Abstract: A method of cleaning airfoils and related turbine engine components that have a crust-like debris deposited on the surface thereof. This method involves subjecting at least the portion of the component having the deposit of the crust-like debris to sufficient laser shock peening to cause the debris on the surface thereof to be loosened therefrom so that the loosened debris can be removed from the component. This loosened debris can then be removed from the component, such as by passing a cleaning fluid through the portion of the component that is subjected to the laser shock peening.

Abstract: A method of cleaning airfoils and related turbine engine components that have a crust-like debris deposited on the surface thereof. This method involves subjecting at least the portion of the component having the deposit of the crust-like debris to sufficient laser shock peening to cause the debris on the surface thereof to be loosened therefrom so that the loosened debris can be removed from the component. This loosened debris can then be removed from the component, such as by passing a cleaning fluid through the portion of the component that is subjected to the laser shock peening.

Abstract: An article and method for laser shock peening the article to form pairs of longitudinally spaced apart first and second laser shock peened spots that are on opposite sides of the article, simultaneously laser shock peened, and transversely offset from each other.

Abstract: A method for quality assurance of a laser shock peening process that quantitatively analyzes a single laser shock peened dimple or spot. The method measures a first interior surface of the first dimple to obtain height data and the processes the height data to obtain production volumetric data of the dimple. The volumetric data may then be compared to a predetermined correlation of test volumetric data and high cycle fatigue failure based on high cycle fatigue tests of test pieces that were laser shock peened in the same or similar laser shock peening apparatus as the production workpieces. The test pieces may each have a failure precipitating flaw within a laser shock peened area of the test piece that was laser shock peened in the same or similar laser shock peening apparatus. Preferably, the measuring is performed using a profilometer such as an interferometric optical profilometer.

Abstract: A method for forming a slot in a metal component having first and second opposite surfaces utilizes a first laser beam having a pulse rate and power to vaporize the metal. The laser beam is traversed across the first surface at a feed rate so that each beam pulse vaporizes the component metal at a spot. The laser beam pulse rate and feed rate are effective so that successive spots do not substantially overlap each other. The laser beam is traversed in repeated steps in a series of passes so that the spots collectively form a continuous slot to a depth below the first surface. In a subsequent step, a second laser beam is positioned in the slot to drill a hole through a base of the slot, with the second laser beam being repositioned to drill a plurality of the through holes spaced apart from each other along the length of the slot.

Abstract: A method for counteracting distortion of the airfoil caused by laser shock peening a gas turbine engine compressor metallic airfoil along its leading and/or trailing edge to form laser shock peened surfaces extending radially along at least a portion of the edges with a region having deep compressive residual stresses imparted by laser shock peening (LSP) extending into the airfoil from the laser shock peened surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying filler material to a workpiece in conjunction with a heat producing means, to deposit a heating/molten pool region on the workpiece; wherein the filler wire is introduced into the pool region in a reciprocating manner which alternately advances an end of the filler wire into and out of the pool region; and wherein the heat produced by the heat producing means is varied so that peak heating pulses are initiated and maintained when the filler wire contacts the pool region, and so that the heat producing means maintains a lower, background level when the filler wire is withdrawn from the pool region.