Evaluation of Residual Stresses Induced by Robotized Hammer Peening by the Contour Method

Welded components suffer from high tensile residual stresses close to the weld beads. These stresses seem to be the origin of premature cracking which could result in a catastrophic rupture during operation and a reduction of the lifespan of these components. In this context, the Hydro-Québec’s Research Institute (IREQ) developed a technique of residual stresses relaxation by robotized hammer peening which makes it possible to release stresses close to surface and preserve the mechanical and dimensional properties of manufactured components. Robotized hammer peening was used to induce compressive residual stresses on initially stress free samples of austenitic stainless steel 304L. Hammer peening layers from one to nine were performed and the resulting residual stresses were evaluated thanks to the contour technique. Complete 2D residual stress fields on samples cross sections were obtained. The ability of hammer peening to relax residual stresses within welded plates was then quantified on austenitic stainless steel 304L plates welded with a 308 steel and hammer peened. These tests show the efficiency of hammer peening as a method to relax tensile residual stresses and induce compressive ones to a depth of a few millimetres. Process parameters were optimized such as the number of hammer peening layers to be applied to reduce processing time and maximization of the intensity and spatial distribution of the compressive residual stresses.