Laser shot peening is a new technique for surface modification using shock wave pressure induced by the interaction between pulsed laser and materials. The material surface integrity could be changed effectively by reasonable process parameters controlling, which is beneficial to promoting the material wear resistance, corrosion resistance as well as the fatigue property and significantly improving the service life of engineering components. In this paper, the technical principle, technological characteristics and development history of laser shot peening are introduced. The research progress in related fields at home and abroad are reviewed. The main application directions of laser shot peening technology are summarized. The follow up research is prospected.
Ceramic shot were employed to shot-peen the single-crystal superalloy (SX) to analyze the strengthening mechanism of medium-temperature fatigue property. Surface morphology, cross-sectional micro-structure, casting porosities and 650℃ rotating-bending fatigue property were researched, and the fatigue fractures were observed. The results show the 650℃/Kt =1.7 and 650℃/Kt =3 rotating-bending fatigue limit increase by 21.3% and 12.7% after shot peening respectively. Firstly, shot peening eliminated sharp machining masks at the bottom and formed a smooth crater, which reduced the surface stress concentration factor from 1.44 to 1.38. This is the surface topography optimization mechanism. Secondly, a gradient plastic deformation layers were formed at the surface by shot peening, composed of the severe deformation layer at the outer-surface, the deformation layer with the “line structure” at the subsurface, the small deformation layer at the inferior surface and the matrix. The micro-hardness of the deformation layer was 42% higher than that of the matrix, which is the deformation strengthening mechanism. Furthermore, the as-received casting porosities with the diameter 2–10μm, could be the fatigue crack source during alternating stress. The micro-holes closed at the outer-surface and ovalized at the subsurface and inferior surface after at shot peening, which reduced the stress concentration at the casting porosities. The deformation effect on the casting micro-holes of shot peening is the third strengthening mechanism..