Damage characterizations and simulation of selective laser melting fabricated 3D re-entrant lattices based on in-situ CT testing and geometric reconstruction

In recent years, metal additive manufacturing (AM) are widely employed for industrial applications, such as: biomedical, aerospace, automotive, marine and offshore sections. AM demonstrated superior manufacturing efficiencies and economic advantages for advanced lightweight industrial components with unlimited arbitrary topological layouts and complex internal microstructures, and are also employed for fabrication of auxetic materials and structures. In this paper, damage characterizations and mechanical behaviors of selective laser melting (SLM) fabricated 3D re-entrant lattices are investigated based on in-situ interrupted micro-CT test, and simulation based on geometric reconstructed models are performed for exploring the underlying failure mechanisms. Firstly, theoretical models for predicting the mechanical properties of 3D re-entrant lattice are developed, such as stiffness, Poisson's ratio and strength, etc. Secondly, the geometrical errors and fabrication defects of 3D re-entrant lattices are analyzed based on 3D micro-CT scanning, in-situ micro-CT interrupted compression tests are performed for studying the deformation process and failure mechanisms. Finally, image finite element models with the detailed information of the shape, position and distribution of defects of the 3D reentrant lattices are constructed from 3D tomographic images, and numerical simulations are performed for studying the effects of the defects on the mechanical performances of the SLM additive manufactured 3D re-entrant lattice structures. It is shown that the failure behavior of the reentrant lattice is governed not only by its topology, but also by the geometric defects and surface defects. Moreover, the proposed interrupted in-situ micro-CT mechanical loading experiments and image finite element approaches can also shed lights on the relations between fracture failure around the edge and the powder adhesion. The damage evolution process is compared with the numerical simulation results to verify the materials failure modes.