Prediction and Measurement of Residual Stresses Arising From Quenching of Stainless Steels

This paper presents results from an experimental and numerical study examining the creation of highly triaxial residual stresses in stainless steel. This was motivated by a need to model and understand creep in aged power plant. The residual stresses were introduced by rapid spray water quenching of heated solid stainless steel spheres and cylinders. Finite element (FE) simulations predicted high compressive residual stresses around the surface of the specimens and tensile residual stresses near the centre. Surface residual stresses were measured using the incremental centre-hole drilling (ICHD) technique. Neutron diffraction (ND) was used to measure the interior residual stresses. The measurements were in good agreement with FE predictions. The ND measurements confirmed that a highly triaxial residual stress state existed in the core of the specimens.