THE RESIDUAL STRESSES
These are stresses present in the parts at internal level, due to the fact that they have been subjected to welding, machining, heat treatment, or other procedures that involve changes in temperature, due to uncontrolled temperature gradients.
Residual stresses can arise from mechanical deformations and cyclic loading during operation.
These stresses or strains will remain in the parts or components even when the applied loads are removed.
These stresses can significantly affect the mechanical properties of the material, its fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, dimensional stability and behavior during service.
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF RESIDUAL STRESSES
Reduced fatigue strength: Residual stresses can act in conjunction with applied loads, reducing the service life of the material under cyclic loading conditions.
Fracture proneness: They can increase the susceptibility of the material to fracture, especially under critical loading conditions or in the presence of defects.
Distortion and deformation: Non-uniform stresses can cause components to deform or twist unexpectedly during or after processing.
Stress corrosion: Residual stresses can accelerate corrosion processes, especially in aggressive environments, leading to premature failure.
Downstream processing problems: Residual stresses can interfere with downstream processes such as machining or assembly, affecting the accuracy and quality of the final product.
“Mitigating residual stresses is crucial to improving the quality and durability of components in various industrial applications.”
