The Effects of High-Energy Composite Surface Layer Modification on the Impact Performance of the H13 Steel Cutter Ring for Shield Tunneling Machine

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper deals with the The Effects of High-energy Composite Surface Layer Modification on the Impact Performance 

of the H13 Steel Cutter Ring for Shield Tunneling Machine. 

According to the reviewer, the paper is worth publishing at Coatings Journal, 

but some corrections are needed and then the paper can be accepted for publication in the journal.

While the authors have made considerable research effort, 

the presentation of the paper and the results must be proved. 

Additionally make the following corrections to the manuscript:

Comment 1

Line 5

The text format of the "Xiuyu Chen, Qingshan Jiang," is different.

The authors should replace.

Comment 2

For the paper:

Ref. number not upper case

For examble (Line 32)

are often encountered [1]. 

Comment 3

The authors should insert a Figure with cutter ring of the shield tunneling machine (real photo).

Comment 4

Figure 2

Extended text editing

surfacce, marlensite, matrlx

The authors must increase the visibility of the right Figure (what the circle and square mean?)

Comment 5

The authors must explain if the values from Table 1 and 2 are from their experiments or supplier's data.

Comment 6

Lines - 162 - 167

The authors must insert a typical real photo of the specimens (before and after the fracture).

The authors must insert the ASTM standard or similar for the experiments.

Comment 7

The authors should insert the values in the Figure 5 (impact toughness and hardness).

The authors must give more details for the Figure 6 (equipment for the Hardness experiments, type, model).

The authors must explain the hardness values (depth > 1.0 mm) and provide an explanation for this behavior.

Comment 8

Lines 212 - 213

The authors should insert the Lines 212 - 213 into the Line 214.

Line 279

The authors should insert the Line 279 into the Line 280.

Line 291

The authors should insert the Line 291 into the Line 293.

Line 303

The authors should insert the Line 303 into the Line 305.

Comment 9

The authors must give more details for the Figure 10 (equipment for the Surface residual stress experiments, type, model).

Comment 10

Lines 294 - 300

The authors should format the Lines (according to the journal's instuctions).

Comment 11

The authors should insert a Section "Discussion" and they compare the results for No. 1 - No. 7 specimens. The authors must explain which process (Heat treatment hardening process of H13 steel) is the optimum from No. 1 - 7 cases.  

Discussion: Authors should discuss the results and how they can be interpreted in perspective of previous studies and of the working hypotheses. The findings and their implications should be discussed in the broadest context possible and limitations of the work highlighted. Future research directions may also be mentioned. This section may be combined with Results.

Comment 12

Changes the References section format.

According to the journal's instructions:

1. Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D. Title of the article. Abbreviated Journal Name Year, Volume, page range.

The authors must correct the References according to the journal's instructions.

Delete the "[J]" and [C].

Line 357

Advances in Civil Engineering, 2019, 2019.

2019: two times

Extended text editing

Extended text editing

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

Thank you for your kind comments on our article “The Effects of High-energy Composite Surface Layer Modification on the Impact Performance of the H13 Steel Cutter Ring for Shield Tunneling Machine” in Coatings (Manuscript ID: coatings-2530059). We appreciate your valuable comments and suggestions for improvement. For your comments and suggestions, our reply is as follows:

Comment 1

Line 5

The text format of the "Xiuyu Chen, Qingshan Jiang," is different.

The authors should replace.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have standardized the format.

Comment 2

For the paper:

Ref. number not upper case

For examble (Line 32)are often encountered [1].

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have set the reference symbol to superscript.

Comment 3

The authors should insert a Figure with cutter ring of the shield tunneling machine (real photo).

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have re inserted the photo of the blade ring.

Comment 4

Figure 2

Extended text editing

surfacce, marlensite, matrlx

The authors must increase the visibility of the right Figure (what the circle and square mean?)

Response: We have reinterpreted the figure in the text.In the enlarged image, a square represents the infiltrated carbon particles, and a circle represents the infiltrated nitrogen atoms.

Comment 5

The authors must explain if the values from Table 1 and 2 are from their experiments or supplier's data.

Response: We have reinterpreted the figure in the text.The data in Table 1 is obtained from experimental measurements, while the data in Table 2 is provided by the supplier.

Comment 6

Lines - 162 - 167

The authors must insert a typical real photo of the specimens (before and after the fracture).

The authors must insert the ASTM standard or similar for the experiments.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have re inserted the photos of the sample specimens and also inserted the impact test standards.

Comment 7

The authors should insert the values in the Figure 5 (impact toughness and hardness).

The authors must give more details for the Figure 6 (equipment for the Hardness experiments, type, model).

The authors must explain the hardness values (depth > 1.0 mm) and provide an explanation for this behavior.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. 1. We have revised the figure and inserted specific values for impact toughness and hardness; 2. We have provided specific information on the hardness testing equipment. 3. We reinterpret the hardness values (depth>1.0 mm) in the text.（When the depth exceeds 1mm, the carbon content of the No.2-No.7 sample is approximately equal to the carbon content of the matrix, and the hardness is about 550HV_0.2.）

Comment 8

Lines 212 - 213

The authors should insert the Lines 212 - 213 into the Line 214.

Line 279

The authors should insert the Line 279 into the Line 280.

Line 291

The authors should insert the Line 291 into the Line 293.

Line 303

The authors should insert the Line 303 into the Line 305.

Response: In the text, we have made modifications to the corresponding positions again.

Comment 9

The authors must give more details for the Figure 10 (equipment for the Surface residual stress experiments, type, model).

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have added the details of the surface residual stress measurement equipment in the article.

Comment 10

Lines 294 - 300

The authors should format the Lines (according to the journal's instuctions).

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have reformatted this part of the text.

Comment 11

The authors should insert a Section "Discussion" and they compare the results for No. 1 - No. 7 specimens. The authors must explain which process (Heat treatment hardening process of H13 steel) is the optimum from No. 1 - 7 cases. 

Discussion: Authors should discuss the results and how they can be interpreted in perspective of previous studies and of the working hypotheses. The findings and their implications should be discussed in the broadest context possible and limitations of the work highlighted. Future research directions may also be mentioned. This section may be combined with Results.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. In the conclusion section of the article, we add a summary:

The H13 steel sample after carburization and laser composite treatment has high surface hardness and impact toughness, with the best overall performance.

The working environment of shield tunneling machine hobs is complex, and this paper is conducted on standard samples in a laboratory environment, which has certain limitations. In future research, the impact of actual service environments will be considered. Especially for the upper soft and lower hard geological rock layers, the high-energy composite modification process of the actual cutting ring is optimized to achieve the optimal comprehensive performance.

Comment 12

Changes the References section format.

According to the journal's instructions:

1. Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D. Title of the article. Abbreviated Journal Name Year, Volume, page range.

The authors must correct the References according to the journal's instructions.

Delete the "[J]" and [C].

Line 357

Advances in Civil Engineering, 2019, 2019.

2019: two times

Extended text editing

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have revised the citation section of the article, and the journal editor will also make minor modifications later.

Reviewer 2 Report

-Novelty should be explained well in the last paragraph of Introduction.

- In Figure 2, 'High-energy composite modified surfacce'. Please correct the letter.

- Please improve the resolution of all figures, especially for the letters in the figures.

- Enhance the discussion behind the impact toughness, maximum surface layer hardness, hardness distribution. Use literature for comparing and comments for obtained each results.

- For Fig.7, please use SEM images, not optical.

-I couldnt see any characterization methods in Materials and Methods section. Microscopy, XRD and etc. Please give all test details here.

-Fig.9 , Fig 11 and Fig 12 doesnt seem like SEM image, its optical image. Fig.13 is SEM image,yes.

-A more comprehensive discussion based on the literature is required when explaining the fracture mechanisms with fracture surface SEM images.

Dear Editor,

I recommend major revision because discussion is lacking.

Best regards.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

Thank you for your kind comments on our article “The Effects of High-energy Composite Surface Layer Modification on the Impact Performance of the H13 Steel Cutter Ring for Shield Tunneling Machine” in Coatings (Manuscript ID: coatings-2530059). We appreciate your valuable comments and suggestions for improvement. For your comments and suggestions, our reply is as follows:

Comment 1

Novelty should be explained well in the last paragraph of Introduction.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have reinterpreted the novelty of the article in the text. The innovation of this article is to use carburizing, nitriding, heat treatment, and laser modification for high-energy composite modification on H13 steel to build a smooth gradient structure.

Comment 2

In Figure 2, 'High-energy composite modified surfacce'. Please correct the letter.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have made new modifications to the image.

Comment 3

Please improve the resolution of all figures, especially for the letters in the figures.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. In the article, we have replaced unclear images with clearer ones.

Comment 4

Enhance the discussion behind the impact toughness, maximum surface layer hardness, hardness distribution. Use literature for comparing and comments for obtained each results.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. In the article, we have re emphasized the discussion of hardness, discussing the distribution characteristics of hardness and the changes in the center in the results and conclusion sections:

When the depth exceeds 1mm, the carbon content of the No.2-No.7 sample is approximately equal to the carbon content of the matrix, and the hardness is about 550HV_0.2.

The H13 steel sample after carburization and laser composite treatment has high surface hardness and impact toughness, with the best overall performance.

The working environment of shield tunneling machine hobs is complex, and this paper is conducted on standard samples in a laboratory environment, which has certain limitations. In future research, the impact of actual service environments will be considered. Especially for the upper soft and lower hard geological rock layers, the high-energy composite modification process of the actual cutting ring is optimized to achieve the optimal comprehensive performance.

Comment 5

For Fig.7, please use SEM images, not optical.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. For the inconsistency between the photo and its introduction, we have ultimately determined that it is an optical photo.The metallographic structures of different sample sections were observed using a VK-X1000k3D laser scanning confocal microscope.

Comment 6

I couldnt see any characterization methods in Materials and Methods section. Microscopy, XRD and etc. Please give all test details here.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. In the text, we have re described the details of the testing instrument.

Comment 7

Fig.9 , Fig 11 and Fig 12 doesnt seem like SEM image, its optical image. Fig.13 is SEM image,yes.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. For the inconsistency between the photo and its introduction, we have ultimately determined that it is an optical photo.The metallographic structures of different sample sections were observed using a VK-X1000k3D laser scanning confocal microscope.

Comment 8

A more comprehensive discussion based on the literature is required when explaining the fracture mechanisms with fracture surface SEM images.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. In the article, we have re summarized and explained the fracture surface:

From the above impact fracture surface, it can be concluded that compared with the surface layer of H13 steel after carburizing or nitriding treatment, the center of the sample has a ductile fracture feature with multiple toughness pits. After carburizing or nitriding, the surface hardness of H13 steel increases, and a small amount of turbulences[30] appear on the fracture surface, resulting in fewer ductile dimples. After laser shock modification[31] of H13 steel, the residual stress on the surface increased, the hardness increased again, and there were numerous turbulences and transgranular-type fractures on the surface layer, presenting cleavage port characteristics.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comment 1 (Previous Comment 2)

For the paper:

Ref. number not upper case

For examble (Line 32)

are often encountered [1].

Response:Thank you for your reminder. We have set the reference symbol to superscript.

The authors did not set the reference symbol to superscript according to the journal's instructions.

Comment 2

Line 101

Figure 1.Shield tunneling machine hob (a)Hob ring of Shield; (b)(c)Stress state of the hob. 

The authors should replace

Figure 1. Shield tunneling machine hob (a) Hob ring of Shield; (b)(c) Stress state of the hob. 

The authors must consider if they use the word "Stress" (maybe Force?)

Comment 3 (Previous Comment 4)

Figure 2

Extended text editing

surfacce, marlensite, matrlx

The authors must increase the visibility of the right Figure (what the circle and square mean?)

Response:We have reinterpreted the figure in the text.In the enlarged image, a square represents the infiltrated carbon particles, and a circle represents the infiltrated nitrogen atoms.

But, the authors did not consider the reviewer's comments:

Major Problem

Line 117

surfacce

Extended text editing.

Comment 4

Extended text editing

Line 122

in Table 1(Data

The authors should replace

in Table 1 (Data

Line 123

in Table 2(Data

The authors should replace

in Table 2 (Data

Lines 151 - 159

The authors must format the text (full alignment).

Line 167

experiment(GB/T 229—2020), where

The authors should replace

experiment (GB/T 229—2020), where

Line 290

sample(Figure 16a). They

The authors should replace

sample (Figure 16a). They

Comment 5

Figures 10, 12, 13, 14 (for a and b only), 15, 16 and 17.

a)Surface b)Core c)Surface d)Core

The authors should replace (insert a space)

a) Surface b) Core c) Surface d) Core

Comment 6

Line 380

Advances in Civil Engineering, 2019, 2019.

2019: two times

Extended text editing

Comment 3 (Previous Comment 4)

Figure 2

Extended text editing

surfacce, marlensite, matrlx

The authors must increase the visibility of the right Figure (what the circle and square mean?)

Response:We have reinterpreted the figure in the text.In the enlarged image, a square represents the infiltrated carbon particles, and a circle represents the infiltrated nitrogen atoms.

But, the authors did not consider the reviewer's comments:

Major Problem

Line 117

surfacce

Extended text editing.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

Thank you for your kind comments on our article “The Effects of High-energy Composite Surface Layer Modification on the Impact Performance of the H13 Steel Cutter Ring for Shield Tunneling Machine” in Coatings (Manuscript ID: coatings-2530059). We appreciate your valuable comments and suggestions for improvement. For your comments and suggestions, our reply is as follows:

Comment 1 (Previous Comment 2)

For the paper:

Ref. number not upper case

For examble (Line 32)are often encountered [1].

Response:Thank you for your reminder. We have set the reference symbol to superscript.

The authors did not set the reference symbol to superscript according to the journal's instructions.

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have changed the format.

Comment 2

Line 101

Figure 1.Shield tunneling machine hob (a)Hob ring of Shield; (b)(c)Stress state of the hob.

The authors should replace

Figure 1. Shield tunneling machine hob (a) Hob ring of Shield; (b)(c) Stress state of the hob.

The authors must consider if they use the word "Stress" (maybe Force?)

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have adopted your suggestion and changed it to 'The force state of the hob'.

Comment 3 (Previous Comment 4)

Figure 2

Extended text editing

surfacce, marlensite, matrlx

The authors must increase the visibility of the right Figure (what the circle and square mean?)

Response:We have reinterpreted the figure in the text.In the enlarged image, a square represents the infiltrated carbon particles, and a circle represents the infiltrated nitrogen atoms.

But, the authors did not consider the reviewer's comments:

Major Problem

Line 117

surfacce

Extended text editing.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have made modifications to the images such as' surface, marlensite, matrlx '

Comment 4

Extended text editing

Line 122

in Table 1(Data

The authors should replace

in Table 1 (Data

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have changed the format.

Line 123

in Table 2(Data

The authors should replace

in Table 2 (Data

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have changed the format.

Lines 151 - 159

The authors must format the text (full alignment).

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have reformatted this part of the text.

Line 167

experiment(GB/T 229—2020), where

The authors should replace

experiment (GB/T 229—2020), where

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have changed the format.

Line 290

sample(Figure 16a). They

The authors should replace

sample (Figure 16a). They

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have changed the format.

Comment 5

Figures 10, 12, 13, 14 (for a and b only), 15, 16 and 17.

a)Surface b)Core c)Surface d)Core

The authors should replace (insert a space)

1. a) Surface b) Core c) Surface d) Core

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have reformatted this part of the text.

Comment 6

Line 380

Advances in Civil Engineering, 2019, 2019.

2019: two times

Extended text editing

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have reformatted this part of the text.

Reviewer 2 Report

-The wrong letter in figure 2 and in the text about 'surfacce' is not corrected. correct it as 'surface'.

- Why the authors not considered to my comments, I dont know. Bad resolutions of figures still. The letters in figures are not clear, hard read. Revise them.  for Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 7.

-I suggest SEM images rather then optical images.

-

Minor checking is need.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

Thank you for your kind comments on our article “The Effects of High-energy Composite Surface Layer Modification on the Impact Performance of the H13 Steel Cutter Ring for Shield Tunneling Machine” in Coatings (Manuscript ID: coatings-2530059). We appreciate your valuable comments and suggestions for improvement. For your comments and suggestions, our reply is as follows:

Comment 1

The wrong letter in figure 2 and in the text about 'surfacce' is not corrected. correct it as 'surface'.

Response: Thank you for your reminder. We have set the reference symbol to superscript.

Comment 2

Why the authors not considered to my comments, I dont know. Bad resolutions of figures still. The letters in figures are not clear, hard read. Revise them.  for Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 7.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. We have replaced Figure 4, Figure 6, and Figure 7.

Comment 3

I suggest SEM images rather then optical images.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion. But we don't think it's right to switch to SEM images. Although some researchers use sem images to discuss the metallographic structure at present, the SEM analysis system is not mature. So we think it is more suitable to use optical metallographic microscope.