Residual Stress Measurement in an Ultrasonic Peened Specimen

Plastic deformation from peening induces a compressive residual stress on the treated surface which provides resistance to metal fatigue. Hence, peening is often used to extend the fatigue lives of welded components by reducing the effective tensile residual stress. This paper describes the influence of ultrasonic peening on the residual stress. For this study a four point plastically bent beam specimen, similar to the reeling process, was used. The specimen was made from 50D steel a material often used in offshore structural components. The residual stresses in the specimen were measured before ultrasonic peening with 5 different measurement techniques. After the ultrasonic peening treatment the residual stress was measured using the Incremental centre hole drilling and the ring core techniques. Measurements were carried within the homogeneously bent section location as well as outside. In order to see the variation of the results influenced by the gauge volume, strain gauges of three different sizes were used to provide results within 0.5mm, 1mm and 2mm depth. The measurements show that the ultrasonic peening surface treatment carried out induced high compressive residual stresses up to 2mm deep inside the specimen. Finally a compendium of residual stress profiles using different peening processes and materials is presented and discussed.