Effect of severe shot peening on ultra-high-cycle fatigue of a low-alloy steel

It is well known that shot peening is able to increase the fatigue strength and endurance of metal parts, especially with a steep stress gradient due to a notch. This positive effect is mainly put into relation with the ability of this treatment to induce a compressive residual stress state in the surface layer of material and to cause surface work hardening. Recently the application of severe shot peening (shot peening performed with severe treatment parameters) showed the ability to obtain more a remarkable improvement of the high cycle fatigue strength of steels. In this paper severe shot peening is applied to the steel 50CrMo4 and its effect in the ultra-high cycle fatigue regime is investigated. Roughness, microhardness, X-ray diffraction residual stress analysis and crystallite size measurement as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations were used for characterizing the severely deformed layer. Tension–compression high frequency fatigue tests were carried out to evaluate the effect of the applied treatment on fatigue life in the ultra-high cycle region. Fracture surface analysis by using SEM was performed with aim to investigate the mechanism of fatigue crack initiation and propagation. Results show an unexpected significant fatigue strength increase in the ultra-high cycle region after SSP surface treatment and are discussed in the light of the residual stress profile and crystallite size.     

Experimental results in fretting fatigue with shot and laser peened Al 7075-T651 specimens

This work focuses on determining the effect of shot and laser peening on fretting fatigue in the Al 7075-T651 alloy. These surface treatments generate a residual compressive stress field near the treated surface where contact under fretting fatigue produces high stress levels. The fretting fatigue resistance of shot and laser peened specimens was assessed in a series of tests involving measurements of the residual stress field, residual stress relaxation under the action of cyclic loads, the friction coefficient, surface roughness and material hardness. The obtained results are compared with those for untreated specimens. The tests show the beneficial effect of the compressive residual stresses and the improvement that surface roughness causes in fretting fatigue life, especially in shot peened specimens. Another important effect observed, is the partial residual stress relaxation produced during the fretting fatigue tests.     

Fatigue strength of shot-peened nitrided steel: optimization of process parameters by means of design of the experiment

ABSTRACT There is a general interest in increasing the fatigue strength of materials. Shot‐peening and nitriding are the two processes commonly used in order to increase the fatigue strength of steel‐notched components. These two processes are often used separately. The effect of a combination of both processes has not been thoroughly investigated so far. The purpose of the present investigation was two‐fold: first, the authors verified whether further improvements can be achieved by a combination of the two treatments; second, the optimal process parameters were determined in order to obtain the maximal increase in fatigue strength. Fatigue tests were conducted on unnotched and notched nitrided and shot‐peened 32CrMoV13 steel specimens. Several process variables were tested. Tests were designed based on the criteria of the Design of the Experiment (DOE). Three‐level experiments were used in order to determine the optimal set of process parameters. It was found that the combination of nitriding and shot‐peening could be applied successfully in order to increase the fatigue limit when extreme performance is sought in notched components.     

Effect of surface properties on high cycle fatigue behaviour of shot peened ductile steel

Abstract

Experimental investigations into shot peened ductile steel have been carried out, applying three surface finishing conditions: as machined, standard shot peening using 100% coverage and severe shot peening with 1000% coverage (high exposure time). The properties of the shot peened surfaces were examined and characterised, and specimens were then submitted to three point bending tests. The fatigue limit was determined for each case. In this way, the dependence of fatigue behaviour on initial surface finishing properties was determined, and a relationship is suggested to describe and correlate fatigue limits with initial surface properties. A phenomenological approach is proposed to characterise and to correlate qualitatively and quantitatively the influence of local shot peened surface properties on fatigue limit of treated specimens. The Crossland multiaxial failure high cycle fatigue criterion is used in this approach to model the influence of each surface property.     

Shot peening of plasma nitrided steel for fretting fatigue strength enhancement

Abstract

The potential of fretting fatigue strength enhancement by a duplex surface engineering process involving shot peening of plasma nitrided steel, termed duplex SP/PN, is demonstrated. Specimens of 709M40 steel were individually plasma nitrided, shot peened, or duplex SP/PN treated. Fretting fatigue properties of the surface engineered specimens were evaluated. Surface roughness, residual stress, and hardening effect following the various surface treatments were examined and compared. It has been found that the duplex treatment can significantly improve the fretting fatigue strength of the investigated low alloy steel. Under the present testing conditions, the duplex SP/PN treatment increased the fretting fatigue strength (at 10⁷ cycles) of 709M40 steel by more than 70% relative to the nitrided, 120% to the shot peened, and 500% to the untreated steel. The improvement has been explained in terms of the significantly increased surface hardness and compressive residual stress in the near surface region following the duplex SP/PN treatment. By analysing the stress distributions in a shot peened surface, the influence of surface roughness on fretting fatigue strength is also discussed.     

A stress approach model for predictions of fatigue life by shot peening of EN45A spring steel

A lot of research has been done to improve fatigue strength of materials by creating compressive residual stress field in their surface layers through shot peening. In this paper, fatigue strength of shot peened leaf springs has been calculated from laboratory samples. The axial fatigue strength of EN45A spring steel specimen is evaluated experimentally as a function of shot peening in the conditions used for full-scale leaf springs testing in industries. Optimum shot peening condition for specimen is found and S/N curves of the specimens are correlated with leaf springs curve. A mathematical model has been developed which predicts the fatigue life of leaf springs for a given stress at varying shot peening conditions. Predictions from this model are compared with experimental data. The estimation of fatigue life and relaxation of compressive residual stress field are discussed.     

Fatigue assessment and failure analysis of shot‐peened leaf springs

The paper deals with the fatigue and failure analysis of serial shot‐peened leaf springs of heavy trucks emphasizing on the influence of thermal treatment and shot peening on fatigue life. Experimental stress–life curves are determined by investigating smooth specimens subjected to fully reversed rotating bending conditions. These test results are compared to corresponding ones determined from cyclic three‐point bend tests on shot‐peened serial leaf springs in order to reveal the influence of the applied thermal treatment and shot peening process on the fatigue life of the high‐strength steel used for leaf spring manufacturing, dependent on the load level. Microstructure, macro‐ and micro‐hardness analyses are performed to support the analyses and explain the effects resulting from the certain shot peening process on the surface properties of the high‐strength spring steel under investigation. The assessment of the fatigue results reveals nearly no life improvement due to the manufacturing, emphasizing the necessity for mutual adjustment of shot peening and thermal treatment parameters to take account for life improvement.     

Low cycle fatigue life prediction in shot‐peened components of different geometries—part I: residual stress relaxation

In this study, the residual stress relaxation behaviour occurring during low‐cycle fatigue in shot‐peened specimens with either a flat or a notched geometry has been studied. A representative low‐pressure steam turbine material, FV448, was used. The residual stress and strain hardening profiles caused by shot peening were measured experimentally and were then incorporated into a finite element model. By allowing for both effects of shot peening, the residual stress relaxation behaviour was successfully simulated using this model and correlated well with the experimental data. Although more modelling work may be required to simulate the interaction between shot peening effects and external loads in a range of notched geometries, the model predictions are consistent with the specimens tested in the current study. The novelty of this study lies in the development of such a modelling approach which can be used to effectively simulate the complex interaction between shot peening effects and external loads in notched regions. Compared with the un‐notched geometry, the notched geometry was found to be more effective in retaining the improvement in fatigue life resulting from shot peening, by restricting the compressive residual stress relaxation during fatigue loading.     

Short‐crack thresholds and propagation in an AISI 4340 steel under the effect of SP residual stresses

The effect of residual stresses induced by shot‐peening in a high‐strength AISI 4340 steel has been studied with the purpose of deriving a consistent fatigue model incorporating the results of fatigue crack growth experiments in the threshold region for a broad range of load ratio (R‐ratio ranging from ?2.5 to 0.7), and the effect of short cracks by means of a modified El‐Haddad model. The proposed model, taking into account the effect of crack closure and being capable to assess the conditions for fatigue propagation of short cracks partially embedded in the shot‐peened surface layer, was validated against constant amplitude fatigue experiments conducted in the endurance strength region, ie, for fatigue lives up to 10⁷ cycles, with micronotched specimens in the presence of shot‐peening residual stresses. The proposed model was also validated by comparing the results of fatigue crack propagation simulations with fatigue crack growth experiments under variable amplitude loading, experimentally reproducing the combined effect of service fatigue loads and shot‐peening residual stresses.     

Effect of laser peening on fatigue performance in 300M steel

This study investigated and quantified the ability of laser peening to extend fatigue life and mitigate common fatigue crack nucleation mechanisms including foreign object damage and stress corrosion cracking in high strength, 300M steel. Residual stress was measured and fatigue tests were completed for as‐machined, shot peened and laser peened coupons tested under a variety of conditions including in a corrosive environment and with simulated foreign object damage. The results are compared to available reference data studying the application of another emerging surface treatment, low plasticity burnishing, to the same material (300M steel) and in similar coupons. Laser peening resulted in large stress‐life improvements in each condition, with a 54% increase in fatigue strength in an air environment for laser peened coupons at a lifetime of one million cycles. Additional fatigue testing in the 300M program showed that laser peening mitigated fatigue strength losses and improved the lifetimes (relative to as‐machined, air environment) for coupons subject to either a corrosive environment or simulated FOD. Performance of laser peened coupons under all conditions proved to be better than reference data for coupons treated with shot peening or low plasticity burnishing.     

Influence of residual stresses from shot peening on fretting fatigue crack growth

One method to improve fretting fatigue life is to shot peen the contact surfaces. Experimental fretting life results from specimens in a Titanium alloy with and without shot peened surfaces were evaluated numerically. The residual stresses were measured at different depths below the fretting scar and compared to the corresponding residual stress profile of an unfretted surface. Thus, the amount of stress relaxation during fretting tests was estimated. Elastic–plastic finite element computations showed that stress relaxation was locally more significant than that captured in the measurements. Three different numerical fatigue crack growth models were compared. The best agreement between experimental and numerical fatigue lives for both peened and unpeened specimens was achieved with a parametric fatigue growth procedure that took into consideration the growth behaviour along the whole front of a semi‐elliptical surface crack. Furthermore, the improved fretting fatigue life from shot peening was explained by slower crack growth rates in the shallow surface layer with compressive residual stresses from shot peening. The successful life analyses hinged on three important issues: an accurate residual stress profile, a sufficiently small start crack and a valid crack growth model.     

Increased fatigue strength of partially stabilised zirconia achieved by shot peening

The effects of shot peening (SP) on the fatigue strength of partially stabilised zirconia were studied. Smooth specimens and specimens containing a surface pre-crack with depths in the range 35–110?μm were subjected to SP. The cyclic fatigue tests were performed using a three-point bending setup. SP introduced compressive residual stresses on the specimens and improved their fatigue strengths. The shot peened specimens with pre-crack depths?≤?50?μm fractured outside the pre-crack area and exhibited considerably high fatigue limits, equivalent to those of the shot peened smooth specimens. Therefore, the pre-cracks with depths?≤?50?μm could be rendered harmless by SP, which was confirmed by the theoretical estimations based on fracture mechanics.     

Influence of shot peening parameters on high‐cycle fatigue strength of steel produced by powder metallurgy process

In this study, the effect of shot peening parameters on fatigue strength of steel manufactured by powder metallurgy (PM) was investigated. Steel material obtained from Höganas ASC 100.29 in chemical composition of Fe–0.5% C–2% Cu was produced by using a single action press PM process. To determine the effect of shot peening parameters on fatigue performance, fatigue tests were performed on 20 unpeened and 80 shot‐peened samples, which were machined from sintered steel. Furthermore, shot‐peened samples were peened at different peening intensities, 100% and 200% saturation and full coverage conditions. Fatigue performance of steel, produced by PM process, was improved by surface peening process. For the studied PM steel, the best fatigue performance was obtained with the samples that were shot peened at 20 Almen intensity and 100% saturation. Fatigue strength and limit of the samples, however, were reduced after a certain cold work level. Higher intensity and saturation levels of peening process thus deteriorated the beneficial effect on fatigue strength and limit.     

AN ANALYSIS OF STRESS CONCENTRATIONS CAUSED BY SHOT PEENING AND ITS APPLICATION IN PREDICTING FATIGUE STRENGTH

Abstract— In order to calculate the stress concentration caused by shot-peening dents, three simplified models, namely a one-pit model, a seven-pit model and a pit-loop model, are proposed in this paper. By using a finite element program for automatic dynamic incremental non-linear analysis, the stress concentration coefficients based on these models are calculated for different pit parameters and different stress fields. When considering the stress concentration and residual stress field produced by shot peening, a modified Goodman formula is proposed and used for forecasting the fatigue strength of peened specimens having the fatigue sources at the surface. The forecasted results were verified by peening followed by fatigue tests on 40Cr steel.     

Effects of shot peening on fatigue properties of 0Cr13Ni8Mo2Al steel

Abstract

The influence of shot peening on the fatigue properties of 0Cr13Ni8Mo2Al steel has been studied. Changes in surface roughness, surface topography and residual compressive stress field were determined by experiments. The experimental results show that shot peening improves the fatigue property and the fatigue crack sources are pushed to the region beneath the hardened layer. Low Almen intensities should be used when 0Cr13Ni8Mo2Al steel is shot peened because of its sensitiveness to the surface roughness.     

Low cycle fatigue life prediction in shot‐peened components of different geometries – part II: life prediction

This study investigates the effects of shot peening on the low‐cycle fatigue performance of a low‐pressure steam turbine blade material. The finite element model incorporating shot‐peening effects, which has been introduced in part I, has been used to predict the stabilised stress/strain state in shot‐peened samples during fatigue loading. The application of this model has been extended to different notched geometries in this study. Based on the modelling results, both the Smith–Watson–Topper and Fatemi–Socie critical plane fatigue criteria have been used to predict the fatigue life of shot‐peened samples (treated with two different peening intensities) with varying notched geometries. A good agreement between experiments and predictions was obtained. The application of a critical distance method considering the stress and strain hardening gradients near the shot‐peened surface has been found to improve the life prediction results. The effects of surface defects on the accuracy of life predictions using the proposed method were also discussed.     

Improvement of spring fatigue strength by new warm stress double shot peening process

Abstract

Shot peening technology plays a very important role in improving the fatigue strength of springs. In the present paper a new warm stress double shot peening (WSDSP) process developed by the authors is described. The authors have previously proposed a warm stress shot peening (WSSP) process, which is a combination of warm shot peening (WSP) and stress shot peening (SSP). Double shot peening (DSP) has been the method employed most widely for improved fatigue strength to date. The fatigue strengths resulting from these shot peening processes are compared in the present work. The new WSDSP process leads to significant improvement of spring fatigue strength because it includes an additional shot peening stage with small shot size (0.2 mm dia.), elevated temperature (300°C), and stressed condition (735 MPa), all not found in WSSP. After 300 000 cycles, the standard required life span, WSDSP results in a fatigue strength as high as 735 ± 590 MPa. In comparison, DSP gives a fatigue strength of 735 ± 300 MPa and WSSP of 735 ± 500 MPa. The WSDSP treated material gives the highest performance because the use of small shot size for the additional warm stress shot peening increases the compressive residual stress and hardness near the surface, and decreases the surface roughness.     

激光喷丸强化对半圆孔件疲劳寿命的影响

为研究激光喷丸强化对7075-T6铝合金半圆孔件疲劳寿命的影响,对激光喷丸与未喷丸的试样进行了对比试验,利用X射线应力仪测定其表面残余应力,并对试样进行疲劳拉伸试验.用扫描电镜观察了两类试样疲劳断口的形貌,并采用数理统计方法对其疲劳寿命进行分析.研究表明:经激光喷丸处理区域,表面存在较大的残余压应力,幅值为310 MPa;未喷丸试样疲劳裂纹条带的宽度为0.7~0.8μm,而喷丸试样疲劳裂纹条带的宽度为0.3~0.4μm,说明喷丸试样裂纹扩展的速度比未喷丸试样慢很多;激光喷丸后半圆孔件的疲劳寿命比未喷丸的疲劳寿命提高了2.8~7.2倍.     

Influence of shot peening on fatigue durability of normalized steel subjected to variable amplitude loading

The influence of shot peening on the fatigue durability of normalized carbon steels subjected to variable amplitude loading has been investigated. The relaxation of residual stresses was recorded during the fatigue life time. Strain amplitude spectra were extracted from real spectra recorded from components in service. The results were compared with data achieved from constant amplitude testing. In both types of tests parallel studies were made on both peened and unpeened specimens. Shot peening leads to pronounced increase in life time, especially for smaller amplitudes. For both variable and constant amplitude loading shot peened specimens exhibit longer life provided the residual stresses during fatigue loading do not relax more than to about 60% of their initial value. To get an improvement in life time of at least a factor two for peened specimens, the stress amplitude in constant amplitude loading or the maximum stress amplitude in variable amplitude history must not be more than 20% larger than the magnitude of the initial residual stresses. This limit corresponds to 1.2 times the yield strength of the unaffected material.     

Crack incubation in shot peened AA7050 and mechanism for fatigue enhancement

Shot peening is a dynamic cold‐working process involving the impingement of peening media onto a substrate surface. Shot peening is commonly used as a surface treatment technique within the aerospace industry during manufacturing to improve fatigue performance of structural components. The compressive residual stress induced during shot peening results in fatigue crack growth retardation, improving the performance of shot‐peened components. However, shot peening is a compromise between the benefit of inducing a compressive residual stress and causing detrimental surface damage. Because of the relatively soft nature of AA7050‐T7451, shot peening can result in cracking of the constituent precipitate particles, creating an initial damage state. The aim of this paper is to understand the balance and fundamentals of these competing phenomena through a comparative study throughout the fatigue lifecycle of baseline versus shot‐peened AA7050‐T7451. Microstructure and surface topology characterization and comparison of the baseline and shot‐peened AA7050‐T7451 has been performed using scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and optical profilometry techniques. A residual stress analysis through interrupted fatigue of the baseline and shot‐peened AA7050‐T7451 was completed using a combination of X‐ray diffraction and nanoindentation. The fatigue life performance of the baseline versus shot‐peened material has been evaluated, including crack initiation and propagation. Subsurface particles crack upon shot peening but did not incubate into the matrix during fatigue loading, presumably due to the compressive residual stress field. In the baseline samples, the particles were initially intact, but upon fatigue loading, crack nucleation was observed in the particles, and these cracks incubated into the matrix. In damage tolerant analysis, an initial defect size is needed for lifetime assessment, which is often difficult to determine, leading to overly conservative evaluations. This work provides a critical assessment of the mechanism for shot peening enhancement for fatigue performance and quantifies how incubation of a short crack is inhibited from an initially cracked particle into the matrix within a residual stress field.