Characterising the impact of surface integrity on the fatigue behaviour of a shot-peened connecting rod

Abstract

The present study focuses on analysing and modelling the influence on fatigue behaviour of the surface of a hot-forged C70 connecting rod which undergoes a shot-blasting treatment. The shot-blasting heavily affects the surface and thus the fatigue properties. In addition, the forging process introduces large defects which also have an effect on the fatigue strength. So as to be able to determine which aspects of the surface integrity are the most influential in fatigue, additional surface states were generated by shot-peening the as-forged surface. The various surface states were thoroughly characterised and then tested in high cycle fatigue in bending. The various aspects studied are the surface roughness and large defects, residual stresses, and microstructure.