Ultrasonic characterization of residual stresses in steel rods using a laser line source and piezoelectric transducers

The surface residual stresses in steel rods made of the same material but with different heat treatments have been studied from Rayleigh wave velocity measurements using the laser ultrasonics technique and piezoelectric transducers. The Rayleigh wave velocities, both along the circumference and in the axis direction on the cylindrical surface of every rod, are measured and compared with one another in order to evaluate qualitatively the surface stress state for each rod. The experimental results clearly show that the Rayleigh wave velocities on the cylindrical surfaces of these rods are different, and the results obtained by laser ultrasound are in good agreement with those measured with piezoelectric transducers. From the measured velocities, different stress states have been identified for these rods according to the heat treatments they have undergone. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.