Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Equivalent Plastic Strain Distribution and Compressive Residual Stress in the Incremental Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment Process of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

Subject Areas : Mechanical Engineering

ali kazemi ¹ , Ali Heidari ² , kamran amini ³ , Farshid Aghadavoudi ⁴ , Mohssen Lohmousavi ⁵

1 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr/Isfahan, Iran
2 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr/Isfahan, Iran
3 - Advanced Materials Research Center, Faculty of Materials Engineering, NajafabadBranch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Isfahan, Iran
4 - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr/Isfahan, Iran
5 - Assistant Professor- Azad University of Khomaini Shahr

Received: 2025-03-18 Accepted : 2025-09-24 Published : 2025-12-16

Keywords: SMAT, AZ31 Magnesium Alloy, Finite Element Method, Vibration Frequency, Vibration Amplitude, Mechanical Properties.,

Abstract :

Incremental Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) is a process in which the surface of a component is enhanced by the impact of small steel shots, creating a thin nanostructured layer that improves the mechanical properties of metallic materials. In this process, significant plastic deformation initially occurs due to the impact of steel shots on the surface, and after each shot rebounds, compressive residual stress is generated on the surface. This study numerically investigates the effect of shot size and velocity during the SMAT process on the maximum equivalent stress, equivalent plastic strain profiles, residual stress depth, and maximum compressive residual stress using the finite element method (FEM). The plastic deformation process during SMAT was analyzed using ABAQUS Explicit Software. The Explicit Dynamic solver was employed to analyze the effects of shot velocity and diameter using FEM. Deformation behavior was evaluated under two conditions. The results indicated that the maximum compressive residual stress increased from 202 MPa to 205 MPa as the shot diameter increased from 1 mm to 3 mm at a velocity of 10 m/s, while an increase in velocity from 4 m/s to 10 m/s at a shot diameter of 1 mm resulted in an increase in maximum compressive residual stress from 155 MPa to 202 MPa. The results suggest that shot velocity has a significant effect on residual stress, whereas shot diameter has the less impact. The change in plastic strain due to shot diameter is not as influential as shot velocity.

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