Microstructure and finite element simulation (tensile test) of stainless steel wall produced by wire and arc additive manufacturing

Abstract

This investigation aims to provide functional insight into simulating the tensile behavior of additively fabricated stainless steel 316L plate using finite element simulation and the Johnson-Cook model of ductile damage. The stainless steel 316L plate is fabricated through wire arc additive manufacturing using ideal process variables selected through numerous trial and error experiments. There is a significant increase in the strength of additively fabricated specimens (517.9 MPa) than wrought alloy samples (491.3 MPa). Finite element simulation was used successfully to simulate the tensile test, and the outcomes were predicted with an error percentage of less than 1. The significant enhancement in the strength is due to variations in the microstructure such as dendritic growth, phase changes influenced by complex thermal cycle, and residual δ-ferrite in wire arc additive manufacturing plate. The presence of residual δ-ferrite is also clear through the evaluation of ferrite number as it varied from bottom to top in the range of 5.2–4.9.