Welds: A Favorite Topic
Author: Jack Champaigne, Editor
Source: The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 34, Issue 1, Winter 2020
Doc ID: 2020001
Year of Publication: 2020
Abstract:
My interest in shot peening welds began in 2004 at a SAE weld
challenge that included peening. Since then I’ve uploaded 48 papers on the topic to
the Library at www.shotpeener.com.
In the past few months, several things happened that broadened my respect
for shot peening’s ability to improve the fatigue strength of welds. First, I met Civil
Engineering Professor Robert Conner with Purdue University. He was one of the
authors of “Fatigue Life Improvement of Welded Girders with Ultrasonic Impact
Treatment.†Ultrasonic Impact Treatment (also called “Needle Peeningâ€) is especially
valuable to retrofitting applications such as aging steel bridges.
In addition, Julien Jeanneau, with Empowering Technologies, loaned needle
peening equipment to Purdue through Purdue’s Center for Surface Engineering and
Enhancement (CSEE). The equipment is being used for student projects. Electronics
Inc., through CSEE, is funding further student research on needle peening.
Coincidentally, Empowering Technologies used their needle peening
technology on the Route 52 bridge over the Wabash River in northwest Indiana.
According to Professor Connor, “Many of our country’s bridges are at least 50 years
old. We have found that needle peening can extend the useful life of older bridges by
improving their fatigue strength.†It’s rewarding to me that the peening of welds can
be part of the maintenance and repair solution for the United States’ aging bridges.
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