Effect of a moving automated shot peening and peening parameters on surface integrity of Low carbon steel

Shot peening is a widely utilized process in industry. It helps to increase fatigue and stress corrosion resistance by creating beneficial compressive residual surface stresses of materials. Whilst very good results are achieved with this process, there is always an increasing demand by industry and material researchers for improved material surface quality, system reliability, and consistency controls of the process. First main objective of this work was to study the effect of an automated moving shot peening process on the surface integrity of low carbon steel material. Second objective was to discuss and present peening saturation and intensity results and model in a new approach in terms of peening speeds along side the traditional procedure which shows peening saturation and intensity results in terms of peening times. Third objective of this study was to examine the effects of: process air pressure, nozzle stand-off distance, nozzle speed, and peening angle on coverage, saturation, and surface quality utilizing the moving shot peening. This study showed that 276 kPa air pressure, 203 mm stand-off distance, and 5.3 mm/sec nozzle speed are the optimum conditions for the shot peening process parameters examined on standard Almen strips samples which resulted in minimize surface irregularities, maximize compressed layer thickness and uniformity, and minimize process time.