Mapping the roles of scan strategy and build orientation in predicting the crystallographic texture and yield strength of 316L stainless steel produced by laser powder bed fusion

Abstract

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) has emerged as a leading additive manufacturing (AM) technique for manufacturing complex metal parts, with 316L stainless steel being favored for its exceptional corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. While previous studies have explored the effects of different scan strategies and build orientations on the microstructure and room temperature tensile properties of L-PBF printed 316L stainless steel, there is still a lack of a comprehensive predictive model that accurately captures the combined effects of these process parameters on the final crystallographic texture and tensile properties. This study presents a novel approach that establishes a direct correlation between process parameters, microstructure, and mechanical behavior by modeling the influence of scan strategy rotation angles and build orientations on the crystallographic texture of L-PBF-manufactured 316L stainless steel. To validate the model, a series of samples were fabricated using various scan strategy rotation angles and build orientations, enabling detailed microstructural analysis and mechanical testing. The findings demonstrate a direct relationship between the selected process parameters and the resulting mechanical properties, underscoring the importance of scan strategy and build orientation selection on mechanical response. Furthermore, our calibrated model exhibits high predictive accuracy as validated through a comparison with experimental data.