Schockpeening

Shot peening is a cold working process used to improve the fatigue life and stress corrosion resistance of metals. It involves bombarding a metal surface with small, spherical media, typically steel or glass beads, at high velocity. This impact creates a layer of compressive residual stress on the surface of the material. These compressive stresses counteract tensile stresses that would otherwise form during operation, thereby preventing fatigue crack initiation and propagation.

The process is widely applied to components subjected to cyclic loading, such as springs, gears, crankshafts, and turbine blades. The depth and intensity of the compressive layer depend on factors like the size and velocity of the shot media, the duration of the peening process, and the material properties. Shot peening can be performed using various methods, including air blasting, wheel-abrating, and centrifugal blasting. The selection of shot media is crucial, with different materials offering varying degrees of impact force and surface finish. Glass beads are often used for lighter peening applications or when a finer surface finish is desired, while steel shot provides a more aggressive peening effect. Regular inspection and control of the shot peening process are essential to ensure consistent and effective results.