Patent ID: 9290825
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: B23K,C21D,C22F

Claim Text:
1. A method of pre-stressing a component, the method comprising: directing a beam of radiation in a path through a medium adjacent to the component between a pair of electrodes to produce a path of reduced electrical resistance through the medium; and producing an electrical discharge between the pair of electrodes along at least a portion of the path of reduced electrical resistance through the medium to produce a pressure pulse in the medium adjacent to the component without the electrical discharge directly contacting the component, the pressure pulse impacting a surface of the component to produce a region of compressive residual stress within the component, wherein the beam directed in the path between the pair of electrodes is selected from the group consisting of a laser beam, an x-ray beam, a microwave beam and a gamma ray beam.