Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the fatigue and stress corrosion cracking performance of irregular surfaces, such as welds assemblies of components, using a positioning system, such as a robotic or CNC machine, to position a tool head for inducing compression along and into the surface of a workpiece to automatically follow the surface irregularities. The method and apparatus operates to follow a virtual control surface located below the actual surface of the workpiece thereby allowing the irregular topography surface to be uniformly processed with closed loop process control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the fatigue and stress corrosion cracking performance of irregular surfaces, such as welds assemblies of components, using a positioning system, such as a robotic or CNC machine, to position a tool head for inducing compression along and into the surface of a workpiece to automatically follow the surface irregularities. The method and apparatus operates to follow a virtual control surface located below the actual surface of the workpiece thereby allowing the irregular topography surface to be uniformly processed with closed loop process control.

Abstract: A surface treatment element having a textured surface with a plurality of deforming features is pressed against the surface of an article to induce deep and shallow layers of compressive residual stress to form a continuous layer of compressive residual stress extending from the surface to a depth beneath the surface. A method whereby a surface treatment apparatus is pressed into the surface of the apparatus to cause Hertzian loading thereby inducing a deep, high magnitude compressive residual stress below the surface. The deforming features of the surface treatment element cause the lateral displacement of material on the surface of the article thereby cold working the surface and providing a more shallow layer of compressive residual stress at the surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber submarine cable splice housing includes a pressure vessel arranged for securely terminating an optical fiber cable and an optical fiber. A metallic tube formed into a helix is fixed to the cable termination. The optical fiber extends from the terminated cable and through the tube to a fiber termination on the splice housing. The tube acts like a capstan for the optical fiber so that a small tensile force at the fiber termination will hold the fiber in place while a much larger tensile force exists in the fiber where it leaves the cable termination.