Thermal Stresses Associated with Part Overhang Geometry in Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing: Process Parameter Effects

For powder-bed electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM), support structures are required when fabricating an overhang to prevent defects such as curling, which is due to the complex thermomechanical process in EBAM. In this study, finite element modeling is developed to simulate the thermomechanical process in EBAM in building overhang part. Thermomechanical characteristics such as thermal gradients and thermal stresses around the overhang build are evaluated and analyzed. The model is applied to evaluate process parameter effects on the severity of thermal stresses. The major results are summarized as follows. For a uniform set of process parameters, the overhang areas have a higher maximum temperature, a higher tensile stress, and a larger distortion than the areas above a solid substrate. A higher energy density input, e.g., a lower beam speed or a higher beam current may cause more severe curling at the overhang area.