On the Residual Stresses in Carburized and Quenched Steels

Abstract

The residual stresses in the surface layers of carburized and quenched steels are measured in detail by the X-ray diffraction method. The effects of case depths, specimen sizes, and specimen compositions on the generation of residual stress are inquired.
Residual stress results mainly from the lattice expantion associated with austenite to martensite transformation, and compressive residual stresses in the carburized layer are reduced considerably by the existence of retained austenite remaining near the surface. Distributions of residual stress are correlated with distributions of hardness and retained austenite concentration. The effect of retained austenite on the development of residual stress distribution is quantitatively investigated.