Surface Residual Stress of TP304 Stainless Steel Thin Wall Tube

Axial and tangential surface residual stress of TP304 stainless steel thin wall tube was measured with X-ray stress tester and reasons for the formation of the residual stress on the surface of the stainless steel pipe was analyzed. The results show that there was large residual stress on the surface of this TP304 stainless steel thin wall tube and distributing of it was very asymmetrical. In addition, the tangential surface residual stress of the stainless steel pipe was 1.5-2.5 times larger than the axial surface residual stress. Cold drawn and cold straightening process, shorter holding time of solution treatment, and the local surface defects of the pipe together resulted in the large residual stress on the surface of this TP304 stainless steel thin wall tube.