Compressive residual stresses (CRS) are beneficial for enhancing the fatigue life of metal components. Shot Peening (SP) is an industrial cold working process that is applied to induce a field of CRS and modify the mechanical properties of the metal component. The SP process involves impacting a surface with tiny shots with forces sufficient to create plastic deformation. The process is governed by a number of important parameters such as the shot size, angle of attack, initial velocity, mass flow rate and the distance from the shot nozzle to the surface being peened. The relationship between the optimal peening outcome, particularly the residual stress distribution of the treated surface, and the peening parameters is still unknown and needs to be investigated further. Manufacturers are interested in producing a uniform peening process for complex geometries which optimises the SP parameters. Modelling the process is complex as it involves the interaction of a metallic surface with a large number of shots of very small diameter. Conventionally, such problems are solved using finite element software to predict stresses and strains of a single shot impact then applying superposition. At the moment there are no Finite Element Method (FEM) modelling solutions involving more than tens of shots. The number of shots and elements required for such a modelling process made the approach unfeasible prior to the work described herein. The objective of this work is to develop an appropriate numerical modelling approach that can better simulate the real SP process. The model will be provided by combining Discrete Element Method (DEM) with FEM. The DEM is employed to get a distribution of impact velocities over space and time which are then implemented into a FEM analysis. A discrete element model with randomly distributed steel shots bombarding a steel component at various velocities has been developed as benchmark example. With this model the SP shot - shot interaction, the shot - target interaction, the surface coverage, angle of impingement, shot size, impact velocity and the overall shot flow can be parametrically studied in details and with little computational effort. The novel approach also proposes a new method to dynamically change the coefficient of restitution for repeated impacts during the simulation and predicts the CRS more effectively. The effects of SP on different materials of relevance to gas turbine engine components will be investigated in order to improve the understanding of the interaction between the shots and the targeted material. Initially, an uncoupled analysis was peforned, in order to assess the capabilities of the two modelling systems, DEM and FEM, to delivery an improved solutuion when combining two commercially available codes. This parametric analysis is performed using the state-of-the-art Discrete Element (DE) application EDEM. In the subsequent part of this work, a dynamic Finite Element (FE) application Abaqus will be used to investigate single shot impacts and to obtain the residual stress distribution. This gives us a prescribed residual stress distribution and peening coverage. A Combined DEM/FEM tool (DEST) is proposed that eliminates any manual pre-processing required for linking/coupling, eliminating the use of two different applications and provide an integrated solution for the simulation of the Shot Peening process. In the subsequent chapter, the implementation of essential tools for the enchanced modelling of Shot Peening process functionalities, such as the nozzle, bounding box, coverage and intensity is described. A number of computational improvements are also implemented to reduce the computation time. The existing binary search is enhanced to self-balancing search tree and further improved to allow insertion and deletion of elements. A bounding box feature which removes shots that move out of the domain during the course of the simulation is also implemented. Experiments featuring single shot impacts are performed to gain better understanding the deformation process in the target material subjected to impact conditions to those occurring in the production peening. The single shot impacts are experimentally examined using SEM and EBSD. During final chapter, case studies are performed to compare the results of the simulations with large-scale experimental work. The coverage of peening of single and multiple nozzles with different angle of impingements are assessed. Finally, possible directions for further research concerning the accurate quantification of material responses to SP are identified in the report.

Les études sur les procédés de soudage et sur la fiabilité des structures assemblées apparaissent actuellement comme un domaine de recherche actif, ouvert et complexe, car elles nécessitent de combiner de nombreuses connaissances dans différents domaines de la physique, de la mécanique et des procédés. La distribution des contraintes résiduelles joue un rôle important dans la vie des structures en favorisant la rupture par fatigue ou par fissuration. Ainsi, une meilleure compréhension des contraintes résiduelles évite l'utilisation de facteurs de sécurité plus élevés et, par conséquent permet de mieux optimiser le cycle de vie des structures soudées. A travers ce travail de thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés au soudage par laser d’un acier dual phase DP600, soudé en configuration par recouvrement, dont l’application est l’utilisation dans le domaine automobile. Cette thèse présente deux volets : un volet expérimental et un volet numérique.L’étude expérimentale nous a permis d’une part d’appréhender les conséquences métallurgiques et mécaniques du procédé laser sur l’acier DP600 et d’autre part d’utiliser et de valider les résultats numériques des modèles développés. L’étude numérique a eu pour objectif de prédire l’histoire thermique, métallurgique et l’évolution des caractéristiques mécaniques des tôles soudées par faisceau laser. Nous avons développé, sur un code de calcul par élémentsfinis Abaqus, trois modèles numériques. Le modèle thermomécanique, nous a permis de simuler la distribution spatio-temporelle de la température. Dans ce cas, le chargement appliqué est dépendant des paramètres du procédé etdes caractéristiques du faisceau laser et est associé à des conditions aux limites. Pour le modèle mécanique, nous avonsconsidéré un comportement élasto-plastique avec un chargement thermique transitoire, résultat du modèle thermique.Le deuxième modèle thermo-métallurgique nous a permis de simuler les phénomènes d’austénisation pendant la phase de chauffage (modèle de Waeckel) et de prendre en compte les fractions volumiques des phases martensitiques générées par les transformations de phases austénite–martensite lors du refroidissement (modèle de Koistinen-Marburger). Enfin, dans la dernière partie de simulation, nous avons réalisé le couplage thermo-metallo-mécanique. Les résultats obtenus dans la partie précédente, ont été implémentés dans deux modèles mécaniques : le modèle mécanique classique et le modèle mécanique avec prise en compte de la déformation liée aux effets de dilatation métallurgique. Cet effet a été intégré à travers le coefficient de dilatation thermique des phases ferritiques et martensitiques et des fractions volumiques obtenues à partir du modèle thermo-métallurgique. Les résultats ont montré que la répartition des contraintes résiduelles dans la zone de fusion et dans la zone affectée thermiquement sous l’effet de la déformation thermo-métallurgique donne des valeurs supérieures à celles estimées par le modèle élasto-plastique classique. / Studies on welding processes and the reliability of assembled structures currently appear as an area of active research, open and complex as they need to combine knowledge in many different fields of physics, mechanics and processes. The distribution of residual stress plays an important role in the life of welded structures by promoting fatigue failure or cracking. Thus, a better understanding of residual stress avoids the use of higher safety factors and therefore helps to optimize the life cycle of welded structures. Through this work, we are interested in laser welding of steel DP600 dual phase welded overlap configuration, the application is the use in the automotive field. This thesis has two components: an experimental and a numerical part. The experimental study allowed us, firstly to understand the metallurgical and mechanical effects of laser welding on steel DP600 and secondly to use and validate the numerical results of the developed models. The numerical study aimed to predict the thermal history, and metallurgical changes in mechanical properties of laser beam welded sheets. We have developed three numerical models by using a finite element code inside Abaqus. The thermomechanical model allowed us to simulate the temporal and spatial distribution of temperature. In this case, the applied load is dependent on the processing parameters and characteristics of the laser beam and is associated with boundary conditions. For the mechanical model, we considered an elastoplastic behavior with a transient thermal loading result of the thermal model. The second thermo-metallurgical m odel allowed us to simulate the phenomena austenitizing during the heating phase (Waeckel model) and take into account the volume fraction of martensitic phase transformations generated by the austenite-martensite transformation during cooling (Koistinen-Marburger model). Finally, in the last part of simulation, we have achieved the metallothermo- mechanical coupling. The results obtained in the previous section have been implemented in two mechanical models: the classical mechanics model and the mechanical model taking intoaccount the deformation due to the effects of metallurgical expansion. This effect has been built through the coefficient ofthermal expansion of ferritic and martensitic phases and volume fractions obtained from the thermo-metallurgical model. The results showed that the distribution of residual stresses in the fusion zone and the heat affected as a result of the eformation thermometallurgical field gives values higher than those estimated by the classical elastic-plastic model.

[pt] O conhecimento dos esforços de flexão e normal provocados por movimentação de solo é importante para a análise de integridade estrutural de dutos. A existência de tensões residuais é um dos principais obstáculos para obtenção de resultados precisos na determinação de tais esforços. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de analisar o comportamento das tensões residuais de fabricação em tubos ao longo de sua circunferência e de seu comprimento. Foram feitas medições de tensões residuais em corpos de prova de um tubo novo e de outros retirados de operação utilizando a técnica de furo cego e uma nova técnica de seccionamento. As medições foram realizadas ao longo da circunferência e em diferentes seções dos tubos. As medições com a técnica de seccionamento proposta, denominada técnica do furo elíptico, mostraram-se coerentes com as medições com o furo cego, principalmente para as tensões longitudinais. A partir dos resultados obtidos nos experimentos realizados, foram feitas recomendações e propostas metodologias para separar as tensões residuais de fabricação das tensões atuantes no duto em operação. Para cada método proposto foi feita uma simulação para avaliar seus erros. As tensões residuais de fabricação circunferenciais e longitudinais possuem magnitudes consideráveis (por vezes até próximas à resistência ao escoamento dos tubos). Desprezá-las em medições realizadas em campo, como é feito na maioria das vezes para calcular os esforços existentes, pode acarretar grandes erros na determinação dos esforços agindo sobre o duto. Os resultados das simulações mostraram que, se as tensões residuais forem baixas, os esforços de trabalho obtidos desconsiderando-as são próximos dos valores reais. No mais, os procedimentos propostos para a determinação dos esforços, mediante a separação das tensões residuais existentes, apresentaram erros menores ou, no mínimo, próximos aos encontrados quando o cálculo foi feito negligenciando-se as tensões residuais. / [en] The knowledge of the bending and axial efforts caused by soil movement is important for the structural integrity analysis of pipelines. The existence of residual stresses is one of the main obstacles for obtaining good results in the determination of such efforts. This work was developed to analyze the behavior of the residual stresses of manufacturing in pipes throughout its circumference and length. Measurements of residual stresses had been made in samples of a new pipe and others samplers removed from operation, using the hole drilling technique and a new sectioning technique. The measurements had been carried throughout the circumference and different sections of the pipes. The measurements with the sectioning technique proposed, called elliptical hole technique, are coherent with the measurements of the hole drilling technique, mainly for the longitudinal stresses. From the experimental results, recommendations had been made and methodologies had been proposed to separate the manufacturing residual stresses from the operating stresses in the pipelines. For each method considered in this work, a simulation was made to evaluate its errors. The circumferential and longitudinal residual stresses of manufacturing have considerable magnitudes (sometimes next to the yield strength of the pipes). Not considering the residual stresses in measurements carried through in situ to calculate the existing loads, as it is made most of the time, can cause significant errors in the determination of the efforts acting on the pipeline. The results of the simulations had shown that, if the residual stresses are low, the work loads obtained when the residual stresses are not considered are comparable with the correct loads. The procedures proposed for the determination of loads, considering the separation of the existing residual stresses, had presented smaller errors or closer to those when the calculation was made neglecting the residual stresses.

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a distribuição das tensões residuais que resultam da combinação das variações volumétricas resultantes dos gradientes térmicos e das transformações de fase que ocorrem durante a têmpera de cilindros de aço AISI/SAE 1045, 4140 e 4340. O modelo matemático usado para este objetivo utiliza o programa AC3 de modelagem de tratamentos térmicos (curvas de transformação, curvas de resfriamento, microestrutura e a dureza do material), para alimentar um modelo de elementos finitos, considerando acoplamento termo-mecânico e comportamento não linear elasto-plástico, para previsão de tensões residuais em cilindros de aço AISI/SAE 1045, 4140 e 4340 temperados em água. São apresentados, também, os resultados de observações metalográficas e perfis de dureza que confirmam qualitativamente as previsões do programa AC3. A verificação do modelo numérico por elementos finitos foi efetuada através da medição das tensões residuais nos cilindros de aço com o emprego da técnica de difração de raios X. A simulação numérica, através do método dos elementos finitos comprova, nos três casos estudados, a existência de tensões residuais de compressão na região superficial após o processo de têmpera e indica de maneira quantitativa e qualitativa que as tensões mais significativas são as tangenciais. Os resultados obtidos a partir do modelo numérico mostraram uma aderência significativa em comparação com os resultados experimentais. / The aim of this work is to analyze the distribution of residual stresses resulting from combination of volumetric changes due to heat gradients and phase changes occurring during the quenching process of AISI/SAE 1045, 4140 and 4340 steel cylinders. The mathematical model used for this objective uses the AC3 program for modeling thermal treatments (transformation curves, cooling curves, microstructure and material hardness), whose results were fed into a finite element model, considering thermal-mechanical coupling and non-linear elastic-plastic behavior for forecasting of residual stresses in AISI/SAE 1045, 4140 and 4340 steel cylinders quenched in water. The observed microstructures and measured hardness confirmed qualitatively the previsions of the AC3 program. The results of finite element modeling were compared to experimental measurements of residual stresses measured at the surface, using X-Ray diffraction techniques. The finite element numerical simulation shows, for the three studied cases, the presence of compressive residual stresses in the surface region after a quenching process and indicates qualitatively and quantitatively that the most significant stresses are the tangential ones. The results obtained from the numerical model showed a significant adherence in comparison with the experimental results.

O aumento da vida em fadiga em peças submetidas a esforços cíclicos devido à aplicação de processos de tratamento mecânico superficial já é bastante conhecido, tanto no meio industrial quanto no meio acadêmico. Para molas, o processo de shot-peening se torna etapa essencial no processo de fabricação, porém um estudo sistemático do efeito do shot-peening na vida em fadiga se faz necessário. O objetivo deste trabalho é aprofundar o conhecimento nos processos de jateamento superficial do tipo shot-peening para molas em lâminas de veículos, através da análise de tensões residuais por difração de raios-x e ensaios de fadiga em uma série de amostras que sofreram dez diferentes receitas de processos de jateamento. Dos dez diferentes processos, o de jateamento com granalha esférica fundida de aço com 1,0mm de diâmetro seguido de um segundo jateamento com granalha esférica fundida de aço de 0,3mm de diâmetro levou a uma maior vida em fadiga das amostras. A análise por difração de raios-x comprovou que a importância das tensões residuais de compressão se dá até a uma profundidade de 0,05mm, influenciando diretamente no modo de nucleação de trincas de fadiga. Acima desta profundidade, as tensões residuais induzidas por shot-peening não têm influência no modo de propagação destas trincas, e por consequência na vida em fadiga das peças. Correlações entre os resultados e a alta dureza e diminuída ductilidade do material utilizado são discutidas. / The improvement of fatigue life in parts subjected to cyclic stresses by application of mechanical surface treatment processes is already well known, both in the industry and in the academy. Dealing with automotive springs, the shot peening process becomes an essential step in manufacturing these parts. In the case of leaf springs, however, a systematic investigation of the effect of shot peening on fatigue life is still required. The aim of this work is to improve the knowledge of shot peening on leaf springs for vehicles, through the analysis of residual stresses by x-ray diffraction and fatigue tests on a series of samples that were subjected to ten different peening schedules. Among the investigated processes, the usage of 1.0 mm diameter cast steel shot followed by a second peening with 0.3 mm diameter cast steel shot leads to better performance, regarding fatigue life. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that this improved performance may be attributed to residual compressive stress maintained until a depth of 0.05 mm below the surface, which directly influences the fatigue crack nucleation. Residual stresses induced by shot-peening in larger depths, have no influence on sample fatigue life, showing that crack propagation is not affected by the induced residual stresses. Consequently, the durability of parts is improved by shot-peening exclusively due to this influence on crack nucleation at samples surface. Correlations with the increased hardness and decreased ductility of the employed material are discussed.

Ce projet de thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre du FUI « MicroConnect », porté par la société Axon’Cable, dont l’objectif principal, est la conception et le développement d’un procédé de mise en forme automatisé, permettant d’élaborer un nouveau type de connecteurs twist-pin novateurs et très performants. Ces connecteurs, robustes, répondent aux exigences d’environnements sévères et trouvent leurs applications dans de nombreux domaines tels que l'électronique aéronautique, les équipements avioniques, les systèmes militaires... L’un des éléments essentiels des connecteurs est le contact, qui permet de faire transiter le courant électrique d’un système à un autre. Chaque connecteur peut compter des dizaines, voire des centaines de contacts.De par l’enchaînement des procédés utilisés pour concevoir ces contacts, les propriétés électriques et mécaniques initiales peuvent être modifiées. L’utilisation de la simulation numérique s’avère donc indispensable pour maitriser l’influence de ces procédés sur le produit final. La démarche adoptée dans ce travail a consisté à modéliser numériquement les différentes étapes de fabrication des contacts (pliage, soudage laser et sertissage) avec le logiciel Abaqus afin de déterminer les contraintes résiduelles issues de ces différents procédés de mise en forme. Les modèles sont validés en les confrontant à des investigations expérimentales réalisées. Pour finir, une optimisation du sertissage a été réalisée pour mettre en évidence les configurations géométriques des outillages permettant au produit développé de répondre aux essais d’arrachement prévus par les normes de validation imposées. / This PhD thesis is part of the FUI "MicroConnect" project, carried out by Axon'Cable Group, whose main objective is the design and development of an automated forming process to manufacture a new type of innovative and high-performance twist-pin connectors. These connectors are used in many fields such as aeronautical electronics, avionics, military systems because of their strength and their hability to be used in very demanding environments... An essential element of the connectors is the contact, as it makes the transfer of the electric current from a system to another. Each connector can have tens or even hundreds.Due to the sequence of the processes used to produce these contacts, their initial properties can be modified. The use of numerical simulation is therefore essential to master the influence of these processes on the final product. The approach adopted in this work consisted in modelling the different steps of the contact fabrication (bending, laser welding and crimping) on the Abaqus software in order to determine the residual stresses resulting from these operations. These models are validated by comparing them with experimental investigations carried out. Finally, an optimization of the crimping is done to highlight the geometrical configurations of the tools allowing the developed product to respond to the tearing tests provided by the validation standards.

Les procédés de traitement de surface tels que le grenaillage sont utilisés pour introduire des contraintes résiduelles de compression dans les matériaux métalliques. Cela permet de prévenir l'initiation et la propagation des fissures afin d'augmenter la durée de vie en fatigue des pièces mécaniques. Les limites et inconvénients des procédés actuels généralement utilisés pour cette fin sont connus et ont été mis en avant dans plusieurs études. Il s'agit d'une modification importante de l'état de surface (rugosité), une profondeur traitée limitée, des difficultés de mise en œuvre, etc. Aussi, de nouveaux procédés permettant d'obtenir des résultats équivalents voire meilleurs tout en évitant ces problèmes suscitent un intérêt grandissant. Le traitement de surface par cavitation (cavitation peening) et la mise en compression par impulsions électromagnétiques font partie de ces procédés innovants dont la modélisation a fait l'objet de cette thèse. Le traitement de surface par cavitation consiste à générer un jet d'eau submergé contenant des bulles de cavitation et dirigé vers la surface à traiter. La principale difficulté dans la modélisation du cavitation peening est la détermination du chargement mécanique sur la surface provenant de l'implosion des bulles de cavitation. L'effondrement des bulles peut se faire de manière sphérique ou non-sphérique suivant leur proximité de la paroi solide. Des modèles analytiques et numériques ont donc été élaborés pour étudier la dynamique des bulles et déterminer l'onde de pression due à une bulle sphérique d'une part, et la pression d'impact du micro-jet (bulle asphérique) d'autre part. Ces deux types de sollicitations ont été comparés et un modèle macroscopique pour le traitement par cavitation a été dérivé, en s'appuyant sur une simulation numérique du jet de cavitation. Une comparaison avec des résultats expérimentaux a été effectuée et a montré la pertinence du modèle proposé. En ce qui concerne le traitement par impulsions électromagnétiques, il consiste à générer un puissant champ magnétique transitoire par induction dans la pièce de matériau conducteur. Les contraintes résiduelles proviennent de la déformation plastique créée par les forces de Laplace à l'intérieur du matériau. Un modèle numérique couplant l'électromagnétisme et la mécanique des solides a été mis en place pour la simulation du procédé. Grâce à une étude d'optimisation, ce modèle a permis d'obtenir les paramètres électriques nécessaires pour arriver à mettre en compression des matériaux de type alliage de base nickel ou d'aluminium par cette méthode. Les profondeurs de la mise en compression calculées sont théoriquement par calcul plus élevées que celles obtenues avec les méthodes classiques de traitement de surface. Une étude de l'influence des différents paramètres a été faite et a montré que le procédé peut être contrôlé de manière relativement aisée en variant l'intensité et la pseudo-fréquence du courant traversant l'inducteur. / Surface treatments methods like shot peening are used to introduce compressive residual stresses in metallic materials. The compressive stresses prevent the initiation and growth of cracks and hence improve the fatigue life of mechanical parts. The drawbacks and limitations of the existing processes generally used for this purpose are known and have been highlighted in many studies. These are, among others, an important surface modification (roughness), a limited compressive depth, difficulties in execution, debris and contamination problems, etc. Therefore, the interest in new surface treatment methods, which permit to obtain equivalent or even better compressive results while avoiding the previous problems, are growing. Cavitation peening and electromagnetic pulse peening are part of these innovative processes which modeling is the aim of this PhD thesis. Cavitation peening is a process of surface treatment which acts by the generation of cavitation bubbles near the workpiece surface. The modeling of this process is challenging because of the complexity of cavitation phenomenon and the main problematic point is the determination of the mechanical loading on the material due the bubbles collapse. In this thesis, an approach of modeling for cavitation peening based on the study of the dynamics of cavitation bubbles is proposed. Spherical and aspherical collapse of bubbles near a solid surface are studied by some numerical and analytical models. These two sources of loading pressures have been compared and a macroscopic model for cavitation peening have been derived by associating the numerical simulation of the cavitation jet and the localization of the cavitation zone. The comparison between the final residual stress profile calculated with the proposed model and the experimental results were satisfactory. Electromagnetic pulse peening (EMP) is a contactless process of surface treatment which could be used to introduce compressive residual stresses in conductive materials, by the generation of a high transient electromagnetic field. Laplace forces induced in the material by magnetic induction are the source of the material plastic deformation and compressive residual stresses introduction. To predict the EMP results, a numerical model have been built for the process simulation. The model, based on finite element method, coupled successfully electromagnetic and mechanical phenomena by using a sequential-coupled approach. It was proven theoretically, by the study of a reference case, that compressive residual stresses could be induced in metallic materials like nickel-based (Inconel) or aluminum alloys by the means of the present process. It was also shown by the calculations that much higher compressive depths than those of conventional peening processes could be achieved. The parametric study exhibited the influence of the maximum current intensity and frequency which affect both the compressive depth and the maximum residual stress.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Tensões residuais são uma das principais causas de falhas em componentes mecânicos submetidos a processos de fabricação. O objetivo do trabalho foi medir as tensões residuais presentes em um tubo quadrado soldado por resistência elétrica de alta frequência e caracterizar microestruturalmente o seu material. Para a caracterização, foram utilizadas técnicas de microscopia óptica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e análise química quantitativa. Para a medição das tensões residuais, foi utilizado o método do furo cego, baseado na norma ASTM E837-08, onde rosetas (strain-gages) são coladas à peça para medir as deformações geradas devido à usinagem de um pequeno furo no local de medição. As deformações foram associadas às tensões residuais através de equações baseadas na Lei de Hooke. A caracterização revelou uma microestrutura composta basicamente de ferrita e perlita, típica de aços com baixo teor de carbono, corroborando com a especificação fornecida pelo fabricante. As tensões residuais encontradas foram trativas e mostraram-se elevadas, com alguns valores acima do limite de escoamento do material. / Residual stresses are one of the main failure causes in mechanical components submitted to manufacture process. The aim of this work was to measure the residual stresses present in a seame welded tube welded using a high frequency electrical resistance and to microstruturally characterize its material. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitative chemical analysis techniques were used for the characterization. The hole-drilling method was applied obeying the ASTM E837-08 norm to measure the residual stresses, where strain-gages are glued to the sample to measure the deformations caused due to the machining of a small hole in the measurement point. The deformations were linked to the residual stresses using the Hookes Law equations. The characterization basically showed a composite microstructure of ferrite and perlite, tipical in lowcarbon steels, as the specification supplied by the manufacturer. The residual stresses found were tensile and high, with some values above the material yield strength.

University of Macau / Faculty of Science and Technology / Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Quality of the castings is affected by several factors which the designer should take into consideration during the product development process. Although residual stress is one of those, it is often not considered in practical computations. Hence residual stresses are one of the forgotten areas in designing of machine parts. This master thesis is focused on the investigation of residual stresses in a high pressure die casted component, with the aim of extending its service life, by taking results from the study as a feedback. The investigation of residual stresses was done on a variety of specimens, cast aluminum flywheel, provided by Husqvarna AB. This flywheel is a component in a product of the same company.In evaluating the residual stresses in the part, two tools-simulation and physical measurement were used. Moreover, comparison with these two methods is also done at an area of interest on the flywheel. The simulation was carried out by using MAGMAhpdc-a module for high pressure die casting process, from the commercial software package MAGMAsoft; while for the physical measurements, the hole drilling method was used, a method believed to be less accurate at low stresses areas. The findings obtained from this study show that the results from both procedures are close, with small deviations observed, which reveals the reliability of the hole drilling method even when the stress levels are low. It is also found that the compressive residual stresses dominate in the component-a preferred phenomenon with regards to residual stress.