Mechanical effects induced by shock waves generated by high energy laser pulses

Specimens made of low alloy and non alloyed medium carbon steels were subjected to high energy laser pulses. Direct ablation and confined plasma procedures were both investigated. An optimum impulse momentum transfer to the material is attained with a pulse duration of 30 ns and a power density of 10 GW .cm2. Fatigue testing shows that the fatigue strengths of the selected materials are significantly increased. This can be related to the fact that laser shock processing generates an appropriate residual compressive stress field in a sufficiently thick layer and does not alter the initial surface roughness. In addition, the use of cumulative laser impacts and of dual treatment combining thermal and mechanical effects of the laser beam have been investigated and shown to result in an enhanced fatigue strength.