Shot peening has been used for half a century to combat metal fatigue and stress corrosion cracking in highly loaded machines and structures. Despite its success as a “fix” for service problems, there has been a reluctance to specify shot peening in new designs. This has been based on a lack of confidence, the uniformity and repeatability of the process. Much of this has been overcome with the introduction of computer-enhanced peening equipment, which monitors and controls key process parameters. Computer enhanced shot peening and its equipment are reviewed with emphasis on what it does and does not do. The successful marriage of conventional and computer enhanced peening is used for critical aircraft, turbine, nuclear power plant, and truck transmissions and its use promises to grow.
