ANALYSIS OF 3D PRINTED METALS USING SMALL PUNCH TESTING
Author:
Derek Huffman ’24Co-Authors:
Faculty Mentor(s):
Jonathan Torres, Mechanical EngineeringFunding Source:
Kalman Fund for Undergraduate Research in the SciencesAbstract
This work focuses on analyzing the fracture behaviors of 3D printed metals. Materials produced using additive manufacturing (AM), such as 3D printing, have varying strengths in different directions as a result of the layering process. To analyze how AM metals fracture, the metals will be deformed using a small punch test, which allows for the use of very small samples, while being scanned with a micro-CT. Since fractures in AM metals may form with fully internal voids and their behavior may depend on the manufacturing conditions, an x-ray is required to image the sample. The micro-CT will use x-rays to image the sample as it is deformed and use computed tomography to produce 3D images of the sample and its fractures, enabling the formations of fractures to be observed as they occur. This research is ongoing. Samples have been tested using a previous small punch test apparatus, which will serve as a baseline for testing materials to use in the final testing apparatus. A method to polish and prepare these samples by hand for testing was developed and refined. The design for the testing apparatus was developed and refined alongside material selection for dies. The materials will first be tested in simulation. The design for the testing apparatus has reached an acceptable version ready for prototyping.