Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a metal 3D printing method that allows the cost-effective and efficient production of large-scale elements, and has thus gained great interest from architects and structural engineers. Integration of this novel technology into the construction industry, howe...

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Main Authors: Cheng Huang, Pinelopi Kyvelou, Ruizhi Zhang, T. Ben Britton, Leroy Gardner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-04-01
Series:Materials & Design
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127522001654
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author Cheng Huang
Pinelopi Kyvelou
Ruizhi Zhang
T. Ben Britton
Leroy Gardner
author_facet Cheng Huang
Pinelopi Kyvelou
Ruizhi Zhang
T. Ben Britton
Leroy Gardner
author_sort Cheng Huang
collection DOAJ
description Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a metal 3D printing method that allows the cost-effective and efficient production of large-scale elements, and has thus gained great interest from architects and structural engineers. Integration of this novel technology into the construction industry, however, requires the development of a clear understanding of the mechanical behaviour of WAAM materials. To this end, a comprehensive experimental study into the mechanical properties and microstructure of WAAM plates made of normal- and high-strength steels has been undertaken and is reported herein. A total of 137 as-built and machined tensile coupons were tested, extracted in various directions relative to the print layer orientation from WAAM plates of two nominal thicknesses, built using different deposition strategies. The influence of the geometric undulations inherent to the WAAM process and deposition strategy on the resulting mechanical properties was investigated. Microstructural characterisation was also performed by means of optical microscopy (OM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The WAAM normal-strength steel plates exhibited a principally ferritic-pearlitic microstructure, while the WAAM high-strength steel plates displayed a mixed microstructure featuring ferrite, bainite and martensite. The EBSD analysis revealed a weak crystallographic texture, which explained the observed mechanical properties being almost isotropic. No significant differences in tensile properties were observed with the different deposition strategies, except for some variation in ductility. The geometric undulations of the as-built coupons resulted in some reduction in effective mechanical properties and a degree of anisotropy. Overall, the examined WAAM material exhibited consistent mechanical properties, a Young’s modulus comparable to conventionally-produced steel plates, marginally lower strength, reflecting the slower cooling conditions than is customary, and good ductility.
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spelling doaj.art-ab7080fbc1b145d0b203f606b16420c72022-12-22T02:39:28ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752022-04-01216110544Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steelsCheng Huang0Pinelopi Kyvelou1Ruizhi Zhang2T. Ben Britton3Leroy Gardner4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, UK; Corresponding authors.Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, UKDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, UK; Corresponding authors.Department of Materials, Imperial College London, UKDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, UKWire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a metal 3D printing method that allows the cost-effective and efficient production of large-scale elements, and has thus gained great interest from architects and structural engineers. Integration of this novel technology into the construction industry, however, requires the development of a clear understanding of the mechanical behaviour of WAAM materials. To this end, a comprehensive experimental study into the mechanical properties and microstructure of WAAM plates made of normal- and high-strength steels has been undertaken and is reported herein. A total of 137 as-built and machined tensile coupons were tested, extracted in various directions relative to the print layer orientation from WAAM plates of two nominal thicknesses, built using different deposition strategies. The influence of the geometric undulations inherent to the WAAM process and deposition strategy on the resulting mechanical properties was investigated. Microstructural characterisation was also performed by means of optical microscopy (OM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The WAAM normal-strength steel plates exhibited a principally ferritic-pearlitic microstructure, while the WAAM high-strength steel plates displayed a mixed microstructure featuring ferrite, bainite and martensite. The EBSD analysis revealed a weak crystallographic texture, which explained the observed mechanical properties being almost isotropic. No significant differences in tensile properties were observed with the different deposition strategies, except for some variation in ductility. The geometric undulations of the as-built coupons resulted in some reduction in effective mechanical properties and a degree of anisotropy. Overall, the examined WAAM material exhibited consistent mechanical properties, a Young’s modulus comparable to conventionally-produced steel plates, marginally lower strength, reflecting the slower cooling conditions than is customary, and good ductility.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127522001654Carbon steelHigh strength steelMaterial anisotropyMechanical propertiesMetal 3D printingMicrostructure
spellingShingle Cheng Huang
Pinelopi Kyvelou
Ruizhi Zhang
T. Ben Britton
Leroy Gardner
Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels
Materials & Design
Carbon steel
High strength steel
Material anisotropy
Mechanical properties
Metal 3D printing
Microstructure
title Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels
title_full Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels
title_fullStr Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels
title_short Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels
title_sort mechanical testing and microstructural analysis of wire arc additively manufactured steels
topic Carbon steel
High strength steel
Material anisotropy
Mechanical properties
Metal 3D printing
Microstructure
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127522001654
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AT tbenbritton mechanicaltestingandmicrostructuralanalysisofwirearcadditivelymanufacturedsteels
AT leroygardner mechanicaltestingandmicrostructuralanalysisofwirearcadditivelymanufacturedsteels