Hole drilling method

Abstract: The Incremental Strain, Average Stress, Power Series, and Integral methods are examined as procedures for determining non-uniform residual stress fields using strain relaxation data from the hole drilling method. Some theoretical shortcomings in the Incremental Strain and Average Stress methods are described. It is shown that these two traditional methods are in fact approximations of the Integral Method. Theoretical estimates of the errors involved are presented for various stress fields. Also, some simple transformations of stress and strain variables are introduced so as to decouple the stress/strain equations and simplify the numerical solution.

Abstract: Laser shock processing (LSP) or laser shock peening is a new technique for strengthening metals. This process induces a compressive residual stress field which increases fatigue crack initiation life and reduces fatigue crack growth rate. Specimens of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy are used in this investigation. A convergent lens is used to deliver 1.2 J, 8 ns laser pulses by a Q-switch Nd:YAG laser, operating at 10 Hz. The pulses are focused to a diameter of 1.5 mm onto a water-immersed type aluminum samples. Effect of pulse density in the residual stress field is evaluated. Residual stress distribution as a function of depth is assessed by the hole drilling method. It is observed that the higher the pulse density the larger the zone size with compressive residual stress. Densities of 900, 1350 and 2500 pulses/cm 2 with infrared (1064 nm) radiation are used. Pre-cracked compact tension specimens were subjected to LSP process and then tested under cyclic loading with R = 0.1. Fatigue crack growth rate is determined and the effect of LSP process parameters is evaluated. Fatigue crack growth rate is compared in specimens with and without LSP process. In addition fracture toughness is determined in specimens with and without LSP treatment. It is observed that LSP reduces fatigue crack growth and increases fracture toughness in the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy.

Abstract: Laser shock peening can potentially enhance fatigue life of titanium components by inducing compressive residual stresses in surface layers much deeper than caused by traditional shot peening (SP). In the present study, the high cycle fatigue (HCF) performance of α Ti-alloy Ti–2.5Cu, (α + β) Ti-alloy TIMETAL 54M and the metastable β Ti-alloy TIMETAL LCB was investigated after laser shock peening without coating (LPwC). The fatigue results were interpreted by examining the changes of surface morphology, microhardness and residual stress generated in the surface layer. Furthermore, thermal stability of residual stresses in aged Ti–2.5Cu, as an example, was evaluated after annealing LPwC-treated material at various elevated temperatures and exposure times by applying a Zener–Wert–Avrami approach. The depth profiles of residual stresses were obtained by means of synchrotron X-ray diffraction or by incremental hole drilling method. Results revealed that the HCF performance of Ti–2.5Cu and TIMETAL LCB was markedly improved after LPwC, while it was deteriorated in TIMETAL 54M. Compared to LPwC, better 10 7 fatigue strength of Ti–2.5Cu was obtained after ball-burnishing (BB). Moreover, LPwC-induced residual stresses are thermally more stable than shot peening-induced ones.