A method coupling experiments and simulations, is developed to characterize the yield stress and strain hardening of several metals loaded at 10⁶ s−ⁱ and < 25 ns, typically involved during Laser Shock Peening. It was applied to four materials: pure aluminum, 2024-T3 and 7175-T7351 aluminum alloys and Ti6Al4V-ELI titanium alloy. Thin foils have been irradiated with high-power laser to induce high-pressure shock wave. Plastic deformation is activated through the thickness up to the rear free-surface of the foils. These experiments have been simulated using three material constitutive equations: Elastic–Perfectly Plastic model considering static yield stress, Johnson–Cook model without strain hardening and Johnson–Cook model with strain hardening. The material parameters of Johnson–Cook law were identified by comparison of the experimental and calculated velocity profiles of the rear-free surface. Results are shown and discussed.