dynamic finite element analysis of shot peening process of 2618-t61 aluminium alloy

Shot peening is a surface treatment processes usually used for the improvement of fatigue strength of metallic parts by inducing residual stress field in them. the experimental evaluation of shot peening parameters is not only very complex but also costly. an attractive alternative is the explicit dynamics finite element (fe) analysis having the capability of accurately envisaging the shot peening process parameters using a suitable constitutive model and numerical technique for the material. in this study, ansys/lsdyna software was used to simulate the impact of steel shots of various sizes on 2618-t61 aluminium alloy plate described with strain rate dependent elasto-plastic material model. the impacts were determined at various incident velocities. the effects of shot velocity and size on the induced compressive residual stress and plastic deformation were investigated. the results demonstrated that increasing the shot velocity and size would lead to increase in plastic deformation of the target. the obtained results were close to the published ones, and the numerical models were capable to capture the patterns of residual stress and plastic deformation experimentally observed in aluminium alloys. the study is quite helpful in determining and selecting optimal shot peening parameters for the surface treatment of aluminium alloy parts.