Abstract: Reducing residual stress through an electromagnetic method is presented and the enhancement effect is found, which is obviously different from magnetic field treatment or pulsed current treatment. The studied samples are welded with 16Mn plates and residual stress in different area is investigated. Stress variations caused by magnetic field treatment, pulsed current treatment and electromagnetic treatment are compared. Experiment results show that after magnetic treatment the stress decreases by 10%, after electrical treatment the stress increases by 20%, while after electromagnetic treatment the stress decreases by more than 50%. There is an enhancement effect on residual stress relief in electromagnetic treatment due to great migration of dislocation structure related to the residual stress.

Key words: Electrical treatment, Electromagnetic treatment, Enhancement effect, Magnetic treatment, Residual stress