Non-destructive residual stress evaluation in mechanically surface treated Ti–2.5Cu by diffraction techniques

•Mechanical surface processing was performed on alpha titanium alloy Ti–2.5Cu.•Beneficial compressive residual stresses were generated in the surface layer.•Non-destructive residual stress profiles were determined by diffraction methods.•The thickness of compressive layer and balancing tensile stress were well defined.

Residual stress evaluation is an important stage to interpret the fatigue behavior of many engineering materials. The present research aimed at evaluating non-destructively the macroscopic compressive and balancing tensile residual stresses generated in the surface layer and in the core region, respectively, in mechanically surface treated alpha titanium alloy Ti–2.5Cu. In order to achieve that purpose, a combination of energy-dispersive X-ray and neutron diffraction was used. Results revealed that the zero-crossing depths (where the residual stress value of zero is reached) and balancing tensile residual stress distributions in the core region were well defined.