Influence of laser shock peening on surface integrity and tensile property of high strength low alloy steel

Laser Shock Peening (LSP) is a well-established surface treatment commonly used to improve mechanical properties of material's surfaces. To further understand the relationship between tensile property and fatigue life improvement of high strength low alloy steel in the LSP process, LSP treatment of 32CrNi high strength low alloy steel was carried out by YAG laser with pulse energy of 15 J, and tensile property was tested by electronic universal material testing machine. Surface morphology, residual stress and tensile fracture of the specimens before and after LSP were observed by white light interferometer (WLI), X-ray measuring apparatus and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Result shows that LSP did not change tensile strength of 32CrNi steel but cause yield characteristic transform from obvious yield point to no yield phenomenon which is the only factor benefiting fatigue life, indicating that the increment of fatigue life was probably related to the disappearance of yield phenomenon. Formation mechanisms of tensile fractures and yield phenomenon induced by LSP at room temperature were also discussed and completely revealed. Deeper compressive residual stress and flat grains contributed to the transition of yield characteristic and lower elongation rate of 32CrNi steel subjected to LSP.