Increase of Acting Pressure by Adjusted Tool Geometry in Laser Shock Forming

In laser shock forming TEA‐CO22‐laser induced shock waves are used to form metal foils, such as aluminum or copper. The process utilizes an initiated plasma shock wave on the target surface, which leads to a forming of the foil. Several pulses can be applied at one point in order to achieve a high forming degree without increasing the energy density beyond the ablation limit. During the process, pressure peaks in the range of several MPa can be achieved. In this article, it will be demonstrated that the acting shock wave pressure can be increased and the forming behavior can be modified by an adjustment of tool geometry, which limits the non‐directional propagation of the shock wave. Shock wave pressure measurements as well as forming results with different tool geometries show that the acting pressure, and therefore the forming behavior, can be modified by an adjustment of the tool.