Effect of magnetic and vibrational aging on residual stresses in ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic materials

Abstract

Magnetic stress relief (MSR) and vibration stress relief (VSR) were widely used in industry for their adaptability, efficiency, energy savings, and environmental benefits, and have been extensively studied. However, few studies focus on comparing the control of residual stress relief between MSR and VSR. In this paper, the effects of MSR at different magnetic field strengths and VSR at different vibration frequencies on the relief of residual stresses in ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic materials were investigated experimentally, respectively. The results indicate that MSR can significantly reduce residual stress in ferromagnetic materials, with an average reduction of 19.07 %. The reduction exhibits a certain linear correlation with magnetic field strength. However, the relief effect on non-ferromagnetic materials is relatively minor, with a reduction of 8.92 %. VSR proves effective in relieving residual stress across both material types, with an average reduction of 20.98 % in ferromagnetic materials and up to 23.44 % in the width direction for non-ferromagnetic materials. The essence of VSR is the periodic application of an external excitation force. Plastic deformation occurs due to the combination of the excitation force and the internal residual stress of the material. Consequently, the yield limit of the material was improved, and its susceptibility to deformation was reduced. MSR primarily utilizes the magneto-induced vibration effect to relieve residual stress. For non-ferromagnetic materials, plastic deformation is mainly enhanced through dislocation relaxation. Both methods fundamentally involve the combination of external stress fields and the material’s residual stress, which forces dislocations to overcome resistance and migrate, thereby reducing residual stress. This study provides theoretical support and experimental basis for the development of a combined MSR and VSR method for residual stress relief.