The defects experienced due to additive manufacturing (AM) of Ni-based superalloys resemble to a great extent the defects experienced during fusion welding.
In fact, AM can be best described as a combination of both welding and casting, which means that the structures are prone to structural integrity concerns and anisotropy due to the epitaxial growth of the microstructure and the directional formation of defects. This talk will explore a number of approaches for process optimization in AM of Ni-based alloys, incorporating numerical, empirical, and statistical methods.
The key challenge with numerical simulation is to generate predictions at a reasonable speed, without undermining the physical correctness of the model. Furthermore, the talk will discuss the various defect formation mechanisms experienced in Ni-based superalloys, highlighting their influence on the structural integrity and the mechanical properties of the builds.
The use of advanced characterization methods in assessing the quality of the AM structures, such as micro-CT and high energy diffraction, will also be demonstrated.