Fatigue life improvement by vibro-peening and shot peening

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Vibratory finishing is a surface treatment in which components are inserted in an oscillating bowl containing polishing media. The media flow around the component polishes its surface and decreases its roughness. VibraFinish has recently developed a vibro-peening machine that induces important surface compressive residual stresses, similar to those induced by the conventional shot peening process, while delivering a mirror-like surface finish. The process is relatively new and high technology industries, like aerospace, require sound investigations of the underlying fundamental mechanisms involved in the process before considering investing in more extensive studies that would eventually lead to the process acceptance. The principal objective of this short project is to provide a preliminary scientific understanding of the vibro-peening effects on a selected material. This scientific endeavour will combine microstructural changes observations, residual stresses measurements, predictive models and fatigue testing for understanding, and eventually optimizing, the vibro-peening effects on fatigue life. VibraFinish is in an ideal position for innovating in the fatigue life improvement surface treatments industry. Its process is new and very few companies in the world can perform vibro-peening. Developing a deeper scientific understanding of its process could provide VibraFinish with means to improve and optimize it, as well as anticipating potential fatigue life improvement benefits. This work would provide VibraFinish with the required scientific knowledge to eventually convince aerospace companies to invest in larger collaborative projects to further understand and optimize the process effects. The preliminary scientific work proposed in this application, conducted by recognized experts in the field, could be the first step of a fruitful collaboration that would help to rise VibraFinish as a leading company on the vibro-peening treatment.