Method of metal performance improvement and protection against degradation and suppression thereof by ultrasonic impact

Abstract

A method of improving and strengthening the performance of metal and protecting the metal against degradation and suppression thereof by controlling ultrasonic impact is disclosed. The method addresses the problems of degradation of metal properties during prolonged service under external forces, thermodynamic fluctuations and negative environmental factors. The method also relates to the technologies oriented to protect against (prevent) and to suppress the danger of materials failure due to unfavorable change in performance over time. The well-known methods of “combating” metal degradation cover a wide range of technologies from metallurgical alloying during melting, casting, welding and application of coatings to various thermal treatments and effects on the surface. The invention provides a new versatile method of addressing degradation problems in all these cases.

1 . A method of protecting metals against degradation and suppressing degradation by ultrasonic impact under impact energy defined by a task of affecting at least one property or condition of a material and based on a dynamic strength of the material, comprising: 
 predetermining a moment of a drive pulse initiation, a phase and an amplitude of ultrasonic oscillations of an ultrasonic oscillating system end, during approach of an oscillating system to a surface to be treated to provide surface mesostructure integrity, within a range, including maximum value, minimum value and compensated value of a resultant velocity vector at an onset of an impact; and    setting and changing an oscillating amplitude during ultrasonic impact following the oscillating system contacting the surface in accordance with affecting a material structure under a treated surface and based on requirements to rebound the oscillating system from the treated surface until termination of the ultrasonic impact.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amplitude and the phase of ultrasonic oscillations are set, before the oscillating system contacts the surface during approach therebetween, such that at an onset of a contact, a velocity and energy of the impact correspond to a condition of maintaining mesostructure integrity of the material in a surface layer at a level of treated surface plastic deformation not exceeding saturation thereof but sufficient to transfer an ultrasonic stress wave into the material with acoustic losses remaining within a range sufficient for specified subsequent plastic deformation but not greater than that determined by a Q-factor of the material.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 setting a degree of controlling oscillating velocities in phase of the oscillating system approach to the surface thereby providing integrity of the material and surface layer mesostructure, based on dynamic strength reserve of a surface material in relation with an allowable rate of deformation thereof; and    setting ultrasonic oscillation intensity distribution during ultrasonic impacts, which is sufficient to attain said at least one property of the material structure and material under the surface, based on susceptibility of the material treated to an action of ultrasonic impacts in transition to a specified state,    wherein said degree of controlling oscillating velocities and ultrasonic oscillation intensity distribution are preliminarily determined based on experimental data or expertise as defined by the task.    
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 setting a degree of controlling oscillating velocities in phase of the oscillating system approach to the surface thereby providing integrity of the material and surface layer mesostructure, based on dynamic strength reserve of a surface material in relation with an allowable rate of deformation thereof; and    setting ultrasonic oscillation intensity distribution during ultrasonic impacts, which is sufficient to attain said at least one property of the material structure and material under the surface, based on susceptibility of the material treated to an action of ultrasonic impacts in transition to a specified state,    wherein said degree of controlling oscillating velocities and ultrasonic oscillation intensity distribution are preliminarily determined based on experimental data or expertise as defined by the task.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the surface of the material is deformed at a rate and energy sufficient to fill intergranular defective voids while maintaining integrity of the surface of the material and mesostructure thereof during plastic deformation during soft impact phases predetermined in accordance with the task.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein structural defect boundaries are closed under forces occurring during plastic deformation of the surface of the material caused by an action of soft and force phases of the ultrasonic impact.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein defect boundary closing surfaces are activated under elastic residual stresses caused by plastic deformation of the surface of the material.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein defect boundary closing surfaces are activated under impulses of force caused by impacts at a predetermined repetition rate.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein activation of defect boundary closing surfaces is accompanied by an action of a vector sum of oscillating velocities of movement of oscillating system lumped mass and oscillating system distributed mass, reduced to said oscillating system end, during ultrasonic oscillations of said ultrasonic oscillating system end in a phase, which corresponds to attaining resultant oscillating velocity, and impulse of force caused by the ultrasonic impact, wherein said resultant oscillating velocity and impulse of force are predetermined in accordance with the task.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein activation of defect boundary closing surfaces occurs under friction forces caused by defect boundary displacement during an action of impact impulses and ultrasound.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein activation of defect boundary closing surfaces is accompanied by an action of ultrasonic oscillations and waves going through a closing boundary during an action of impulse of force caused by the ultrasonic impact.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein defect boundary closing is activated in an area of elevated temperature caused by plastic deformation and friction at boundaries of structural defects and fragments during impulse action, recurring at a repetition rate of ultrasonic impacts in a controlled phase, specified by material properties and the task.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein ultrasonic self-diffusion and annihilation of closing boundaries occur under static pressure of the oscillating system, impulses of force, friction at boundaries, heating, ultrasonic oscillations and ultrasonic stress waves.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein precipitation of alloying phases, including silicon precipitates in aluminum alloys, provides increased material strength and is activated as a result of controlling the ultrasonic impact.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein unstable phases, including copper in aluminum alloys, are fixed at a stage of soft ultrasonic contacts and impacts for protection against precipitation in solid solutions and prevention of degradation development.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein activation of reverse self-diffusion of a precipitate in solid solutions, including copper in aluminum alloys, which results in weakening of structural bonds, creation of hidden structural stress concentrators caused by external forces and initiation of subsequent metal degradation, occurs due to normalizing the ultrasonic impact after a soft phase thereof and is accompanied by recovery of lost strength and ductility of an alloy.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein activation of phase migration occurs as a result of normalizing the ultrasonic impact after soft phase onset thereof, said activation is accompanied by increased fatigue resistance due to reduction in density of distribution of potential concentrators of internal stresses at a nanostructural level.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein self-control of the material structure in rotation, bending, twinning, recrystallization, flow, gliding, yielding and aging is activated at a level of fragments of nanostructure, microstructure and macrostructure of metals as a result of controlling formation of soft phases and subsequent normalizing of ultrasonic impact parameters.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein activation of subdivision, uniformization and arrangement of material structure at a microlevel, as a means of increasing degradation resistance, occurs under ultrasonic impact as a result of normalizing, as defined by the task, parameters of soft phases and subsequent force phases of the ultrasonic impact.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein activation of amorphization, as a means of final optimization of surface material structure at a nanolevel, occurs as a result of processes initiated by a dynamic model, as defined by the task, of controlling soft phases and normalizing parameters of ultrasonic impact.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein controlling soft and force phases of the ultrasonic impact is used to protect the material against degradation nucleation in an original condition, as well as prevents and suppresses degradation in the material of a structure during or after long service thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein aluminum alloys are protected against corrosion exfoliation and/or properties of aluminum alloys, which have been damaged by exfoliation, are recovered and/or repaired.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 creation of a compensation protective barrier and recovery of properties of a damaged material by high-power soft ultrasonic impact (PSUI) with adaptive on-off time ratio modulation (O/OTRM) of drive pulses synchronized with the high-power soft ultrasonic impact, wherein to implement such a control of drive pulse on-off time ratio, pulse-width and amplitude modulation are used, which are initiated when an increase in frequency of synchronized ultrasonic impacts is needed with a pause insufficient for independent predetermined oscillation suppression therebetween or a length of a transient process that is insufficient for independent recovery of oscillations, thereby achieving:    control of plastic deformation intensity distribution in time and space during each ultrasonic impact;    control of surface parameters at scales of mesostructure and crystalline structure, stressed-deformed state of the material and depth of penetration in an area of existing or potential damage; and/or    stabilization of phases, homogeneity of structure and properties of the material in an area of instability thereof under external conditions of heating, loading, and/or environment.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 protection from adsorption and prevention of adsorbing inclusions from contact with structural fragments;    an increase in mobility and loss of bonding of adsorbing inclusions and surface active substances with adsorbing surfaces, a damaged area of the material or the material structure; and/or    optimization of the surface treated, mesostructure and roughness of the surface, and residual stresses in a layer of the surface and surface material resistance to adsorption by an increase in material density in a layer of the surface.    
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 increased resistance to thermal and thermal-mechanical damages in an original condition and in service;    maintaining and recovery of material properties based on at least one of creation of a compensation barrier of distributed residual stresses, relaxation of stress and deformation gradient in areas of accumulated thermal and thermal-mechanical damages, filling of intergranular space in areas of structural defects by grain material, and ultrasonic diffusion at grain boundaries; and/or    optimization of friction couples surface as a means of reducing time and heat losses in braking.    
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 protection of an original surface being affected and recovery of material properties;    modification of meso and crystalline structures, amorphization of a surface material, creation of a compensation barrier of residual compressive stresses in the surface material based on formulating a function of oscillating amplitude changing in a “transducer-indenter-surface” system during high-power soft ultrasonic impact;    pulse and ultrasonic diffusion at grain boundaries in a region of structural failures caused by intercrystalline corrosion; and/or    plastic deformation of the material, increase in grain size uniformity, filling an intergranular space by grain material, or pulse ultrasonic diffusion at grain boundaries.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 creation of an electrochemical corrosion compensation barrier in an original condition of the material and recovery of the at least one property thereof;    strengthening micro- and macro-geometry of the surface, homogeneity of a crystalline structure of the surface of the material, nano-crystallization and amorphization of the surface of the material as a means of retardation of anodic processes;    surface plastic deformation, creation of an area of compressive stress and increased material density to retard localization of electrochemical corrosion of surface defects; and/or    use of a high-power soft ultrasonic impact mechanism to form strengthened surface conditions and surface mesostructure.    
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 creation of a chemical corrosion compensation barrier in an original condition of the material and recovery of said at least one property thereof through use of a high-power soft ultrasonic impact mechanism to strengthen quality and increase surface alloying depth in application of protective heat-resistant coatings and in repetition of these operations, if needed, on a scale layer and if properties of the material need to be repaired.    
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 creation of a radiation corrosion compensation protective barrier in an original condition of the material being affected and recovery of the at least one property thereof using a high-power soft ultrasonic impact mechanism to:    strengthen quality and increase surface alloying depth in application of protective heat- and radiation-resistant coatings;    strengthen surface condition in terms of its roughness, mesostructure, micro-grain structure and material amorphization; and    create a favorable compressive stress field and increase surface material density, wherein repetition of these operations on a damaged layer provides recovery of radiation resistance of the surface material at a level of an original material being affected.    
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 creation of a compensation protective barrier against formation of corrosion cracks in an original condition of the material and in recovery of the at least one property thereof by using a high-power soft ultrasonic impact (PSUI) mechanism to:    strengthen quality, adhesion or to increase an alloying depth of protective coatings applied to potentially or actually damaged surface to induce favorable compressive stresses into the surface of the material in strengthening or modification thereof to a predetermined depth in strengthened or specified condition of mesostructure;    modify the material structure and create a stressed-deformed state of the material structure that makes impossible absorption of solution anions on movable dislocations and other structural imperfections that reduce surface energy and weaken atomic bonds;    strengthen surface mesostructure and prevent crack nucleation as a result of a wedging action of surface-active substances in adsorption thereof in microcrevices on the surface of the material; and/or    create a compressive stress field on the treated surface with strengthened mesostructure, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient for protection against high crack propagation rate caused by accelerated anodic dissolution of a metal at a crack base, wherein a stressed-deformed state is generally determined by tensile stress concentration.    
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 use of a high-power soft ultrasonic impact (PSUI) mechanism to:    strengthen surface alloying quality, adhesion strength and density of galvanic coatings; and/or    create a compressive stress field on the treated surface with strengthened mesostructure, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient for protection against reduction in strength properties and formation of brittle cracks that may be caused by at least one of penetration of atomic hydrogen in voids, pores and other lattice defects, hydrogen transformation into molecular gas that creates high interfragmentary pressure, and/or adsorption of atomic hydrogen on surfaces of a component and internal defects with formation of chemical compounds with metal and impurities that reduce surface energy of the material and brittle fracture resistance.    
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 use of high-power soft ultrasonic impacts to create a strengthened mesostructure and compressive stress field on the surface, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient for protection against strength properties reduction, formation of brittle cracks, adsorption penetration of molten metal in a solid metal pre-failure zone, reduction in surface energy and metal rupture resistance.    
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 use of high-power soft ultrasonic impacts to create a strengthened density, roughness, mesostructure and compressive stress field at the surface, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient for protection against detachment of solid particles from the material structure as a result of material contact with a moving liquid, gaseous environment or solid particles entrained thereby or as a result of an impact of solid particles upon the surface being affected.    
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 use of high-power soft ultrasonic impacts to create a strengthened density, mesostructure condition and a grain packing size and a field of compressive macrostresses and microstresses at and under the surface, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient to protect against formation of microcracks and pores (microvoids) at grain boundaries and substructure, gliding and slip, twinning, bending of slip planes, lamellation, rotation and relative movement of grains, rotation and relative shift of mosaic blocks, polygonization, diffusion plasticity, recrystallization, and/or combining defects and structural damage at micro and micro levels.    
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 use of high-power soft ultrasonic impacts in creating strengthened density of a material, mesostructure on the material surface, and normalizing plastic deformations and compressive stress field at the surface, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient to prevent reduction in material strength properties caused by microstructural degradation including at least one of absorption of molecules from environment by micro-surfaces developing in a deformed body, and/or unfavorable stabilization of a metal phase condition in time at an expense of transformation of unstable phases without a considerable change in microstructure.    
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 use of high-power soft ultrasonic impacts to attain strengthened density and mesostructure of the treated material through normalization of plastic deformations and compressive stress field on and under the surface, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient to prevent formation of an abrupt increase in yield strength of brittle cracks caused by atomic shift or a shift cascade under neutron stream in a metal lattice depending on an amount of energy a neutron transfers to a metal atom and thereafter formation of high concentration of vacancies surrounded along a periphery by zones with increased density of interstitial atoms.    
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one technical effect is attained including: 
 use of high-power soft ultrasonic impacts with level and time parameters corresponding to experimentally found requirements for attaining strengthened density of a treated material with a guaranteed integrity of a mesostructure thereof and for conditions of formation and normalization of local point heating and a rate of heat rejection from a plastic deformation region, plastic deformations themselves and a compressive stress field on and under the treated surface, a magnitude and depth of which is sufficient to:    prevent surface corrosion exfoliation of a metal with formation of stress concentrators and loss of strength or recovery of metal properties in an area of these damages caused by synergetic effect of corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement,    prevent formation of unstable phases that cause the material to precipitate, resulting in a reduced level of structural bonds and strength of a material and intergranular corrosion,    eliminate structural micro and macro defects, including optionally porosity or other intergranular discontinuities in closing boundaries thereof and activating self-diffusion processes,    provide activation of self-diffusion at boundaries of structural fragments and elimination of corrosion cracking at grain boundaries,    provide reverse diffusion of precipitates and recovery of stable phases,    provide precipitation of alloying elements, increase in concentration density and strength of the treated material,    ensure compensation, redistribution or relaxation of structural mechanical stresses in an area of concentration, caused by precipitates from solid solutions of unstable phases, and/or    form hyper fine-grain structure, amorphization, increase in strength of the material and corrosion resistance.    
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 introduction of compressive stresses of a substantial level, an increase in microhardness of a surface layer, and/or protection of mesostructure against service and process-induced damages in cast iron brake drums and discs.    
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 modification of surface layer structure by intense normalized plastic deformation thereof, creation of a compressive stress region, and/or suppression of surface defects that initiate mesostructural damage during service to increase corrosion strength in cast iron pipes.    
   
   
       40 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 introduction of compressive stresses of a substantial level, stress concentration reduction, ultrasonic plastic deformation and structural modification of the treated material in a stress concentration area, wherein conditions of ultrasonic oscillations, pressure and indenter size ensure protection of mesostructure against process-induced and operational damage during service and preparation of the surface with use of high-power soft ultrasonic impact to increase fatigue resistance of welded steel.    
   
   
       41 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 introduction of compressive stresses of a substantial level into the treated surface and treated material and modification of a structure thereof, wherein conditions of ultrasonic oscillations, pressure and indenter size ensure protection of mesostructure during service and treatment of a surface with use of said ultrasonic impact to strengthen corrosion fatigue strength of steel.    
   
   
       42 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 an arrangement of a block structure at nanolevel and creation of regions of compressive stresses sufficient to retard mesostructural damage during effect upon a treated material by quasistatic and dynamic loads initiated by the ultrasonic impact normalized as defined by the task and thereafter by operation forces to strengthen impact strength of steel.    
   
   
       43 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 intense ultrasonic plastic deformation of a treated material, arrangement of microstructure at a nanolevel and/or suppression of mesostructural damage of steel.    
   
   
       44 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 intense ultrasonic plastic deformation of a surface material under normalized ultrasonic impact at a substantial deformation loading rate, local warming-up in a phase transformation region and/or quick heat removal from an impact region to obtain a white layer in steel.    
   
   
       45 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 intensification of diffusion processes and metal recrystallization under an action of ultrasonic wave, acoustic flows, sound pressure and cavitation, which are initiated by indenter ultrasonic oscillations synchronously with carrier oscillations of the ultrasonic oscillating system during ultrasonic impact to strengthen metal crystallization of steel.    
   
   
       46 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 intense ultrasonic plastic deformation of a surface material and/or activation therethrough of diffusion processes caused by ultrasonic wave during ultrasonic impact to strengthen mechanical properties of steel.    
   
   
       47 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 introduction of compressive stresses of a substantial level, stress concentration reduction, and/or creation of a physical barrier against mesostructural defect formation in a region of directed plastic deformation and compressive stresses corresponding to a level of defects to strengthen a fatigue limit of aluminum alloys.    
   
   
       48 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 introduction of compressive stresses of a substantial level, stress concentration reduction, and/or suppression of possible mesostructural damages by means of ultrasonic recrystallization in solid solution and activation of ultrasonic diffusion at grain boundaries during said ultrasonic impact to strengthen high-cycle fatigue strength of aluminum alloys.    
   
   
       49 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 intense plastic deformation of a treated material near-surface layer, ultrasonic diffusion at defect boundaries, closed under ultrasonic impact in a form of pores or discontinuities in the material and/or suppression of mesostructural defects in a region of normalized plastic deformation and compressive stresses, corresponding to a level of plastic deformation, under normalized ultrasonic impact and effects accompanying an influence of said ultrasonic impact on the material, wherein said effects are caused, in particular, by reduced deformation resistance during propagation of an ultrasonic stress wave in the material being deformed by said ultrasonic impact to suppress porosity to a predetermined depth and extend life of aluminum alloys.    
   
   
       50 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 maintaining or increasing, as a result of ultrasonic plastic deformation, an impact strength in metals, including steels and aluminum alloys, wherein the impact strength may decrease under conventional plastic deformation, resulting in a reduced reserve of material plasticity, due to retardation of dislocations and other structural defects in plastically deformed structures.    
   
   
       51 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 a strengthened surface layer during ultrasonic impact machining, specifically steels, due to structural changes caused by predetermined controlling of ultrasonic impact parameters;    transformation of two-phase condition of an original structure in a surface layer, specifically in aluminum alloys, and formation of a more solid eutectic structure; and/or    migration of alloying inclusions to the treated surface, in particular silicon inclusions in aluminum alloys, and thereby strengthening the surface being affected.    
   
   
       52 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 ultrasonic impact diffusion at grain boundaries to recover properties of aluminum alloys after corrosion exfoliation.    
   
   
       53 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 providing a grain refinement, specifically in aluminum alloys, and increase in strength thereof which occurs due to formation of increased dislocation density and twinning structure because of additional deformation, formation of microband structure, subdivision of microband structure into submicron grains, and/or further breakdown of subgrains to be equiaxed.    
   
   
       54 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 providing a geometric dynamic recrystallization of grains at nano-scale and micro-scale, wherein impact energy and temperature of local heating achieve a level which is critical relative to favorable structural conditions of the material and cause favorable migration of precipitates in occurrence of microbands, in particular, in aluminum alloys, as a result of normalizing the ultrasonic impact, local heating, heat removal, conditions of distribution of an ultrasonic stress wave, and as a result, normalization of metal plastic deformation, which is accompanied by an increase in metal strength and resistance to degradation of properties.    
   
   
       55 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein at least one result is attained including: 
 introduction of compressive stresses of a substantial level, modification of a surface layer structure, ultrasonic diffusion at a boundary closing of structural defects including optionally pores, protection against damages and suppression of mesostructural damages at micro and macro levels to strengthen corrosion fatigue strength in bronze.    
   
   
       56 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein controlling soft and force phases of ultrasonic impact, on condition that a mesostructure integrity is recovered, changes a service crack nucleation mechanism in corroded specimens, including aluminum alloys, wherein crack nucleation and development in an area of intergranular corrosive damage is prevented by closing and subsequent elimination of boundaries thereof, which occur under intense plastic deformation followed by ultrasonic diffusion, thereby increasing a resistance of the material to corrosive and fatigue damage.  
   
   
       57 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein kinetics of nucleation and development of cracks of different nature, as a prevailing final evidence of major types of metal degradation, is affected for prevention and suppression thereof by controlling soft and force phases of the ultrasonic impact and obtaining: 
 a smooth surface with a roughness of not greater than about 0.5 μm and residual compressive stresses induced to a depth of up to about 0.7 mm, wherein such a surface will delay crack initiation;    a smooth surface with a roughness of about 0.5 μm or more, an intact mesostructure and compressive stresses induced to a depth of up to about 1.5 mm, which together allows a longer material resistance to crack initiation and development after starting in a substantial compressive stress field to a predetermined depth, but not less than about 1.5 mm;    a smooth surface with an intact subsurface mesostructure, wherein minor surface damage is possible to a depth of no greater than about 0.003 mm, fine grain in a subsurface layer and compressive stresses induced to a depth of up to about 2.5 mm, which result in higher material resistance to crack initiation and dampen crack development after starting in an area of a fine grain structure and a compressive stress field; and/or    a smooth surface with an intact subsurface mesostructure, wherein minor surface damage is possible to a depth of no greater than about 0.008 mm, fine grain and amorphous structure in a near-surface layer, as well as compressive stresses induced to a maximum depth for a given material of up to about 4.0 mm using controlled ultrasonic impact, which results in higher material resistance to crack initiation, dampen crack development after starting in an area of fine grain and/or amorphous structure and continue crack retardation in a field of compressive stresses that are substantial as against a yield strength of the treated material;    wherein starting cracks are cured and developing fatigue cracks are retarded by diffusion joining of crack boundaries;    submersion of a crack development zone into a residual compressive stress area and crack preservation; and    removal of a cracked metal surface layer from an undamaged metal by force phases of the ultrasonic impact.    
   
   
       58 . The method according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein controlling at least one ultrasonic impact parameter of a resultant velocity at an onset of impact, impact energy, repetition rate and time of impact, and/or amplitude and phase of impact, is defined by a specific task based on predetermined data, wherein said at least one parameter is set with a scatter from about 5% to random values based on predetermined technical requirements and predetermined end results to be produced.