Development of 3D Finite Element Model for Predicting Process-Induced Defects in Additive Manufacturing by Selective Laser Melting (SLM)

Abstract

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is one of the important Additive Manufacturing techniques for building functional products. Nevertheless, the absence of accurate models for predicting the SLM process behavior, delays development of cost effective and defects free process. This work presents a coupled thermo-mechanical numerical model to capture the two phase (solid-liquid) solidification melting phenomena that occur in the process. The proposed model will also predict the evolvement of process-induced properties and defects particularly residual stresses caused by temperature gradient and thermal stresses. CO2 or Nd:YAG laser beam can be used as a heat source with a Gaussian distribution for the laser beam energy.