ORIGIN, DETERMINATION AND ASSESSMENT OF N EAR-SURFACE MICROSTRUCTURALALTERATIONS DUE TO SHOT PEENING PROCESSES

In practice, the improvements of the properties of metallic components achievable by shot peening processes are a result of near surface pla stic deformations. In comparison with the unpeened condition, they can cause dimensional changes, alterations of the surface topography, nea r surface materials strength, the macro and micro residual stress stat e, the near surface microstructure, the porosity and the texture. Afte r describing the elementary processes occurring during shot peening, t he influence of important process parameters on the surface materials state is considered. Subsequently, recent results concerning the therm al relaxation of shot peening residual stresses are presented and disc ussed.