Definition and origin of residual stresses
Prestressing and surface treatments

Residual stressesσ _R are self-balancing static multiaxial stresses existing in an isolated system of uniform temperature and in the absence of any external loading. In a section, the distribution of residual stresses results from the mechanical equilibrium between the zone occupied by the source of residual stresses, characterized by a well-defined distribution function, and the rest of the elastically deformed section. In the case of the prestressing treatments discussed in this article, the sources of residual stress are always located in the surface layers of the material (figure