Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured AlSi10Mg with Respect to Build Orientation

Anisotropic material properties are common in additively manufactured metals due to the directional nature of the manufacturing process. Understanding the impact of mechanical properties with respect to build direction allows researchers and engineers to make informed decisions regarding part design and build orientation. These decisions can influence part performance and confidence, especially in critical applications. This work found that for additively manufactured AlSi10Mg using laser-powder bed fusion, the direction perpendicular to the direction of printing (horizontal) shows a 2 percent decrease in ultimate tensile strength compared to the direction aligned with the print direction (vertical); however, the strain at failure, elastic modulus, and yield stress increased by 53 percent, 15 percent, and 8 percent, respectively.