Ultrasonic shot peening

This paper gives a brief overview of published results pertinent to ultrasonic shot peening, a relatively new method to introduce severe plastic deformations in the surface of materials and obtain nanosized grains. Among reported benefits are increased surface hardness and fatigue resistance, and possibility to perform nitriding at lower temperatures and in shorter times. Being a new technology, there is a lack in available literature on ultrasonic shot peening. For that reason, some of the results published for conventional shot peening are also presented. We believe, however, that the results selected here are transferrable to ultrasonic shot peening, or at least can serve as a reference point for this process.