Numerical and experimental investigation into gas flow field and spattering phenomena in laser powder bed fusion processing of Inconel 718

• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2021.110107
• Publication Date: 2021-09-09T06:47:24Z
• Authors: Cheng-Yen Chien; Trong-Nhan Le; Ze-Hong Lin; Yu-Lung Lo
• Keywords: High-speed imaging; Gas flow measurement; 0203 mechanical engineering; LPBF; TA401-492; 621; Spatter removal; 02 engineering and technology; Coupled CFD-DEM; Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials

Accumulated spatters not only deteriorate the quality of built parts in terms surface roughness and/or density but also sabotage whole fabrication process via damaging powder re-coater. A cross-flow inert gas inside processing chamber is by far effective mean removing spouted from build platform. Despite essential role, there are few efforts to investigate interactions between dynamics and spatters, hence, optimize design settings cross-flow. Therefore, this study, a coupled computational fluid (CFD) – discreate element method (DEM) simulation framework proposed study flow field during single scan process. The results for maximum ejection distance height were shown deviate numerical reported literature no more than 15%. Moreover, distribution landing sites consistent with experimental observations, which showed that large number landed near track, while small at greater track. To best authors' knowledge, represents first attempt use CFD-DEM spatter within an LPBF validate observations published data. model important tool calibrate L-PBF chamber.