Minimum laser energy computation of sheet metal deformation caused by laser shock peening and its experiment

Mechanism of laser shock forming(LSF) is introduced, and cause of laser shock wave is explained. As shortage of R. Fabbro's laser shockwave model and of pressure estimate, both a mathematical model and the estimated formula of shockwave pressure are put forward, the formula shows clearly the relation between the peak value of shockwave and the overlay, energy absorbed layer, sheet metal properties and the laser parameters. Based on the formula and the tensile yield strength of sheet metal, minimum laser energy of deformation is estimated. To discuss the relationship between laser energy and sheet metal deformation the experiment is done, the results show that minimum energy computation accords with critical value of deformation, and that the deformation increases with the increase of laser energy in a nonlinear way. These provide a theory foundation to exactly control and predict deformation of sheet metal.