Product Code: ICAL09_1301

On the Temperature Distributions and Thermal Stresses Induced in Laser Solid Freeform Fabrication of Multi-material Structures
Authors:
Masoud Alimardani, University of Waterloo; Waterloo ON Canada
Mehrdad Iravani Tabrizipour, University of Waterloo; Waterloo ON Canada
Ehsan Toyserkani, University of Waterloo; Waterloo ON Canada
Jan P. Huissoon, University of Waterloo; Waterloo ON Canada
Presented at ICALEO 2009

Multi-material structures have shown a wide range of applications in various advanced technologies in which diverse material properties are required in order to enhance the structural properties and functionalities. Laser solid freeform fabrication (LSFF) as an additive manufacturing technique has great potential for fabrication of these types of structures. Regarding the nature of LSFF, the microstructure and physical properties of a component might vary throughout its structure. These variations can considerably increase in a multi-material object depending on the thermo-physical properties of the materials used. Therefore, understanding the underlying physics and consequently optimizing the process can enhance the final qualities of the fabricated parts. In this paper, the effects of the material properties and their variations on the temperature distribution and thermal stress field, which have determining roles on the final qualities of a fabricated part, are studied. This is achieved by a numerical and experimental fabrication of a thin wall of two Stellite 6 layers and two Ti layers on a SS304L substrate. The experimental and numerical results are used to characterize the build-up and also define an optimum laser power for each layer deposition in order to reduce the thermal stresses.