Mechanical structures built using the additive manufacturing (AM) process are generating significant interest due to their ability to design structural components with complex geometries. Indeed, additive processes, by adding material layer by layer, enables the creation of geometries that would be unfeasible using standard processes. However, while mechanical tests have extensively validated the use of conventional processes, the characterization of parts generated by less conventional processes, such as additive manufacturing, remains open to discussion. Specifically, will a part manufactured by AM meet the specifications in terms of mechanical strength? This paper contributes to answering this question by comparing identical AlSi10Mg plates manufactured using the AM process with a LASER powder bed fusion (L-PBF) machine (additive) and by conventional subtractive process (SM), subjected to high-velocity impacts. The impacts have been conducted on additive and subtractive 70*150*2 mm plates up to 300 m/s.” Based on measurements of projectile impact and residual velocities, as well as the study of deformation profiles of the different plates, the damage domains were identified. These tests highlighted significant differences between the different processes.
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