Residual Stress Build-Up in Aluminum Parts Fabricated with SLM Technology Using the Bridge Curvature Method

In metal 3D printing with Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology, due to large thermal gradients, the residual stress (RS) distribution is complicated to predict and control. RS can distort the shape of the components, causing severe failures in fabrication or functionality. Thus, several research papers have attempted to quantify the RS by designing geometries that distort in a predictable manner, including the Bridge Curvature Method (BCM). Being different from the existing literature, this paper provides a new perspective of the RS build-up in aluminum parts produced with SLM using a combination of experiments and simulations. In particular, the bridge samples are printed with AlSi10Mg, of which the printing process and the RS distribution are experimentally assessed with the Hole Drilling Method (HDM) and simulated using ANSYS and Simufact Additive. Subsequently, on the basis of the findings, suggestions for improvements to the BCM are made. Throughout the assessment of BCM, readers can gain insights on how RS is built-up in metallic 3D-printed components, some available tools, and their suitability for RS prediction. These are essential for practitioners to improve the precision and functionality of SLM parts should any post-subtractive or additive manufacturing processes be employed.