A Study on the Effect of Cold Forming on the Yield Strength of Stainless Steel Type 304 - Hardness Test Approach

This paper describes a preliininary experimental investigation of the effects of cold forming on the material properties of stainless steel comer sections. The background and theory behind the research is briefly reviewed and is followed by a description of hardness testing. Hardness testing is used to postulate values for the increase in yield strength around the comers. The experimental findings are presented and the postulated increases in yield strength are compared with those predicted by two existing theories, and by other experiments carried out by the authors. It is concluded that the linear relationships found between yield strength and hardness for some steels do not apply to the stainless steel investigated, and further research is required