Vesmír: Lasers and fatigue life
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The July/August issue of the Czech popular science magazine Vesmír features an article by our colleague Jan Kaufman, Head of the Laser Shock Peening (LSP) research team at the HiLASE Centre. The article explains the principles of Laser Shock Peening and demonstrates how short laser pulses can significantly improve the fatigue life of metal components.
"For centuries, blacksmiths shaped swords, horseshoes and agricultural tools while unknowingly altering the properties of the metal itself. Repeated hammer blows strengthened the surface and extended the lifetime of the material. The very same principle is still used in modern engineering today."
From the traditional hammering of a scythe to state-of-the-art laser technologies, the article shows how a centuries-old principle has evolved into a modern manufacturing method that helps extend the lifetime of components used in the most demanding applications.
