Numerical and experimental comparison of two nano-structuring processing techniques on making stronger stainless steels

Nano-structuring, especially surface nano-structuring techniques, has been widely utilized to obtain stronger and tougher metallic bulk materials. Such technique provides energy-efficient solutions of obtaining advanced materials. Among all these methods, surface mechanical attrition treatment and shot peening are considered as powerful and energy-saving methods of generating structural nano-crystalline layers on engineering and/or functional materials, such as iron-based alloys and superalloys. In this study, an unprecedented numerical simulation was developed to analyze the microstructure and stress-strain relationship under surface mechanical attrition treatment and shot peening technique cooperating with the support of experimental results.