Patent ID: 9150941
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: B64F,C21D

Abstract:
1. A method of repairing superficial damage to an aircraft structural part for preventing crack formation and for slowing down advancement of a crack in metal aircraft structures by laser shock beams, comprising: (a) providing an aircraft structural part which has a damaged area, the damaged area being superficial damage comprising a scratch; (b) treating the damaged aircraft structural part by laser shock irradiating a first superficial region of the aircraft structural part close to the damaged area with a first pulsed laser beam of a first wavelength and a first pulse frequency, wherein the laser shock irradiating is performed locally in a region of the scratch, wherein energy from the first pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the aircraft structural part, and wherein a pressure wave passes through the aircraft structural part which generates a compressive pre-stress in the aircraft structural part in order to prevent crack formation and to slow down advancement of a crack.