Evaluation of the State of Subsurface Layers of the Metal Subjected to Shot Peening with the Help of Surface Acoustic Waves

We study the surface layers of the metal of low-carbon steel after shot peening. The velocity of surface Rayleigh waves is determined by the pulse-phase method at frequencies of 3, 6, and 9 MHz with the use of contact piezoelectric transducers. The distribution of mechanical stresses over the depth is studied by tensometric measurements. The influence of different factors on variations of the velocity of surface acoustic waves is analyzed. We propose new methods for the evaluation of the thickness of plastically deformed layer of the metal after shot peening according to the frequency dependence of the velocity of these waves.