HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE PROPERTIES OF AS-BUILT TI6AL4V (ELI) PRODUCED BY DIRECT METAL LASER SINTERING

The high cycle fatigue (HCF) properties of direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) of Ti6Al4V (ELI) in three mutually orthogonal build directions were investigated by cycling specimens under load control, in a tension-tension fatigue testing machine. Semi-log graphs of maximum stress (S) against life (N) of the specimens produced along the respective three build directions were plotted, and the displayed endurance limits compared. Optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to compare and analyse the crack initiation and propagation characteristics of the specimens. The influence of the build direction on the fatigue properties of the tested specimens is discussed here.