Numerical simulation and experimentation of overlapping laser shock processing with symmetry cell

Laser shock processing has been proposed as a competitive alternative technology to classical treatments for improving fatigue, corrosion and wearing resistance of metals. Overlapping laser shock processing is developed as a practical processing amenable to production technology. Modeling of entire impact process of overlapping laser shock processing will enable close process control in production, saving time and cost of processing. A complete model is presented to simulate the process of overlap. A confined plasma development model is used to predict the shock pressure profile and a finite element model using a newly developed and representative symmetry cell is adopted to predict the mechanically induced residual stress field. The good agreements have been shown with the experimental results under different overlapping rates, thus proving the validity of the developed model.