Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Ligon, Christian Glenn S. |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Mechanical Characterization of Topology-Optimized 3D Printed Metal Structural Bracket |
| Date Issued | 9 January 2026 |
| Abstract | Additive manufacturing (AM) of aluminum alloys offers significant potential for lightweight structural applications; however, concerns regarding mechanical reliability, particularly under cyclic loading, continue to limit widespread adoption in fatigue-critical components. This study shows an experimental investigation into the tensile and fatigue behavior of aluminum structural specimens produced via traditional, subtractive manufacturing and additive, laser-based manufacturing, with specific emphasis on the effects of build orientation and post-processing heat treatment. Tensile testing was performed on traditionally manufactured aluminum specimens extracted from the same casted stock material, as well as on additively manufactured specimens fabricated in multiple build orientations. Fatigue testing was conducted under different load amplitudes to evaluate low-cycle fatigue performance. Radiographic testing was performed to characterize internal defects and porosity. Results show that additively manufactured aluminum specimens exhibited higher ultimate tensile strength than traditionally manufactured aluminum; however, this increase in strength did not translate to improved fatigue performance. Despite lower tensile strength of cast aluminum, the traditionally manufactured samples demonstrated superior fatigue life compared to additively manufactured, topology optimized samples across all loading conditions. Post-processing heat treatment did not improve tensile strength nor fatigue performance. |
| Degree Course | Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering |
| Language | English |
| Keyword | 3D printing |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
955.08 Kb
Category : I - Has patentable or registrable invention of creation.
Access Permission : Open Access