EFFECT OF LASER SURFACE TREATMENT ON HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE OF AISI 316L STAINLESS STEEL

Abstract— The effect of a laser surface treatment on the high-cycle fatigue behaviour of the austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L was investigated. The specimens were subjected to a surface melting using a CO₂-laser. Although this treatment introduced tensile residual stresses in the melted and resolidified surface layer and intensified the surface roughness, the fatigue limit could be increased by 20% with respect to the as-received specimens. It is suggested that grain refinement in the rapidly resolidified surface layer is mainly responsible for this improvement.