ASTM E837-25

1.1.1 This test method specifies a hole-drilling procedure for determining in-plane residual stresses near the surface of an isotropic linearly elastic material. It applies to residual stress determinations where the stresses do not vary significantly across the diameter of the drilled hole. The measured stresses are the in-plane residual stresses that are present within the depth of the drilled hole. Stress sensitivity rapidly decreases with depth from the measured surface, and deep interior stresses cannot be evaluated. The measured residual stresses are described as “uniform” if they remain approximately constant within the hole depth, or “non-uniform” if they vary significantly.

1.1.2 “Blind” holes are used, where the depth of the drilled hole and therefore the depth of the residual stress evaluation is less than the specimen thickness.

1.2.1 The near-surface residual stresses primarily influence the relieved strains. The influences of the interior stresses diminish rapidly with their depth from the surface. Thus, hole-drilling measurements are mainly sensitive to near-surface stresses; deep interior stresses cannot be identified reliably.

1.2.2 This test method applies in cases where material behavior is linear-elastic. When near-yield residual stresses are present, it is possible for local yielding to occur due to the stress concentration around the drilled hole. Satisfactory measurement results can be achieved when the residual stresses do not exceed about 80 % of the material yield stress (1).2

1.3.1 Compared with most other mechanical methods for measuring residual stresses, the hole-drilling method does relatively modest damage to the specimen, and is often described as “semi-destructive.” However, since hole drilling does cause some damage, this test method should be applied only in those cases either where the specimen is expendable, or where the introduction of a small shallow hole will not significantly affect the usefulness of the specimen.