Macroscopic bending deformations and mechanical properties of Al2024-T351 thick plates with laser peen forming in a cantilever state

Abstract

Laser peen forming (LPF) was used to study the macroscopic bending deformations and mechanical properties of Al2024-T351 thick plates in a cantilever state by surface morphologies, surface bending profiles, residual stresses, microstructure and micro-hardnesses. The results indicated that square micro-pits with about 49μm in depth were induced by the laser shock wave. Overlapping LPF induced curvature radii in the shocked area decreased with LPF impacts. Compressive residual stresses and refined grains were generated at both the top and bottom surfaces. Affected layer depth of micro-hardnesses was approximately 2.1 mm in the surface layer after LPF-2.