Laser Shock Peening to Improve Performance of Metallic Ship Components

Hepburn and Sons LLC teamed with LSP Technologies Inc. has introduced Laser Shock Peening (LSP) to the U.S. Navy and its public and private shipyards over the last seven years. Through multiple Navy sponsored programs, our team has measured the many benefits of using LSP in the maritime industry including mitigating stress corrosion cracking, increasing fatigue life, arresting crack initiation and growth, reducing cavitation erosion and exfoliation corrosion, and enabling the ability to form complex geometries while minimizing heat. As a result of this research, the Navy has approved LSP to be used onboard multiple Navy ships in 2022.