A Critical Review of Laser Shock Peening of Aircraft Engine Components

Abstract

Many aviation accidents are caused by the failure of aircraft engine components, and engine blades are especially vulnerable to high‐cycle fatigue fracture in severe working environments as well as to impact damage caused by foreign objects. To address this problem, the United States took the lead and has been successful in implementing laser shock peening (LSP) as a surface treatment for aircraft engine components to enhance their fatigue performance. This review provides an overview of the development of LSP for use in treating aircraft engine components over the past three decades, with a brief introduction to the development of high‐energy pulsed lasers for LSP. A particular focus of this review is on the limitations and challenges associated with the application of LSP for treating critical aircraft engine components. It is hoped that this review serves as a reference for future research and development that can lead to better performance of these components.