Optimize Multiple Peening Effects on Surface Integrity and Microhardness of Aluminum Alloy Induced by LSP

Laser shock peening is a modernized surface enhancement performed methodically to improve fatigue life, enhance the hardness of the material and make coarse grains flat under the superficial layer. In this current study, the effect of varying optimized multiple laser shock peening (LSP) is studied on the surface integrity, microhardness, and mechanical properties. The results show that the LSP-treated specimens have visible signs of valleys, wavy and varying height distribution as well as dimples. However, the presence of non-uniformity and sharp protrusions was detected from the superficiality of the as-received specimen and this was so because of the SiC abrasive material used to polish the superficial layer of the specimen before the test experiment. Prior to LSP, the surface roughness was 2 μm, however, after LSP the roughness increased to 4 μm, 6 μm and 17 μm for 1, 2, and 4 impacts, respectively. High-density dislocation can also be observed close to the grain boundary because the grain boundary prevents the migration of dislocation which could lead to dislocation walls and dislocation tangles. The increase in impacts decrease the average grain size, nevertheless, the micro-strain increased after multiple impacts. Furthermore, coarse grains after LSP were transformed into finer grains. The increase in the number of impacts increases the micro-strain likewise the full-width half maximum (FWHM). Finally, the increase in microhardness increases as the LSP impacts increase.