3-D FEM simulation of laser shock processing

Laser shock processing is an innovative surface treatment technique similar to shot peening. It can impart compressive residual stresses in material for improving fatigue, corrosion and wear resistance of metals. FEM simulation is an effective method to predict mechanical effects induced in the material treated by laser shock processing. An analysis procedure including dynamic analysis performed by LS-DYNA and static analysis performed by ANSYS is presented in detail to attain the simulation of the single and multiple laser shock processing to predict the residual stress field and the surface deformation. History of the energies during dynamic analysis is analyzed and validated by the theoretical calculation. The predicted residual stress field for single laser shock processing is well correlated with the available experimental data and a homogeneous depression with little roughness modification in the action zone of the shock pressure is induced on the treated surface according to the simulation of surface deformation. Simulation of multiple laser shocks is also performed, which indicates that compressive residual stresses and plastically affected depth can be extensively increased and gradually reach the saturated state with the increase of laser shock number. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.