Effects of laser shock processing with different shocked paths on mechanical properties of laser welded ANSI 304 stainless steel joint

The laser welded ANSI 304 stainless steel joint was treated by laser shock processing (LSP) with different shocked paths, that is, single-sided LSP impacts and two-sided LSP impacts. The tensile test of the tensile samples was carried out by MC electronic tensile testing machine, and the fractographes of the tensile samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that compared with single-sided LSP impacts, the mechanical properties (including the yield strength, the tensile strength, the elongation and the area reduction) of the laser welded ANSI 304 stainless steel was clearly improved by two-sided LSP impacts. Based on the analysis of the SEM observation, the ductility of the treated samples by two-sided LSP impacts was better than that by single-sided LSP impacts due to more and deeper elongated dimples in the fracture.