Effect of laser shock energy on surface hardness and tensile strength of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy

Abstract

Improving the engineering material mechanical properties can be done through enhanced the compress
remaining stresses on the surface of the material. Diversity of method such as process of water jet peening, ultrasonic's
peening process, laser shot were residential in the last twenty years in this distinction. In this study the produce of laser
shot investigated on 6061-T6 aluminum alloy with laser energy (300mJ) and (600mJ) with wave length (1064nm)
Nd:YAG laser. By using Vickers micro hardness test on all specimens' surface show the effect of amount of laser energy
on surface hardening on 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and tensile test to examine the amount of improve in tensile strength.
The mechanical properties and micro-hardness of shot and un shot 6061-T6 aluminum alloy surfaces were
compared and studies. This study shows that the laser shot notably advance the micro hardness led slight boost in
roughness of the surface, but as laser energy enlarge more than 300 mJ the hardness will increase. Also the tensile
strength improved by around 50% compared with untreated specimen.