System and method for modeling a part and using laser peening to form or correct the part

Abstract

A method for imparting a predetermined surface contour to a part is provided, the method comprising: identifying a compressive residual stress profile for providing the part with the predetermined surface contour; and laser peening a surface of the part in a treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile, thereby inducing plastic deformation in the part and thereby imparting a predetermined surface contour to the part that is a different surface contour than the part had prior to the laser peening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for imparting a predetermined surface contour to a part, comprising:
 identifying a compressive residual stress profile for providing the part with the predetermined surface contour; and   laser peening a surface of the part in a treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile, thereby inducing plastic deformation in the part and thereby imparting a predetermined surface contour to the part that is a different surface contour than the part had prior to the laser peening.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identified compressive residual stress profile is identified by imparting controlled compressive residual stress profiles to the surface of the part, measuring surface contours provided by the imparted compressive residual stress profiles, selecting a measured surface contour, and identifying the imparted compressive residual stress profile corresponding to the selected measured surface contour. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identified compressive residual stress profile has a predetermined value of depth, pattern, and location on the surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment mode has a predetermined value of laser beam energy, pulse width, rise time, spot diameter, spot area, spot overlap, or spot shape. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined surface contour imparted to the part is non-planar. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined surface contour imparted to the part is planar. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the part includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is laser peened in the treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile, and wherein the second surface is laser peened in a second treatment mode predetermined with reference to a second identified compressive residual stress profile. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the part is constrained to a form prior to laser peening the surface of the part. 
     
     
         9 . A method for laser peen forming a part to induce a predetermined surface contour, comprising:
 providing a part to be laser peen formed;   developing a finite element model of the part;   performing a finite element analysis on the model to determine a compressive residual stress profile for providing the part with the predetermined surface contour;   laser peening a surface of the part in a treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile; and   measuring the laser peen formed part and verifying imparting of the predetermined surface contour.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the identified compressive residual stress profile has a predetermined value of depth, pattern, and location on the surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the treatment mode has a predetermined value of laser beam energy, pulse width, rise time, spot diameter, spot area, spot overlap, or spot shape. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined surface contour imparted to the part is non-planar. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined surface contour imparted to the part is planar. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the part includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is laser peened in the treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile, and wherein the second surface is laser peened in a second treatment mode predetermined with reference to a second identified compressive residual stress profile. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the part is constrained to a form prior to laser peening the surface of the part. 
     
     
         16 . A method for laser peen correcting a non-conforming part, comprising:
 providing a non-conforming part to be laser peen corrected;   measuring the non-conforming part to determine the degree and location of the part non-conformity;   developing a finite element model of the non-conforming part;   performing a finite element analysis on the model to determine a compressive residual stress profile to bring the part into conformance;   laser peening a surface of the non-conforming part in a treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile; and   measuring the laser peen corrected part and verifying conformance of the part.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the identified compressive residual stress profile has a predetermined value of depth, pattern, and location on the surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment mode has a predetermined value of laser beam energy, pulse width, rise time, spot diameter, spot area, spot overlap, or spot shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the part includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is laser peened in the treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile, and wherein the second surface is laser peened in a second treatment mode predetermined with reference to a second identified compressive residual stress profile. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the non-conforming part is constrained to a form prior to laser peening the surface of the non-conforming part.