High-Pressure Water Peening-a New Mechanical Surface-Strengthening Process

Abstract Water peening with pressures up to 100 MPa has been developed as a new mechanical surface strengthening process. The high-frequent impact of water drops on the surface of steel components causes local plastic deformation. As a result, high compressive residual stresses are induced in the surface-near layers. The special characteristic is that surface roughness and topography show only negligible modifications, so water peening can be used as a finishing process. Due to the beneficial modifications in the surface-near material, fatigue strength significantly increases. The water jet's high geometrical accessibility predestines this new process for treatment of complex geometries.