Biaxial Residual Surface Stresses From Grinding and Finish Machining 304 Stainless Steel Determined by a New Dissection Technique

A new technique for measuring residual surface stresses in metals is described. This technique, which is based on the dissection method, yields detailed biaxial residual stress distributions. Metal layers are continuously removed from the specimen by electro-polishing, and the pertinent specimen shape changes are continuously monitored by differential transformers and the required circuitry. Calculations are carried out using a digital computer. The technique was used to measure residual stresses induced in 304 stainless steel by coated abrasive grinding, low-density abrasive treatment, shot peening, bonded wheel grinding, lathe finish machining, milling machine finish machining, and shaper finish machining (finish machining here is defined as light cuts).