Correlation of Almen arc height lNith residual stresses in

shot peening process

w. Cao, R. Fathallah, and L. Castex

The deformations of shot peened Almen strips constrained on Almen blocks with increasing shot peening time, and their
subsequent changes after the fixing screws are removed, are experimentally investigated and modelled. Deflection of the
constrained Almen strips appears, principally in the transverse direction, as soon as the first passes of peening are applied. The
curvatures and the residual stress change with increasing peening time. Removing the screws results in a significant deflection
and a great relaxation of residual stress in the longitudinal direction only. A model is proposed to calculate the deformation and
the residual stresses in the constrained and free strips. A new problem arises in the evaluation and interpretation of the Almen
intensity scale. MST/3113

© 1995 The Institute of Materials. Manuscript received 6 August 1994; in final form 21 November 1994. The authors are at
the MecaSurf Laboratory, Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers, Aix-en-Provence, France.

The Almen intensity is an important parameter in the

Introduction control of the shot peening process. Common industry
and military specifications for shot peening rely on a
Shot peening has been recognised as a mechanical surface form of the Almen test strip system (Almen system) as
treatment to enhance fatigue performance of materials, the current measure of process effectiveness. Processes so
primarily owing to residual compressive stresses and defined are often referred to as 'controlled shot peening',
superficial hardening. Experimental investigations show or 'microprocessor controlled shot peening'.l0
that shot peening is effective in enhancing fatigue resistance The Almen system (Fig. la-c) essentially consists of three
to tensile, bending, and torsion loads, as well as to contact elements (SAE J442 standard): standardised strips of spring
fatigue and stress corrosion cracking.1-4 steel (SAE 1070) in three different thicknesses (Almen
Engineers are interested in quantifying the effects of strips); holding fixtures on which the Almen strips are fixed
various process parameters on peened parts, e.g. the degree by means of four round he'ad screws with nuts (Almen
of hardening of materials and the values and distribution blocks); and a modified depth gauge that reads the arc
of the induced residual stresses.4,5 Some recent work6,7 was height in the peened Almen strip (Almen gauge). The entire
aimed at modelling the residual stress field induced by shot Almen fixture (strip and block) is peened for a time period,
peening, to predict the behaviour of the peened parts under defined by the number of passes of the nozzle which
actual service conditions, e.g. relaxation of the initial oscillates over a distance just greater than the Almen strip
residual stresses and fatigue life of the parts, and hence at length (Fig. la), and then removed from the Almen block.
future optimisation of the process parameters involved in Flexing of the strip occurs (Fig. Ib). The arc height is then
shot peening.1,4,8,9 measured by the Almen gauge (Fig. Ie). Using new Almen
strips, the process is repeated over increasing time periods.
The arc height is plotted as a function of the peening time
and a saturation curve is obtained (Fig. Id). If, by doubling
~- ~r=75±0'375~~~b /~:~;~~m the time of exposure, the arc height does not increase by
PEENING N STRIP , 1·275±

NOUlE,---- :: A STRIF ::=====~====== 0,025 mm

more than 100/0, the corresponding peening time T is

,ro-L ,U· CSrRIP::~=--=--=--=--_-,~ ~:~~~~m

,

:~j,v""rs"'EA"""""IRIP' "'i~~~ Process parameters

r-------------'I
Q.,

AlMEN TEST STRIP

1 I
~
I
I
Shot type. sizc. dcnsily I
I
~
"C
c
.e;
: I-A-i-r-j)('-cs-su-rc-' ----.1 : ~c:
1 I 0
: Nozzlc/target dislanl:c : U

(a)
I
I: 1 11: 1-'- ~ til
Vl
Nozzle sizc , 0
I I ~
-;
: Anglc of impingcmcnl : ::l
for a given shot specification I I
~~
: I-E-'X-P-os-'uI-'c-ti-m-c--' :
~
~~~
"'0

!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,! Target parameters
0
___ ( ::::::-:-::-:-:: _ :-Z-lO%increase Thil'kncss of thc ~
"..::\

Almen strip E
I
.s
-.-
I
0
I
Mcchankal/cyclic a
I
I properlics of
I the strip matcrial
I
I
I
I

T 2T
(d) exposure time

a-c schematic diagram of Almen ,system and 2 Parameters involved in arc height of peened Almen
d saturation curve and Almen intensity strip

Materials Science and Technology September 1995 Vol. 11 967

968 Cao et a/. Almen arc height and residual stresses in shot peening

(a) 5000

~ 80 o
~ 60 lotallcngl.h of strip = 67.2 mm "" Constrained Free
~ "" Longitudinal
6 40
,g
4000 "" --0-- -.-
Posilionof lhc ~CfCW Position of (he screw
"" Transverse - - 6.- - -....-
~ 20 ""
Jj ""
I5
.•.•

20 40 60 ".•.• .•.•
Lcngth (mm) 3000
"'0-

£ 80 1-
(b)
((l_t:lI_W_idl_h <_Jf_Slf_ip_= _18_.9_JnI_11 ~
I
o
-- 0

:::l
8 60 •• v~\rvt .•"'VW1A.. 1 __

~ . ~V1'i-' ··WVV\.\t~.j, ~ 2000

§ 40 .JtN •••.
~ ~ •.••
'\\.\\... " I

.=:
~ 20 {'".tlt'
• ",:1,t.,
;g 1'.

1000 \________ ••
10 15 20

a longitudinal direction; b transverse direction

Width (Jlllll)

---:-----------;
3 Recorded surface profiles for peened Almen strip
constrained on Almen block after 80 passes 20 40 60 80 100

Number of passes

4 Radii of curvature of constrained and free Almen

defined as the saturation time and the ar.c height at T is strips with increasing number of passes (shot
defined as the Almen intensity. 0355-420, Almen intensity 8A, angle = 90 0
)

Integration of numerous process parameters involved in

shot peening is a major advantage of the Almen method.8
Careful analysis of the measurement process of the Almen For both the constrained and free strips, the radii of
arc height leads to classification of the involved parameters curvature r were then obtained from the central sections of
into process and target parameters (Fig. 2). the recorded profiles. In Fig. 4 the radii of curvature are
Process parameters are related to the realisation con- plotted as a function of the number of passes and the
ditions of shot peening. They determine completely the variations after the fixing screws are removed can be
incoming velocity of shots (absolute value and projection observed.
direction), the exposure time, 'and in consequence the total
kinetic energy produced by the process. A number of
experiments have been r.eported in an attempt to understand RESIDUAL STRESS IN CONSTRAINED STRIPS
the effects of some of the process parameters.l1-13 An X-ray diffraction instrument SET-X was used to analyse
Target parameters refer to the thickness of the Almen the residual stresses. Measurement .•was always performed
strip, the mechanical and cyclic properties of the strip
material, and the fixing system of the Almen strip on the
Almen block. The authors are interested in studying the
200 (a)
influence of the target parameters on the measured Almen Depth (mm)
arc height and particularly in the present work, in observing C"' 0.1 0.2 _0.3
the deformation of. the Almen strips and the correlation IS a
between the Almen intensity and the induced residual z
stresses. 6
.!:i -200
"0
.,'
~C
:.a ,.o·'fo.
,
.~ -400
Experimental procedure and results eo
c
_.iJ· - 2 passes
.9 --*-- 12 passes
.5 -600
SPECIMEN AND SHOT PEENING V)
cG
- -0- - 48 pw.;scs

Standard Almen strips of type A (1'29 mm in thickness) -M-- 80 passes

were used (Fig. 1). A particular peening medium, in the -800

size range 355-420 J.Lmand denoted Q355-420, was sieved Depth (mm)
200 (b)
to be within the size range of the standard SllO shot. The
selected exposure time was from 2 to 80 passes. The angle 0.1 0.3
of impingement was 90°. f"'o.I
C"' 0
I

The saturation curve of the Q355-420 shot was first S

established experimentally. It was found to be very close
z
6 200
to the saturation curve of the standard Sl10 shots. :.a
l-<

~
~ -400
MEASUREMENT OF DEFORMATION OF ~c . -·0· . 2 passes

CONSTRAINED AND FREE STRIPS § --*-- 12 passes

.5 -600 - -0- - 48 passes
The measurements were performed on the constrained and V)
~ ~ 80passcs
free strips peened using 2, 12,48, and 80 passes. The peened
surfaces of the strips were palpated by means of a surface -800
profilometer. Surface profiles were recorded along the a longitudinal direction; b transverse direction
longitudinal and transverse directions. Figure 3 shows the 5 Depth distribution of residual stresses with increasing
surface profiles for the constrained strip peened with number of passes in constrained Almen strips (shot
80 passes. 0355-420, Almen intensity 8A)

Materials Science and Technology September 1995 Vol. 11

 CaD et al. Almen arc height and residual stresses in shot peening 969

200 DcpUl(mm)
/r---I:s:--A.
non-equilibrated peened face
0.1 0.2'
_-0
OJ
a
,
,.
,J!,,
, d
{JJ.5~_ 'cr~r __ Zc

f' -200 , I,'

S J!,
Z ,~6 (a)
6, -400 A'
II

v.I
~ ',6
Constrained frce
-600
- -0 - longi. -.-. longi.
- ~ - . trans. --.6-- trans.
-ROO

6 Depth distribution of longitudinal and transverse

residual stresses (RS) in constrained and free Almen
strips after 48 passes (shot 0355-420, Almen
intensity 8A)

in the centre of the strips. For the free strips, only the
specimen peened with 48 passes was analysed. In each (e) (f)
k'}}{"! Stress directly produced hy shol peening
instance, the depth distribution of residual stresses was
~ Stress produced by equilibIium forces/moments
obtained by successive electrolytic removal of layers of
material. No correction of the residual stresses owing to ~·(z) residual stresses associated with induced plastic strains (where
material removal was performed. The measurement errors j ~ x, V); ZC affected depth; (J residual stress (superscripts e and ne
denote equilibrated and non-equilibrated distributions respectively,
are in all instances < 5%. subscripts 1, 2, and i denote number of passes, and superscript b
The depth distributions of longitudinal and transverse denotes bending moment)
residual stresses in the constrained strips shot peened with 8 Deformation procedure of constrained Almen strips
an increasing number of passes are presented in Fig. 5. with increasing number of passes
Figure 6 shows the longitudinal and transverse residual
stresses in the constrained and free strips, after peening
for 48 passes.
strained Almen strips peened with other shots and other
numbers of passes. The longitudinal radius of curvatur~ is
Discussion plotted in Fig. 7 as a function of the transverse radIus,
giving a linear relationship. .
DEFORMATION AND RESIDUAL STRESSES IN
Depth distributions of residual stresses change wIth
CONSTRAINED STRIPS
increasing number of peening passes (Fig. 5). The following
features can be summarised in:
Synclastic deflection occurs for the peened strips in the (i) a: near surface zone «0,08 mm) - the residual
constrained state, as shown by the recorded surface profiles compressive stresses increase with the number of
(Fig. 3). The degree of the deflection in both longitudinal peening passes (2-12 passes), then decrease slightly
and transverse directions increases continuously with an (12-48 passes), and finally stabilise for the remaining
increasing number of passes and tends to stabilise for a passes; it is interesting to note that 12 peening pas'ses
large number of passes (Fig. 4). It is important to note that corresponds reasonably well with the saturation time
the degree of deflection is much greater in the transverse on the saturation curve of the Q355-420 shot
direction than in the longitudinal direction, a phenomenon (ii) a deeper zone (> 0·08 mm) - the residual compressive
confirmed by all of the peened constrained strips. It can be stresses and their affected depth continuously increase
deduced that the fixing screws are much more effective with the number of peening passes and tend to
against deflection of the strip in the longitudinal direction stabilise for a higher number of passes, (> 48).
than in the transverse direction. The residual stresses in the two directions are almost
To study the ratio of radius of curvature in the two identical in near surface layers « 0·12 mm), which differs
directions, measurements were performed on more con- from the observation of the curvatures. However in deeper
layers, the transverse stress (algebraic values) becomes
8000 greater than the longitudinal stress. This was confirmed by
S experiments using different numbers of passes.
,5
8
,
:::l
c:a 6000
:::l
U DEFORMATION AND RESIDUAL STRESS IN
'0
t/)
:::l 4000 FREE STRIPS
:0
~ After removing the strips from the Almen blocks, a
~ significant deflection occurs in the longitudinal direction of
:a= 2000 the strips and the longitudinal radii of curvature decrease
.::
~8J
considerably (Fig. 4). In contrast, in the transverse direction
.3= the transverse radii of curvature increase slightly. It can be
0 concluded from this phenomenon that the bending moment
200 400 600 800 1000
in the transverse direction is very small or even zero and
Transvcrsc radius of curvature (mm) that only a longitudinal bending moment provokes a
7 Longitudinal versus transverse ratio of radius of deflection of the strip. At the final state, the degree of
curvature for constrained Almen strips (shot deflection remains greater in the transverse direction than
0355-420, Almen intensity 8A) in the longitudinal direction (Fig. 4).

Materials Science and Technology September 1995 Vol. 11

970 Cao et al. Almen arc height and residual stresses in shot peening

thickness of the strip respectively. Figure 9 shows all the

forces applied to the shot peened strip fixed on the Almen
block. The effect of the fixing screws is represented by a
force Pl which depends on the number of passes and
produces a supplementary moment in the longitudinal
direction. U sing the elastic theory for combined pure
bending in two perpendicular directions,16 the curvatures
are given by

~ = 12 Mlx+bPl-vMly
. . . . . . . . (4a)
'lx . EH3

Fj normal forces and _Mj bending moments; P force representing ~ = 12 M1y - V(M~x + bpl) . . . . . . . . (4b)
effect of fixing screws
'ly EH .
9 Schematic diagram of forces exerted on peened strip
where E and v are, respectively, the Young's modulus and
Poisson's ratio of the strip material, b is the distance
The corresponding change is that the values of residual between the screw and the end of the strip (see Fig. 9),
stress in the longitudinal direction decrease, while those in Pl represents an equivalent linear distribution of the screw
the transverse direction are fairly invariable (Fig. 6). force P1 along the width of the strip and is simply equal to
P1/(width of strip). As the screw force depends on the initial
fixing force when mounting the strip on the Almen block,
Modelling residual stresses and and the mechanical properties of the strip material and the
Almen arc height screw material, it is very difficult to determine its value
precisely. From the experimental results shown in Fig. 7, a
ratio of radius of curvature is defined as
Based on experimental observations, a model is proposed
to calculate the deformation and the residual stress, as a 'lx
{3 = - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5)
function of the number of passes, for the Alme:p. strips 'ly
constrained on the blocks. The deformation, stress, and
final arc height of the Almen strips after the fixing screws where {3is a constant independent of the number of passes.
are removed can also be calculated from the model. From equations (4a), (4b), and (5)
(M1y - vM1x) - {3(M1x- vM1y)
DEFORMATION OF CONSTRAINED Pl = ({3 + v)b . . . . . . (6)
ALMEN STRIPS
The stresses induced by normal forces (Tn are given by
A deformation model of the constrained Almen strip with
an increasing number of passes is schematically presented
in Fig. 8. Before shot peening, the strip is considered to be (7)
perfectly flat.
and those by the bending moments O"b are given by
First peening pass
The impacts of shots produce biaxial plastic deformations b _
(Tlx - 12
Mlx + bPl
H3
(!i _ )
2 z . . (8a)
to a certain depth. An existing theoretical model14,15
calculates the depth distribution of plastic strains for
specified shot peening conditions. It is based on the Hertz (T b
ly
= 12-
3
MH (H)--z
2
1y
. . . . . . . . . . (8b)
theory of elastic contact between a sphere and a semi-
infinite body, assuming that the material is subjected to Finally, the equilibrated residual stresses (Te after the first
cyclic loading and its mechanical state becomes stable peening pass are calculated by
under the repetitive impacts of shots. The residual stresses
associated with the induced plastic strains ~j(z), (j = x, y O"ij = (T~j + (T~j + O"t. . . . . . . . . . . . (9)
refers to the longitudinal and transverse directions, respect-
The plastic criterion must be respected in this calculation.
ively) can be obtained by using the elastic relationship
The equilibrated stress distribution is schematically pre-
between the strains and stresses. The non-equilibrated
sented in Fig. 8. It can be seen that the deflection effect
distribution of residual stresses (Tne in the section of the
results in a decrease of the residual compressive stresses
strip is expressed by (Fig. 8a)
initially induced by shot peening, ~j (z), especially in a near
surface zone.
O"~j = {~j(Z) Z ~ Zc . . . . . . . . . (1)
o Z > Zc
Second peening pass
where the subscript refers to the number of peening passes As the curved strip is peened by subsequent passes, 'stress
and Zc is the affected depth. The non-equilibrated state is peening' takes place.17 Obtaining precise solutions to this
virtually an intermediate state. To reach an equilibrium problem will involve complex elastic-plastic calculations
state, an elongation and a deflection of the strip will occur. (cyclic behaviour of the material, change of the applied
The linear distribution of the normal forces Fj and bending stress field, etc.). To achieve a rapid engineering solution, it
moments Mj are is assumed that the second peening pass only just restores
the residual stresses to their initial values, i.e. ~j(z), in the
F Ij = f (J~j dz . . . . . . . . . . (2) same affected depth Zc' These are called ~j(z) saturation
stress profiles. The non-equilibrated stress distribution at a
given time in the section of the strip is
MIj = f (J~j ( ~ - z ) dz (3)
(T~~ = {~j(Z), . . . . . (10)
J e
where z and H are the depth from the surface and the 0" lj, z>zc

Materials Science and Technology September 1995 Vol. 11

 Cao et al. Almen arc height and residual stresses in shot peening 971

0.6 (a) The current residual stresses CTij are close to the saturation
Type of Almen strip: A stress profiles ~j(z) (see Fig. 8). Theoretically, the iterative
0.5 calculation stops when CTij is equal to ~j (z).
'8
§ 0.4
..c DEFORMATION AND RESIDUAL STRESS AFTER
eo
~ 0.3
REMOVAL OF SCREWS
~ The case in which the screws are removed after the ith
< peening pass is considered. The accumulated linear screw
0.2
force Pi will be released. The moments in the longitudinal
0.1 Msx and transverse Msy directions due to the released force
Pi are
0
Msx = -bPi' (17a)
0 20 40 00 XO 100 120 140 160
Velocity (m/s) Msy = 0 . . ( 17b)
0.6 (b) However, there is a problem of pure bending of a curved
Type or Almcn strip: A thin plate. To simplify the calculation, it is assumed that
0.5 the theory for combined pure bending in two perpendicular
'2 directions remains valid and the moment of inertia of the
g 0.4 strip is invariable. From equations (4a) and (4b), the
..c
~t) increased curvatures are calculated by
~u 0.3

-< ~-12 Msx ( 18a)

0.2 rsx ~ EH3

0.1 ~ -12 -vMsx . . . . . . . . . . . (18b)

rsy - EH3
0
the 'final curvatures
0 20 40 GO RO 100 120 140 160
Vdoci ty (m/s) 1 1 1
- =- + -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (19)
10 Comparison of calculated and measured arc height rfj rij rsj
versus velocity curves for a 5110 shot (d = 0'356 mm)
The arc height hA and the depth distributions of residual
and b 5170 (d = 0'504 mm)
stresses for the free strips are
12 w2
The increments of the normal force and the bending hA=-+- . (20)
8r[x 8r[y
moment (ilFj, ilMj) are calculated using equations (2) and
(3) substituting [~j(z) - CTij] for CTij.
Noting that the screw force has a linear relationship to Ufx = ufx + ~~x (~- z) . . . . . . . . . (21a)
the moments, the increased linear screw force ilP is
obtained using equation (6) substituting ilMj for M1j• The (21b)
increased curvatures il( l/rj) are also obtained using equa-
where 1 is the length and w the width measured with the
tions (4a) and (4b) substituting ilMj for M1j• The increased
Almen gauge on the plate (see Fig. Ie), and Iz is the
stresses owing to AFj and ilMj are calculated using
moment of inertia.
equations (7), (8a), and (8b) substituting ilFj for F1j and
ilMj for M Ij' At the end of the second peening pass, the
linear screw force, the new curvatures, and the equilibrated
stress distribution are, respectively, Application

(11) VERIFICATION OF MEASURED RADII OF

CURVATURE
~-~+il(!)
r2j ~lj rj
(12) To ensure the reliability of the evaluated radii of curvature
from the recorded surface profiles by the profilometer, the
CT~j= CT~f + ilCTj + ilCTr (13) arc heights of the free Almen strips are calculated by
equation (20) using the measured radii of curvature. The
The new residual stresses CT~j approach more closely comparison between the calculated arc heights and those
the saturation stress profiles ~j(z), as shown in Fig. 8d. directly measured by the Almen gauge show an error
The plastic criterion must always be considered in this of <5%.
calculation.
MODELLING ARC HEIGHT VERSUS
ith peening pass VELOCITY CURVE
The deformation and residual stresses after the ith peen- This calculation has been performed for four commercial
ing pass can be easily obtained by repeating the above shot specifications (SIlO, S170, S230, and S330). For each
procedure. The accumulated linear screw force, the accumu- shot specification, the procedure for the calculation of arc
lated curvatures, and the equilibrated stress distribution are height versus velocity curve is as follows.
(14) 1. An impact velocity V is selected.
2. The saturation stress profiles ~j(z) are 'computed using
the model for prediction of the shot peening residual
(15) stresses.6,15
3. The deformation of the constrained strips with in-
(16) creasing number of passes is computed using the method

Materials Science and Technology September 1995 Vol. 11

972 CaD et al. Almenarc height and residual stresses in shot peening

200 200 Depth (mm)

Depth (nnn)
C' 0.1 0.2--- 0.3
I 0.1 0.2 0.3 C'
S 0 I

z S
:::E
~,
':' ~200 - -200
~
~ g
~ -400 ] -400
eu
c "CiJ
o c
.S -600 ..52 -600
~
lZl

-ROO ·800
200 200 Depth (mm)

0.1 .3
'f' 0 o
S C'
z I

S
6, -200 Z -200
.::i
"::l
6,
~ :-
:.s
6 -400 o -400
~.
B
~ ~
.:: -600 ~ -600
~
lZl

lZl
o
-800 ~ -800
11 Comparison of calculated and measured residual 12 Comparison of calculated and measured residual
stresses in constrained strip after 48 passes (shot stresses in free strip after 48 passes (shot 0355-420,
0355-420, Almen intensity 8A) Almenintensity 8A)

presented in equations (1 )-( 16). The accumulated screw

force is obtained from equation (14 ) and the accumulated the free strip peened with 48 passes. The calculated stresses
curvatures from equation (15). The iteration calculation correspond well with the experimental ones.
continues until the following condition is satisfied

MAX~/z) - O"(i -l)j ~ 10f< (22)

~j(z) ~ 0
Conclusions

4. The deformation of the strips is computed after The deformation and the residual stresses of the Almen
removing the screws using equations (17a)-(21b). The final strips (SAE 1070 spring steel) constrained on the Almen
curvatures are obtained from equation (19) and the final blocks with increasing shot peening time (number of
arc height from equation (20). passes), and their subsequent changes after the fixing screws
The entire calculation can. be accomplished using the are removed, have been investigated by surface profilometry
computer software Shotpeen.6 and X-ray diffraction.
An optical method has been recently used to measure Synclastic deflection of the constrained peened Almen
the incoming velocity of shots. is For some shot specifica- strips appears as soon as the first passes of peening are
tions, the impact velocities asa function of the resultant applied. The deformation occurs principally in the trans-
arc heights have been obtained. is In Fig. 10 the calculated verse direction of· the strips. The curvature in both
arc height versus velocity curves are compared with longitudinal and transverse directions increases with the
the measured values for Sl10 and S170 shots where the number of passes. The effect of deflection tends to stabilise
experimental data are available. Good agreement is for a large number of passes (>48 passes). Removing the
obtained. sCrews produces significant deflection in the longitudinal
direction. In contrast, a negative effect appears in the
Modelling of residual stresses transverse direction.
This calculation has been performed withQ355-420 shot In the constrained peened Almen strips, the residual
and 8A Almen intensity (0·2mm arc height). The incoming stresses in both directions are identical in a near surface
velocity corresponding to the arc height has been deter- layer. The transverse stresses (algebraic values) are greater
mined as 45 m S-l. The stress distribution in constrained than the longitudinal stresses in a deeper layer. Removing
strips is calculated using equation (16). Note that it is the screws provokes a relaxation of the longitudinal residual
difficult to establish a relationship between the theoret- stresses, due to the deflection effect in this direction, while
ical number of passes used in the present method (equa- the transverse residual stresses are almost invariable.
tions( 1)-(16)) and the actual number of passes, hence A model has been proposed to calculate the deformations
residual stresses are considered in a stable state only. and the residual stresses of the constrained Almen strips
Calculated results show that equation (22) can besatis- with increasing number of passes, and their changes after
fied after ten iterations. In Fig.l1, the residual stresses the fixing screws are removed. The calculated residual
calculated in this way are considered as stabilised stresses stresses are in good agreement with the experimental data
and compared with the measured residual stresses cor- in the cases studied. The arc heights as a function of the
responding to 48 peening passes, previously shown in incoming velocity of shots are calculated and validated by
Fig. 5. The theoretical results are in good agreement the available experimental data. Similar work has been
with the experimental data. carried out by Hills et al.19 but the curvature of the strip
The redistribution of residual stresses after removing the in the constrained state has not been considered.
fixingsystenl are calculated by equation (21a) and (2Ib). The fixing system for the Almen strips on the Almen
The calculated stress profiles in the two directions' are block is not sufficient to prevent the strip from deflecting
plotted in Fig. 12 with the experimental data measured on during shot peening. The fixing conditions affect the arc

Materials Science and Technology September 1995 Vol. 11

 Cao et a/. Almen arc height and residual stresses in shot peening 973

heights measured on the Almen strips. The saturation 5. O. VOHRINGER: in 'Shot peening science/technology/application'

curves representing the absorbed kinetic energy linked to (ICSP3), (ed. H. Wohlfahrt et al.), 185-204; 1987, DGM
Informationsgesellschaft Verlag.
the properties of the Almen strip material depend also on
6. w. CAO, F. FATHALLAH, J. BARRALIS, and L. CASTEX: in 'Shot
the fixing force applied when 'mounting the strips on the peening' (ICRS4), (ed. Society for Exp. Mech. Inc.), 589-597;
Almen block. 1994, Baltimore, MD, SEM.
7. W. CAO, M. KHADHRAOUI, B. BRENIER, J. Y. GuEDOU, and
L. CASTEX: Mater. Sci. Technol., November 1994, 10, 947-

Acl<nowledgements
The authors would like to thank Mr P. Webster of
Rolls Royce pIc (UK) and Mr P. O'Hara of the Metal
Improvement Company (UK) for their contributions
towards the realisation of the shot peening treatments and
measurement of the arc heights; and Ms A. Fabre and
Mr F. Toregressa of ENSAM Aix-en-Provence, France
for the measurements of the surface deformation of the
Almen strips.
References
1. H. WOHLFAHRT: in 'Shot peening science/technology /
application' (ICSP3), (ed. H. Wohlfahrt et al.), 563-584; 1987,
DGM Informationsgesellschaft Verlag.
2. P. O'HARA: in 'Shot peening techniques and application', (ed.
K. J. Maarch), 39-51; 1993, Cradley Heath, EMAS.
3. J. M. MOGUL: in 'Shot peening techniques and application', (ed.
K. J. Maarch), 52-71; 1993, Cradley Heath, EMAS.
4. G. NACHMAN: in 'Shot peening science/technology/application'
(ICSP3), (ed. H. Wohlfahrt et al.), 37-48; 1987, DGM
Informationsgesellschaft Verlag.
954.
8. H. O. FUCHS: in 'Shot peening' (ICSP2), (ed. H. O. Fuchs),
74-78; 1984, Chicago, IL, The American Shot Peening Society.
9. J. s. ECKERSLEY: in 'Shot peening techniques and application',
(ed. K. J. Maarch), 19-38; 1993, Cradley Heath, EMAS.
10. R. S. SIMPSON: in 'Shot peening techniques and application',
(ed. K. J. Maarch), 129-156; 1993, Cradley Heath, EMAS.
11. M. N. NEELAKANTAN, R. G. GREEN, S. H. FOO, and R. JOHN: in
'Shot peening' (ICSP1), (ed. A. Niku lari), 147-158; 1981,
Senlis, France, Pergamon.
12. A. M. SANDERSON and R. G. SLINGSBY: in 'Shot peening' (ICSP1),
(ed. A. Niku lari), 159-166; 1981, Senlis, France, Pergamon.
13. M. C. SHARMA and A. MUBEEN: in 'Shot peening' (ICSP2), (ed.
H. O. Fuchs), 62-66; 1984, Chicago, IL, The American Shot
Peening Society.
14. H. GUECHIcm: PhD thesis, ENSAM, Paris, France, 1986.
15. M. T. KHABOU, L. CASTEX, and G. INGLEBERT: Eur. J. Mech.,
1989, A, (6), 537-549.
16. s. TIMOSHENKO: 'Resistance des materiaux', 115; 1949, Paris et
Liege, Dunrod.
17. c. F. BARRETT and R. TODD: in 'Shot peening' (ICSP2), (ed.
H. O. Fuchs), 15-21; 1984, Chicago, IL, The American Shot
Peening Society.
18. Y. LECOFFRE, X. H. BONAZZI, F. JOUET, and D. HUET: personal
communication, Wheelabrator, Grenoble, France, 1993.
19. D. A. HILLS, R. B. WATERHOUSE, and B. NOBLE: J. Strain Anal.,
1983, 18, (2),95-100.

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