Simulation of laser shock peening on X12Cr steel using an alternate computational mechanical threshold stress plasticity model

Abstract

The ever-increasing relationship between energy consumption and economic growth continues to reinforce functional power generation infrastructure as the centerpiece of development. However, downtimes from in-service failure of power plant components, such as turbine blades, portend dire consequences in the form of huge financial and safety concerns. This challenge is now being progressively overcome through intensive research in the development of laser shock peening (LSP) models, which simulate the induction of compressive layers around and beneath the surface of the blades. This paper presents an alternate experimentally validated computational modelling approach of the LSP process, grounded on a physics-based plasticity model which describes a mechanical threshold for compressive residual stress induction irrespective of increasing laser shock intensities. This is a phenomenon which hitherto has previously been overlooked by many researches. The results of this work show considerable promise when compared to experimental results.