Finite element modeling of ultrasonic surface rolling process

Ultrasonic surface rolling (USRP) is a newly developed process in which ultrasonic vibration and static force are applied on work-piece surface through the USRP operator to generate a nanostructured surface layer with mechanical behaviors highly improved. Compared with other surface severe plastic deformation (S²PD) methods, it can realize mechanized machining and be directly used for preparing final product. Notwithstanding the excellent performance of USRP, elaborate relation between process parameters and surface layer characteristics is still inadequacy due to inconvenient and costly experimental evaluation. Therefore, in this paper a three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) has been developed to predict the treatment conditions that lead to surface nanocrystallization. Simulated results of surface deformation, stress and strain are investigated to assess the formation of nanostructured layer. The numerical results from the FEM corresponds well with the values measured experimentally, indicating that this dynamic explicit FEM is a useful tool to predict the processing effects and to relate the treating parameters with the surface layer in terms of the size of nanostructured layer, residual stress and work hardening.