Finite element modeling of burnishing of AISI 1042 steel

The aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of surface roughness finished by burnishing. Burnishing is done on a surface that was initially turned or turned and then ground. In a previous work, we have defined an analytical model to determine the R_t factor of burnished surfaces in relation to the feed f, the material displacement δ and the roughness R_ti of the initial surface. δ has been calculated using the Hertz contact theory which supposes that the behavior of the workpiece material is elastic. Hence, in this paper, we have defined a finite element model in which the elasto-plastic behavior of the piece is taken into account to determine the material displacement δ. This model has also permitted the calculation of the residual stresses related to the macroscopic contact geometry. Good correlations have been found between experimental and finite element results when burnishing an AISI 1042 steel.