Abstract
The selective laser melting (SLM) process is a metal-based 3D printing technology which is capable of fabricating cellular structures for various engineering applications. This study aims to investigate the compressive mechanical performance and energy absorption capability of uniform and functionally graded lattice structures fabricated using this process. A solution heat treatment was carried out to explore its effect on the mechanical properties of the printed Al-Si12 lattice structures. The as-built condition of SLM lattice structures underwent brittle failure and demonstrated non-ideal energy absorption behaviours, while heat treatment was found to significantly improve deformation and energy absorption performance. The deformation behaviour of the heat-treated lattice structure exhibited distinct responses with typical stress strain curves, providing ideal compressive regions. Calculation of energy absorption showed that the gradually denser lattice structure absorbed higher levels of energy than the uniform lattice structure.
Highlights
Additive manufacturing technology (AM) is a term used to describe the group of 3D printing processes that manufactures physical components directly from computer aided design (CAD) data
This study aims to investigate the compressive mechanical performance and energy absorption capability of uniform and functionally graded lattice structures fabricated using this process
This work demonstrated that a selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing process can successfully produce Al-12Si functionally graded lattice structures (FGLS) with good manufacturability and repeatability
Summary
Additive manufacturing technology (AM) is a term used to describe the group of 3D printing processes that manufactures physical components directly from computer aided design (CAD) data. AM offers many technical and economic benefits over traditional manufacturing technologies, including saving money and time for low-volume production [1], offering tool-free and low environmental impact fabrication [2], and manufacturing highly geometrically complex structures [3]. This technology has attracted the attention of many researchers and engineers in various fields such as aerospace, defence, and biomedical development. The main advantage of SLM technology is its ability to produce customized complex structures with tailored functionalities and properties, such as 3D periodic lattice structures which would be difficult or impossible to make using traditional manufacturing technologies
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