Effects of laser source geometry on laser shock peening residual stress

In LSP (laser shock peening) treatment, the laser source geometries when the laser beam strikes the metal target area are diverse. The laser spot geometry affects the residual stress field beneath the treated surface of the metallic materials, which determines the characteristics of the pressure pulse. In this paper, detailed finite element (FE) simulations on laser shock peening have been conducted in order to predict the magnitude and of the residual stresses and the depth affected in Inconel alloy 600 steel. The residual stress results are compared for circular, rectangular, and elliptical laser spot geometries. It is found that a circular spot can produce the maximum compressive residual stresses near the surface but generates tensile residual stresses at the center of the laser spot. In the depth direction, an elliptical laser spot produces the maximum compressive residual stresses. Circular and elliptical spots plastically affect the alloy to higher depths than a rectangular spot