Peening is spelled with two E's and is pronounced /piːnɪŋ/. The word is derived from the verb "peen", which means to strike or shape metal with a hammer. The -ing suffix indicates a present participle form indicating present action. The double E is necessary to maintain the soft vowel sound in the middle syllable. This word is most commonly used in the field of metalworking, where workers often use peening to improve the strength and durability of metal objects.
Peening is a metalworking technique used to shape, strengthen, or smooth the surface of a material, usually metal, by striking it with a hammer or another hard tool. This process involves deforming the material through controlled impact, which creates compressive stresses on its surface and alters its mechanical properties.
The term "peening" can refer to different specific techniques depending on the context. In general, it involves striking the material with repetitive blows in a specific pattern that produces a desired effect. This can be done by hand, with a peening hammer, or with a mechanical tool like a shot peening machine.
Peening can be used for various purposes. One common application is to relieve stress and prevent cracking or corrosion in metal parts. By introducing compressive stress, peening can counteract the tensile stresses that develop during manufacturing or use, improving the material's fatigue resistance. Peening can also be employed to increase the hardness or durability of a material's surface. It can be used to shape or reshape metal surfaces, such as to create a curved or textured finish.
Overall, peening is a versatile technique used in metalworking to modify the surface or mechanical properties of a material through controlled impact, resulting in improved strength, durability, and resistance to fatigue or cracking.
The word "peening" is derived from the Old English word "pīnian", which means "to rivet" or "to fasten". This Old English term eventually evolved into the Middle English word "pīnen" with a similar meaning. Over time, the specific act of hammering or striking metal to expand or flatten its surface, known as "peening", became associated with this word. Therefore, "peening" can be traced back to the Old English root of "pīnian".