Investigation of the Microstructure and Mechanical Characteristics of Lattice Structures Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion Method

Abstract

This study includes experimental research conducted to produce lattice structures and to examine their mechanical properties by taking advantage of the design freedom provided by additive manufacturing. Much of the existing literature involves mainly process parameters on mechanical behaviors. Thus, more lattice geometry studies are needed. In this study, different lattice structures designed according to the unit cell types selected through the SpaceClaim program were produced using AlSi10Mg powder material with the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) method the metal additive manufacturing production methods. Cell sizes, Maxwell criterion, relative densities, and mechanical behaviors under semi-static compression force were investigated. It was concluded that with increasing relative density, the strength increased, and the structures with stress-dominating were more resistant than those with bending-dominating strength. It was determined that the mechanical properties of lattices depended on unit cell design and LPBF process parameters. The C1 and C2 coefficients of lattices produced by the LPBF process included in the Gibson and Ashby equation were determined.