A Survey of Mechanical Property Variability of Additively Manufactured Metals

Abstract

Abstract Metal additive manufacturing (AM) processes, such as laser powder bed fusion, allow for the realization of parts with features and characteristics that cannot be achieved with traditional material removal manufacturing technologies. Despite impressive applications of metal AM parts in demanding aerospace applications, there remain concerns about the variability in mechanical properties of parts made with these processes. This variability leads to concerns by program managers and other decision-makers and a reluctance to potentially use metal AM parts in applications where they would otherwise be beneficial. Some of this reluctance might be assuaged if the actual property variability was better known. Here, we examine the literature of metal AM tensile property data to quantify variability in the metal AM process and compare it to the variability found in traditionally fabricated metals. It is shown that the variability in tensile material properties is somewhat similar between AM metals and conventional metals.