Research on a new laser path of laser shock process

Abstract In most laser shock process experiments, the traditional typical laser path is usually in use. However, the surface residual stress induced by laser shock process distribute unbalance. The residual stress released from the minimum axis, the effective of the laser shock process would lose. To solve it, a new laser path produced, the horizontal and vertical reciprocating (HVR). With the new path, the residual stress distribution unbalance reduced. The laser shock process efficiency improved. The traditional laser path induced stress unbalance produced by the time different between the laser pulse and stress pulse. The stress would overlay to the direction of the laser path, it’s the main reason that the material surface stress distribution unbalance. The laser pulse is 12–20 ns for most cases, but the stress pulse is 3 times of it. The results of the simulation shows the traditional laser path X axis stress is 25% larger than the Y axis, but the HVR path is nearly the same. The experiments of the results not only show the two laser path stress distribution different but also the laser shock area different affect the stress distribution. The laser path different affect stress distribution unbalance reason is because the overlay, and the laser shock area affect stress distribution different reason is the resilience.