journal article·2026-02-28Open access

Full-Process Multiphysics Simulation and Experimental Study on the Fatigue Performance Enhancement of Butt-Welded Joints of QSTE700TM Through Ultrasonic Impact Treatment

Huan Xue, Xiaojian Peng, Yanming Chen, Wenqian Zhang, Saiqing Xu, Kaixian Li, Jianwen Li

Applied Sciences· Volume 16· Issue 5

Abstract

Ultrasonic Impact Treatment (UIT), a prevalent surface-strengthening technology for welded structures, combines mechanical shock and ultrasonic vibration to induce plastic deformation and beneficial residual compressive stress at weld toes, effectively enhancing welded joint fatigue performance. This study adopts a full-process numerical simulation approach, integrating the finite element software ABAQUS and FE-SAFE fatigue-life prediction platform to investigate QSTE700TM high-strength automotive steel butt joints. Considering welding-induced initial residual stress, ABAQUS simulates the welding and subsequent UIT processes; explicit dynamic analysis reveals residual stress evolution, with pre- and post-UIT stress-distribution comparisons. The post-UIT residual stress field is input into a static tensile model to obtain load-stress distributions, which are then imported into FE-SAFE with S-N curves for fatigue-life prediction. Simulation results align well with experimental data: UIT improves the fatigue limit of welded specimens by 31.3% and unwelded ones by 42.9%. Additionally, optical and scanning electron microscopes observe fatigue fracture morphologies to further clarify UIT’s fatigue-enhancement mechanism.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Surface Treatment and Residual Stress · Advanced Welding Techniques Analysis · Ultrasound and Cavitation Phenomena

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China

Hubei Key Laboratory of Modern Manufacturing Quality Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China

Hubei Standardization and Quality Institute, Wuhan 430064, China

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