This study examined the effects of multifunction cavitation (MFC) and energy-intensive multifunction
cavitation (EI-MFC) on residual stress and the hardness of carburized steel. Both treatments increased
compressive residual stress and hardness due to plastic deformation, and EI-MFC tended to produce
slightly higher residual stress and a deeper affected layer. The increase in hardness is considered to be
associated with work hardening. Fatigue tests as stress ratio of −1 showed a tendency toward improved
fatigue performance under low stress amplitude conditions. These results suggest that cavitation-based
surface modification influences the mechanical properties under the present experimental conditions.
Keywords: Multifunction cavitation; Surface modification; Carburizing; Fatigue; Residual stress
