How do you account for residual stresses in mechanical systems?
Residual stresses are internal forces that remain in a mechanical system after it has been subjected to external loads, such as manufacturing processes, thermal cycles, or service conditions. Residual stresses can affect the performance, durability, and reliability of mechanical systems, as they can cause distortion, cracking, fatigue, corrosion, or dimensional instability. Therefore, it is important to account for residual stresses in mechanical systems, especially when designing for critical applications or complex geometries. In this article, you will learn about some common methods to measure, predict, and reduce residual stresses in mechanical systems.