Fatigue Life Improvement of Welded Elements by Ultrasonic Peening

The development of the Ultrasonic Peening (UP) technology was a logical continuation of the work done before directed on the investigation and further development of known techniques for surface plastic deformation such as shot peening, hammer peening, needle peening. The UP technique is based on the combined effect of the high frequency impacts of the special strikers and ultrasonic oscillations in treated material. The UP was applied successfully for the increasing of the fatigue life of parts and welded elements, eliminating of distortions caused by welding and other technological processes, residual stress relieving, increasing of the hardness of materials. The results of fatigue testing showed that UP is the most efficient technique for increasing the fatigue life of welded elements as compared to such existing improvement treatments as grinding, TIG-dressing, shot peening, hammer peening etc. The historical review, description of the technology and modern equipment for fatigue life improvement of welded elements by UP are presented in this document.