Blogs

In certain circumstances, the application of engineered compressive residual stress fields may prevent stress corrosion cracking at significant savings, without the need for expensive alloy upgrades. This presentation will cover the theory behind use of compressive residual stress fields and briefly describe the more common methods for applying them, such as controlled shot-peening, autofrettage, last-pass heat-sink welding, and induction heating stress improvement. Some new methods will be described, such as cavitation shotless peening, laser shock peening and low-plasticity burnishing. Case histories of successful use of engineered residual stress fields will be presented, as well as caveats for hydrogen service, pitting and other limitations to the method.