METHOD FOR PREVENTING CRACK FORMATION AND FOR SLOWING DOWN THE ADVANCEMENT OF A CRACK IN METAL AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES BY WAY OF LASER SHOCK RAYS

摘要

The present invention provides a method for preventing crack formation and for slowing down the advancement of a crack in metal aircraft structures by way of laser shock rays, said method comprising the steps: preparing an aircraft structure part with a point of damage; irradiating a first surface area of the aircraft structure part near the point of damage by way of a first pulsed laser beam at a first wavelength and a first pulse frequency, wherein energy from the first laser beam is absorbed by the aircraft structure part and wherein a pressure wave passes through the aircraft structure part, generating a compressive pre-stress in the aircraft structure part.