On the dynamic and quasi-static shear strength of SLM AlSi10Mg

Additive manufacturing by selective laser melting (AM-SLM) is an advanced manufacturing approach in which a structure is fabricated by successive thin powder layers melted by a focused laser beam. The aerospace and automotive sectors are especially interested in the AMSLM technology that enables quick production of complex and customized structures. AlSi10Mg alloy has been found to be applicable to AM-SLM mainly because good cast-ability, strong weldability and low shrinkage during solidification. While many studies on the quasi-static mechanical properties and the structure of SLM AlSi10Mg were published, there is limited published research focused on the dynamic properties of SLM AlSi10Mg under high rate strains. In addition to that, the shear strength of SLM aluminium alloys is rarely investigated. This study presents an investigation of the AM-SLM AlSi10Mg static and dynamic shear strength and its dependency on build direction. Experiments included quasi-static shear experiments performed according to the protocol of ASTM B565, and dynamic shear tests performed using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), coupled to innovative punch assembly that generates pure dynamic shear loads on the sample. The design of this sample holder has been validated numerically and an experimentally. The quasi-static experiments revealed that the static shear strength is independent of build direction. In contrast, the dynamic tests demonstrated that the dynamic shear strength of vertically built samples is higher by almost 11% than the shear strength of samples built horizontally. This last phenomenon explained with a suggested mechanism based onelectron microscope fractography