Shot peening simulation based on SPH method

Shot peening is a complex surface-treating process which is usually employed to improve the fatigue strength of metallic part or members. In dealing with shot peening simulation, existing literatures apply finite element method (FEM) to establish only a single shot or several shots models, thus the effect of a mass of shots impacting repeatedly and the interaction among adjacent shots are ignored. To overcome these defects of FEM models, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) coupled FEM modeling is presented, in which the shots are modeled by SPH particles and the target material is modeled by finite elements. Contact algorithm is used to simulate the interaction between shots and target. Utilizing this model, material model for shots is established, the relationships between compressive residual stress and peening frequencies, coverage, and velocities are analyzed. Steady compressive residual stress can be gotten by multiple peening; higher coverage can improve the compressive residual stress; faster velocities can induce greater and deeper maximum residual stress in target subsurface. The simulation results agree well with the existing experimental data. The study will not only provide a new powerful tool for the simulation of shot peening process, but also be benefit to optimize the operating parameters.