Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Distribution of Residual Stresses Induced by Laser Shock Peening in a 2050-T8 Aluminium Alloy

Laser shock peening (LSP) is an innovative surface treatment technique successfully applied to improving fatigue performance of metallic material. The specific characteristic of (LSP) is the generation of a low work-hardening and a deep compressive residual stresses mechanically produced by a laser-induced shock wave propagating in the material. The aim of this study is to analyse the residual stress distribution induced by laser peening in 2050-T8 aluminium alloy experimentally by the X-ray diffraction technique (method sin2Y) and numerically, by a finite element numerical modelling. A specific focus was put on the residual stress distribution along the surface of the impacted material.