In-situ micromechanics to enhance additively manufactured steels

Additive manufacturing (AM) is considered to be one of the core facilitators of the next industrial revolution. Enormous research emphasis has been placed to optimize the processing and post-processing parameters of additively manufactured components. However, no attention has been given to characterize the mechanical properties of the complex microstructure at micrometer length scales that evolves during the fabrication process, even though it is widely acknowledged that the weak links in mechanical performance are the inter-layer structures and fusion boundaries. The primary aim of this project is to understand the complex microstructure and its deformation mechanism(s) at layer and inter-layer structures using advanced electron microscopy and in-situ micromechanical testing methods. The secondary aim of the project is to understand the reasons for lower ductility and fatigue life of AM steels compared to their conventionally produced counterparts. The selective characterization of individual features will accelerate the research on the functionally tailored components and is expected to pave the way for rapid adoption of AM steels in the industry.