Effect of Scanning Strategies on Grain Structure and Texture of Additively Manufactured Lattice Struts: A Numerical Exploration

Abstract

Electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF‐EB) is a promising technology for fabricating complex parts with near‐net‐shape precision. Moreover, PBF‐EB offers a unique opportunity to tailor the microstructure, thereby tuning local mechanical properties. Numerical simulation has emerged as a powerful tool for predicting the evolution of texture and grain structure during PBF‐EB. Herein, the in‐house developed and experimentally validated simulation software, , is employed to investigate the impact of scanning strategy on the texture and grain structure of CMSX‐4 in PBF‐EB‐processed thin tilted lattice struts, commonly found in cellular structures. The core of consists of a finite difference solver for temperature field computation and a cellular automaton model for simulating grain structure evolution. Nine distinct scanning strategies are systematically explored. The resulting texture and grain structures are meticulously compared and comprehensively discussed. Notably, the contour scanning strategy yields distinctive texture and grain structures compared to other explored scanning strategies. This study highlights the capability of in assisting microstructure customization in the PBF‐EB process, and advances the understanding of the relationship between PBF‐EB scanning strategy and resulting microstructure in tilted lattice struts.