The dynamic response of 2024 aluminum alloy round rod subjected to laser shocking is investigated by ABAQUS numerical simulation software. The attenuation characteristics of stress waves propagating along longitudinal and transverse direction as a function of propagating distance are systematically investigated and the effects of rod diameters on the attenuation of the peak of stress waves with propagating distance are also discussed. The effects of rod diameters on residual stress field are analyzed. The results indicate that the peak values of stress waves along longitudinal and transverse direction gradually decrease with increasing propagating distance, and the phenomenon of wave diffusion appears with stress wave propagation. The peak values of the stress waves attenuate fast first and then slow. With the diameter of round rod increasing, the residual stress field in the rod becomes more uniform and regular, and the depth of residual compressive stress increases and gradually reaches saturation.