Traitement de matériaux métalliques par choc laser en géométrie confinée à 248 nm

we report here some preliminary results of a study concerning basic physical and metallurgical processes involved in laser-shock treatment of materials.This laser shock processing consists of the use of a high power pulsed 248 nm excimer laser to generate a short duration, high amplitude pressure which propagates inside various metallic samples, aluminium, titanium and iron alloys.Pressure measurements on the rear side of the sample have been obtained in direct ablation and water-confined plasma regimes.Experimental results are compared with an analytical model.Surface hardness, in-depth residual stresses and fatigue tests have to be compared in both the interaction regimes.