Two-sided and simultaneous laser shock peening impacts is considered as a novel surface treatment technology for the turbine blade and thin-walled component. In this paper, tensile properties of Mg-Al-Mn alloy specimens with different sheet thickness under two kinds of laser shock peening strategies were investigated, and an overlapping three-dimension axisymmetric numerical model was developed to analyze the effects of sheet thickness on residual stress distributions. Meanwhile, special attentions were paid to the in-depth microstructural evolution as a function of sheet thickness. Results showed that sheet thickness had an important influence on the tensile properties of Mg-Al-Mn alloy, and the generated residual stress distribution and grain arrangement were two important factors. The corresponding influence mechanism of sheet thickness on the tensile properties of Mg-Al-Mn alloy was also presented, and the optimal thickness of Mg-Al-Mn alloy sheet may be 4 mm or more. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.