Cyclic Crack Growth in Chemically Tailored Isotropic Austenitic Steel Processed by Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion

The present study analyzes the cyclic crack propagation behavior in an austenitic steel processed by electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF-EB). The threshold value of crack growth as well as the crack growth behavior in the Paris regime were studied. In contrast to other austenitic steels, the building direction during PBF-EB did not affect the crack propagation rate, i.e., the crack growth rates perpendicular and parallel to the building direction were similar due to the isotropic microstructure characterized by equiaxed grains. Furthermore, the influence of significantly different building parameters was studied and, thereby, different energy inputs causing locally varying manganese content. Crack growth behavior was not affected by these changes. Even a compositional gradation within the same specimen, i.e., crack growth through an interface of areas with high and areas with low manganese content, did not lead to a significant change of the crack growth rate. Thus, the steel studied is characterized by a quite robust cyclic crack growth behavior independent from building direction and hardly affected by typical parameter deviations in the PBF-EB process.