Contour forming of metals by laser peening

摘要

A system is provided for forming shapes and contours in a metal workpiece, comprising: a laser system that is capable of producing a series of laser pulses, wherein each laser pulse of said series of laser pulses has an energy within a range of 10 J to 100 J per pulse, wherein said each laser pulse has a pulse duration within a range of 10 ns to 20 ns and a rising edge that is less than 1 ns; a layer of material that absorbs light for fixedly attaching to a metal workpiece and comprising polyvinyl acetate of polyvinyl chloride plastic; means for flowing a thin layer of water over said layer of material; and means for imaging the near field of said each laser pulse to a spot size on said layer of material so that said series of laser pulses will generate compressive stress on the surface of said metal workpiece until a desired shape is formed therein without inducing unwanted tensile stress at the surface of said metal workpiece.