Calculation Method of Shot Peening Coverage Based on Area Computation for Random Finite Element Model

Shot peening is one of the most effective surface strengthening treatment method. Residual compressive stresses occur on the surface of workpiece after shot peening, and results in the increase of the fatigue life of workpiece. Finite element analysis (FEA) method was usually used to simulate the distributions of the residual compressive stresses during shot peening due to the high cost and long time needed by the experimental research, and the random finite element model was normally adopted to simulate the shot peening process based on the characteristics of random motion of shots and position of indentations. Coverage is an important parameter to measure the saturation time of shot peening. In this paper, a calculation method of coverage based on area computation for random finite element model was put forward. The shot peening process of a square flat workpiece was simulated, the coverage was calculated and the difference between calculation method based on area computation and equivalent strain was analyzed. Results show that the calculation method based on area computation in this paper is more reliable and could be used for coverage calculation of random shot peening simulation.