Gradient microstructure and vibration fatigue properties of 2024-T351 aluminium alloy treated by laser shock peening

To investigate the improvement in vibration fatigue and the strengthening mechanism of laser shock peening, a nanosecond laser was used to strengthen the 2024-T351 aluminium alloy. Accordingly, the microstructure, residual stress, nanohardness and surface roughness of the treated alloy were measured. Subsequently, the vibration fatigue damage and fatigue life were evaluated, and the vibration fracture morphology was observed. The results showed that the grains in the peened surface were refined. A residual stress of −141 MPa and a nanohardness of 3.1 GPa were obtained by laser shock peening. Based on the relationship between the peened microstructure and fracture morphology, it was deduced that an increase in the grain boundaries led to a lower crack initiation rate and a higher crack initiation life. The compressive residual stress decreased the crack growth rate and increased the crack growth life. Therefore, laser shock peening increases the total vibration fatigue life by about 63.5%.