Analytical description of ultrasonic hardening and softening

In the presented work, a modeling of ultrasonic hardening and softening has been carried out. The analytical model is constructed by the generalization of the synthetic theory of plastic deformation. A new term, ultrasonic defect intensity, is being introduced so that the phenomenon of both hardening and softening is described by the uniform system of constitutive equations.

Research highlights► Acoustic waves propagating through the metal can initiate (a) ultrasonic softening (US) or (b) ultrasonic hardening (UH) depending on the presence or absence of static (unidirectional) loading. ► Despite the diametrically opposed phenomena of US and UH, a uniformed analytical apparatus is needed to model them. ► The synthetic theory of plastic deformation, which gives both analytically and numerically good results, has been taken for the analytical apparatus.