The Role of Additive Manufacturing in Developing and Validating Models in Damage and Fracture Mechanics

Additive manufacturing not only allows for the production of complex parts but also plays a significant role in developing and validating models in the field of damage and fracture mechanics for intricate structures. This presentation explores how additive manufacturing can be utilized to validate structural relationships and models related to damaged and porous materials, specifically focusing on the density of material damage. Traditionally, the validation of relationships in damage mechanics has been largely untested due to challenges in simulating and producing damaged parts, a situation that also applies to porous materials. The properties of such materials are typically predicted using analytical relationships found in various references. This research highlights the potential of additive manufacturing to develop complex models that assess damage. It includes the creation of damage-controlled models aimed at verifying existing analytical models, as well as the development of optimal designs for creating grooves and notches that reduce stress concentration based on material drop angles and other manufacturing parameters.