Finite element analysis of the thermal behaviour and its implications to the microstructure of direct laser fabricated samples

Abstract

Numerical procedures have been established to predict the temperature field and thermal history of the samples produced by Direct Laser Fabrication (DLF). The build-up of materials in DLF is modelled through application programs, which are developed and implemented into the commercial FE solver, ABAQUS. The heat flux, which is created by the laser beam to melt the powder materials, and the heat-dissipation have been modelled and the parameters related to the temperature field predictions are determined from experimental results of producing model components using DLF. The predicted thermal behaviour has been compared with experimental observations using thermal image camera and thermocouples and reasonable agreement obtained. Correlations between the thermal history of the DLFed samples and some of their respective microscopic features were established.Numerical procedures have been established to predict the temperature field and thermal history of the samples produced by Direct Laser Fabrication (DLF). The build-up of materials in DLF is modelled through application programs, which are developed and implemented into the commercial FE solver, ABAQUS. The heat flux, which is created by the laser beam to melt the powder materials, and the heat-dissipation have been modelled and the parameters related to the temperature field predictions are determined from experimental results of producing model components using DLF. The predicted thermal behaviour has been compared with experimental observations using thermal image camera and thermocouples and reasonable agreement obtained. Correlations between the thermal history of the DLFed samples and some of their respective microscopic features were established.