Laser Peening & Metal Improvement

Laser Peening

Laser peening is an innovative surface enhancement process used to increase the resistance of aircraft gas turbine engine compressor and fan blades to foreign object damage (FOD) and improve high cycle fatigue (HCF) life. The process creates residual compressive stresses deep into part surfaces – typically five to ten times deeper than conventional metal shot peening.

Applications

Application of laser peening avoided over $59 million in blade replacement costs, secondary damage engine repair costs, and cost avoidance from airfoil failures.

Overall, the potential savings from laser peening are estimated to approach $1 billion when calculating this impact over all engines in the Air Force fleet

The Technology

Laser peening drives a high amplitude shock wave into a material surface using a high energy pulsed laser. The effect on the material being processed is achieved through the mechanical "cold working" effect produced by the shock wave, not a thermal effect from heating of the surface by the laser beam.

Laser Peening versus Shot Peening

The compressive residual stresses developed by LaserPeen™ processing is often greater than 10 times deeper than that for shot peening (typically in the range of 0.040" to 0.060" from the surface versus about 0.005-0.010" for shot peening). Laser peening has been proven to reach depths greater than 0.250" in thick material applications
There is an impressive gain in fatigue strength and fatigue life with laser peening
Laser peening does not roughen the surface of the part whereas shot peening does.
Aggressive shot peening can actually reduce fatigue life

LSP Technologies, the "Father of Laser Peening" is the premier provider of laser peening services world-wide. LSP Technologies' Laser Bond Inspection ensures that bonded structures, such as aircraft, bridges, buildings, and automobiles are properly bonded, which ensures the integrity of those structures.

We provide Laser Shock processing, laser bond inspection and metal fatigue mitigation services for:

Aircraft Turbine Engine Components
Automotive Systems
Bridges
Buildings
and other industries...

Our Mission

To commercialize innovative high-energy laser technologies
To advance laser peening technology that makes the world a safer place