Mechanical properties and microstructure of wire laser metal deposited austenitic stainless steel
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Published version
Author(s)
Kyvelou, P
Hong, Wenxuan
Zhang, Ruizhi
Gardner, L
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Laser metal deposition (LMD) is a metal 3D printing method that enables the efficient and cost-effective production of large-scale components, rendering it increasingly attractive for civil engineering applications. However, the scarcity of data and lack of knowledge of the material response and geometric variability of LMD steels is inhibiting adoption of this manufacturing method in the construction industry. To address this, a comprehensive experimental investigation into the geometry, mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of LMD plates made from ER 308LSi stainless steel has been carried out and is presented herein. Laser scanning, tensile testing and microstructural analyses were conducted on a series of coupons of different thicknesses (2 mm and 8 mm), printing strategies, surface conditions and orientations. The results indicated low geometric irregularity, with both as-built and machined coupons displaying nearly identical mechanical properties. The thinner specimens had lower strengths, mainly attributed to their larger grain sizes. Significant anisotropy was observed from the mechanical tests on the thinner specimens, explained by a strong crystallographic texture observed in the microstructure. Overall, the examined material exhibited good mechanical behaviour and geometric consistency. Finally, a constitutive modelling approach previously applied to wire arc additively manufactured (WAAM) stainless steel was successfully adapted to characterise the anisotropic behaviour of LMD stainless steel in both the elastic and inelastic material ranges. The findings highlight the potential for using LMD in construction, offering a viable means of fabricating large-scale metal components with sound mechanical performance.
Date Issued
2025-02
Date Acceptance
2024-12-19
Citation
Materials and Design, 2025, 250
ISSN
0264-1275
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Materials and Design
Volume
250
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2024.113558
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
113558
Date Publish Online
2024-12-20