The method of preventing cold-worked stress corrosion cracking in the iron
steels and alloyed steels including stainless steels comprises removing a
residual tensile stressed layer, optionally generating residual
compression, through the impact of irradiation with the ultra-short
femtosecond pulse and kW class high average-power laser, and removing a
hardened surface layer extremely susceptible to stress corrosion
cracking, whereby this susceptible hardened surface layer with many
concentrated dislocation defects and the likes is removed without
generating or introducing any of such hardened layer in the process of
its removal. The method is free from the risk of damaging other equipment
by peening with steel balls or other shaped shots, is almost unlimited in
actual environment, effectiveness, work, place and other conditions for
application, is inexpensive, and functions continuously for a much longer
period than an ordinary nuclear reactor's service lifetimes.