Laser Peening; A Proven Process for Aircraft Service Life Extension

Aircraft structure and systems are designed to meet a specific number of flights and fight hours in their projected lifetime. Significant increases in the cost of manufacture, coupled with reduced budgets for purchase of new aircraft and replacement parts, has created a need for processes that extend the service life beyond design limits.  Laser peening has shown the capability to extend fatigue life from 200% to never failing, providing increased fatigue strength and damage tolerance for resistance to foreign object damage, fretting, corrosion, pitting and combat damage. This not only allows reduced cost of part replacement but decreases the need for costly inspections.

Unlike shot peening, as a robotically controlled and highly repeatable process, credit can be taken for life extension generated by laser peening.  Our fatigue results on materials including; 2000/7000 series aluminum, titanium, high strength steels, and stainless steels show that laser peening can be applied to all metals. Parts are currently being processed when new; during overhaul and repair or on the aircraft during routine maintenance. Laser peening is currently being applied to aircraft components such as engine blades, aircraft structure, and arresting hooks in our facilities and on locations like Lockheed’s Palmdale overhaul facility where the wing attachment lugs of the F-22 fighter are treated.