has several applications. Thanks.
I’m not sure of exactly your looking for but you might want to check out the “META-LAX” systems from Bonal Inc.
They have a mechanical device that is supposed to remove thermally induce stresses in metals using a varying frequency device.
I’ve been in contact with them in the past but have not had an opportunity to actually use the device but theory behind it may be similar to what you are looking for.
Gregory Merritt is who I have spoken to in the past. His number is 810-353-2041 or 1-800-META-LAX.
Hope this helps, David
Addressing the issue of vibratory stress relief: The original inquiry mentioned grain and structure manipulation via use of ultrasonics. Vibratory stress relief operates in the sub to low sonic range. Those careful not to overclaim as to what it can do, refrain from claiming that vibratory stress relief can modify or manipulate grain size. Slip plane migration, sure, if done so as to cause plastic flow.
Greenleader: Can you tell us what you are trying to accomplish?
I've been looking at using mag fields to manipulate start temps for a few transformations in alloy steel. I don’t have access to a particle accelerator, or anything approaching a 7 to 30 tesla magnet that the successful tests in the papers use. I could get a .5 to a 1.0 T, as I think it's possible to trade magnet strength for time. I was wondering if I could enhance the mag field with ultrasound to physically align/refine the grain. Even ultrasound by itself ?
Years ago, the major guru of high powered ultrasonics was Bob McMaster of Ohio State University. I would be surpised if, with Bob's departure (from OSU and this world) that, in his wake, OSU does not have someone working in this field.
