Deformation Behavior and Formability of Gradient Nano-grained AISI 304 Stainless Steel Processed by Ultrasonic Impact Treatment

The deformation behavior and formability of gradient nano-grained（GNG） AISI 304 stainless steel in uniaxial and biaxial states were investigated by means of tensile test and small punch test（SPT）. The GNG top layer was fabricated on coarse grains（CG） AISI 304 by ultrasonic impact treatment. The results showed that the CG substrate could effectively suppress the strain localization of NC in GNG layer, and an approximate linear relationship existed between the thickness of substrate（h） and uniform true strain before necking（ε_（unif））. Grain growth of NC was observed at the stress state with high Stress triaxiality T, which led to better ductility of GNG/CG 304 in SPT, as well as similar true strain after the onset of necking（ε_（neck）） compared with coarse 304 in tensile test. Ei-values of GNG/CG 304 with different structures were nearly the same at different punch speeds, and good formability of GNG/CG 304 was demonstrated. However, punch speed and microstructure needed to be optimized to avoid much lost of membrane strain region in biaxial stress state.

Improvement of Surface Mechanical and Tribological Characteristics of L-PBF Processed Commercially Pure Titanium through Ultrasonic Impact Treatment

Multi-pass ultrasonic impact treatment(UIT)was applied to modify the microstructure and improve the mechanical and tribological characteristics at the near-surface region of commercially pure Ti(CP-Ti)specimens produced by the laser powder bed fusion(L-PBF)method.UIT considerably refined the L-PBF process-related acicular martensites(α′-M)and produced a well-homogenized and dense surface microstructure,where the porosity content of 1-,3-,and 5-pass UITed samples was reduced by 43,60,and 67%,respectively.The UITed samples showed an enhancement in their near-surface mechanical properties up to a depth of about 300μm.The nanoindentation results for the 3-pass UITed sample revealed an increase of about 53,45,and 220%in its nanohardness,H/E_(r),and H_(3)/E_(r)^(2)indices,respectively.The stylus profilometry results showed that performing the UIT removed the L-PBF-related features/defects and offered a smooth surface.The roughness average(R_(a))and the skewness(R_(sk))of the 3-pass UITed sample were found to be lower than those of the L-PBFed sample by 95 and 223%,respectively.Applying the UIT also enhanced the material ratio,where the maximum load-bearing capacity(~100%)in as-L-PBFed(as-built)and 3-pass UITed samples was obtained at 60-and 10-µm depths,respectively.The tribological investigations showed that applying the UIT resulted in a significant reduction of wear rate and average coefficient of friction(COF)of CP-Ti.For instance,under the normal pressures of 0.05 and 0.2 MPa,the wear rate and COF of the 3-pass UITed sample were lower than those of the L-PBFed sample by 65 and 58%,and 20 and 17%,respectively.

Improving fatigue performance of welded joints of X65 pipeline steel by UIT

Treating weld toes properly can improve the fatigue performance. Ultrasonic impact treatment （UIT） is a more effective and convenient method to enhance the fatigue strength of welded joints and suchlike structures. Fatigue tests were conducted on the specimens made of X65 pipeline steel. The test specimens were investigated on the fatigue strength and the fatigue life at the same stress range level by comparing the ones peened by UIT with the others without the treatment： the fatigue strength of the specimens as UIT, 90% of the fatigue strength of the base mental, is increased by 38% compared with that of as welded only; the fatigue life of the ones as UIT is prolonged by 11 multiples of the ones as welded only.

Surface nanocrystallization of 7A52 aluminum alloy welded joint

As a means of surface modification process, metal surface nanocrystallization （MSN） has attracted widespread attention and enjoyed a great prospect. However, currently little research is carried out regarding MSN of welded joint. The processes of high energy shot peening （HESP） technology and ultrasonic impact treatment （UIT） were carried out to achieve joint surface nanocrystallization. The grain size of before and after the welded joint surface nanocrystallization were comparatively analyzed with X-ray diffractometer, the surface deformation layer thickness of before and after the welded joint surface nanocrystallization were comparatively analyzed with optical microscopy, the surface hardness of before and after the welded joint surface nanocrystallization were comparatively analyzed with micro hardness machine. The results show that both of the processes can achieve welded joint surface nanocrystaUization and the weld after HESP have smaller grain size, larger deformation layer thickness and higher hardness values than those after UIT. However, HESP is restrained by the shapes and sizes of welding materials, so the UIT process is preferred to use in the general engineering practical applications.