This SAE Recommended Practice provides uniform procedures for using the standard shot peening Almen strips reported in SAE J 442. Standard Almen strips are used to establish saturation, determine intensity, monitor repeatability of the shot peening machine operations, and can be used to predict a desired result on a part. It is recommended that the standard Almen strip A be used for intensities that produce arc heights of 0.10mm A (0.004 in A) to 0.60 mm A (0.024 in A). For intensities below 0.10 mm A (0.004 in A), the standard N strip is recommended, and for intensities above 0.60 mm A (0.024 in A), the standard C strip is recommended. Use of SAE 2597 Computer Generated Shot Peening Saturation Curves is voluntary, existing shot peening processes that do not take advantage of computer generated saturation curves need not be changed to meet the requirements listed herein.

The process of shot peening, in common with many other processes, cannot at present be adequately controlled by nondestructive inspection of the peened parts, therefore, it is necessary to control the process itself to achieve consistent, reliable results.