The Measurement of Subsurface Residual Stress and Cold Work Distributions in Nickel Base Alloys

A method of determining the diffraction peak width accurately and rapidly in conjunction with x-ray diffraction residual stress measurement using Pearson VII function profile analysis is described. An empirical relationship between the (420) diffraction peak width and the degree of cold work is developed for four nickel base alloys. The peak width produced was found to be independent of the method of deformation. Examples of the concurrent determination of subsurface residual stress and cold work distributions are presented for samples of abraded and shot peened Inconel 718 and ground Inconel 600. X-RAY DIFFRACTION TECHNIQUES can be used to determine both macroscopic and microscopi