EFFECTS OF DEFECT, LOADING MODE AND MICROSTRUCTURE ON LPBF 316L FATIGUE BEHAVIOR

The present study aims to investigate the high cycle fatigue (HCF) performance of steel 316L fabricated by the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process. Bending and torsional fatigue test specimens built horizontally (0°), inclined (45°), and vertically (90°) have been prepared and tested in the as-built and polished states. The presence of multiple lack-of-fusion defects at the surface or subsurface is detrimental to the endurance under cyclic loading. A more pronounced defect sensitivity in bending compared to torsion is found. Microstructural features are seen to compete with inherent defects to affect fatigue performance in the condition that the effective defect sizes are close to the critical fatigue crack size.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT