Visualization of the plastic deformation area beneath the surface of carbon steel induced by cavitation impact

The impact caused by cavitation bubble collapse can be applied to the peening of metallic materials due to introduction of compressive stress and plastic deformation at the surface as occurs with shot peening. In the present report, the plastic deformation area beneath various pits due to sphere indentation and cavitation impact was observed using Fry’s etching method. It was discovered that cavitation impact forms deep plastic deformation under a shallower pit than sphere indentation.