Characterization of mechanical shock waves in aluminum 6061-T6 using a high power laser pulse

Strengthening techniques allows enhance metal physical properties. Laser shock peening (LSP) technique consist in a surface treatment which a high power laser pulse induces a compressive residual stress field through mechanical shock waves, increasing hardness, corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance. In comparison with the shot peening technique, LSP is a method that allows precision controlling the laser incidence on the surface under treatment increasing the surface quality in the surface under treatment. In this work, mechanical shock waves are induced in aluminum and measure using two different experimental approaches. First, using a PVDZ sensors and secondly, strain gauges are used. Experimental results are presented.