Strength enhancement of structural steel EK-181 based on the multilevel approach of physical mesomechanics

Based on the multilevel approach of physical mesomechanics, we have developed a method for hardening of structural steel EK-181 (in the Russian designation) through the formation of a fragmented band structure in its surface layers. Novel deformation mechanisms in steel EK-181 at the mesoscale level are disclosed. They agree well with the theory of a chessboard-like stress distribution at the “hardened surface layer - substrate” interface. We propose a method of stabilizing the hardened surface layer for the steel working at temperatures up to 700 °C.