Plastic deformation of surface by steel ball: theoretical foundations, experiment, and mathematical modeling

This paper presents an in-depth investigation of the theoretical principles, experimental observations, and mathematical modeling of the surface plastic deformation process performed using a steel ball. The study explores the role of deformation-based surface treatment in enhancing the hardness, strength, and wear resistance of metallic materials. The interaction between the elastic–plastic zone, contact stresses, and deformation depth generated under applied pressure has been determined. The mathematical model was developed based on Hertzian contact theory and refined using empirical coefficients. Experimental results demonstrated that the surface roughness decreased threefold, while the microhardness increased by 25-35 %. The obtained results allow for optimization of production technologies under energy-efficient regimes. The findings indicate that surface strengthening using a steel ball represents a promising and sustainable method in modern machine-building and metalworking industries.