Almen

Almen, or Almen intensity, measures how much a metal’s surface deforms when an indenter is pressed into it under a specific load. It is used to assess the surface hardness and uniformity of materials like steel. The test involves pressing a small, standardized strip with a steel ball (the Almen strip) and measuring the curvature that results. These measurements help determine the peening process’s effectiveness in improving material durability, fatigue life, and residual stress. Essentially, Almen values provide a quantifiable way to control and optimize surface treatments in manufacturing.