Determination of residual stress in spherical balls by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy

In this study, resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) for determining residual stress in small size spherical balls was examined. Natural frequencies of spherical balls with residual stress were analysed by finite element method. Resonant frequencies of spherical balls were experimentally measured by a RUS system. Both natural frequencies in the analysis and the resonant frequencies measured in the experiment decreased as the compressive circumferential stress at the ball surface increased. It was concluded, on the basis of both analytical and experimental results, that the measurement of the resonant frequency by the RUS system along with the analysis of natural frequency are effective for determining the values and distributions of unknown residual stress in spheres.