An equivalent numerical model for calculating shot peening bending deformation based on the laser forming method

Abstract

Shot peen forming is an essential method for forming large-size thin-walled structural parts in the aerospace field. However, the complex elastic–plastic deformation involved in the forming process presents a challenge in calculating directly the deformation response under the specified peening parameters. The energy of the shot beam in the shot peen forming process is equivalently converted to that of the laser beam in the laser forming process, enabling the equivalent simulation of macroscopic deformation of the shot-peened workpiece using the laser-induced temperature field. It is proven that the essential factors affecting the laser forming process are the laser power, scanning speed, the width and thickness of the plate. When other parameters remain constant, the equivalent laser energy can be determined by the impact energy of the shot beam and the equivalence factor. The average error of the proposed model is 5.068%, with a maximum error of less than 10%, demonstrating a well agreement between the simulation and test results. Furthermore, the equivalent numerical model is used to examine the influence of process parameters on shot peen forming, indicating that the radius of curvature produced by shot peen forming increases with nozzle speed and plate thickness, but decreases with air pressure.