Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D Printing, is a disruptive modern manufacturing process, in which parts are manufactured in a layer-wise fashion. Among the metal AM processes, Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) technology has opened up a design space that was not formerly accessible with conventional manufacturing processes. It is, now, possible to manufacture complex geometries, such as topology-optimized structures, lattice structures and intricate internal channels, with relative ease. PBF is comprised of Electron Beam Melting (EBM) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) processes.

Though AM processes offer several advantages, the suitability of these processes to replace conventional manufacturing processes must be studied in detail; for instance, the capability to produce components of consistent quality. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the AM process together with the post treatment used and the resulting microstructure and its influence on the mechanical properties is crucial, to enable manufacturing of high-performance components. In this regard, for AM built Alloy 718, only a limited amount of work has been performed compared to conventional processes such as casting and forging. The aim of this work, therefore, is to understand how the fatigue properties of EBM and SLM built Alloy 718, subjected to different thermal post-treatments, is affected by the microstructure. In addition, the effect of as-built surface roughness is also studied.

Defects can have a detrimental effect on fatigue life. Numerous factors such as the defect type, size, shape, location, distribution and nature determine the effect of defects on properties. Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) improves fatigue life as it leads to closure of most defects. Presence of oxides in the defects, however, hinders complete closure by HIP. Machining the as-built surface improves fatiguelife; however, for EBM manufactured material, the extent of improvement is dependent on the amount of material removed. The as-built surface roughness, which has numerous crack initiation sites, leads to lower scatter in fatigue life. In both SLM and EBM manufactured material, fatigue crack propagation is transgranular. Crack propagation is affected by grain size and texture of the material.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a disruptive modern manufacturing process in which parts are manufactured in a layer-wise fashion. Among the metal AM processes, Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) technology — comprised of Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (EB-PBF) and Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (LB-PBF) —has opened up a design space that was formerly unavailable with conventionalmanufacturing processes. PBF processes offer several advantages; however, thesuitability of these processes to replace the conventional processes must be investigatedin detail. Therefore, understanding the AM process – post-processing –microstructure – property relationships is crucial for the manufacturing of high performance components. In this regard, only limited work has been done towards understanding the fatigue behaviour of PBF Alloy 718. The aim of this work, therefore, is to understand how the fatigue behaviour of PBF Alloy 718 is affected by its microstructure. Besides, the influence of the rough as-built surface is also investigated. In general, the <100> fibre texture along the build direction that resulted from PBF processing of Alloy 718 led to anisotropy in Young's modulus. Consequently,the fatigue performance under controlled amplitudes of strain was anisotropic such that the low-modulus direction had longer fatigue life and vice versa. This texture-induced elasticity-dependent anisotropic strain-life behaviour couldbe normalized by the pseudo-elastic stress vs fatigue life approach.Inclusions and defects had a detrimental effect on fatigue performance. Numerousfactors, such as their geometry, volume fraction, and distribution, determinedthe effect on fatigue behaviour. Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) eliminated most defect sand led to an improvement in fatigue performance. However, HIP did not alter the inclusions, which acted as crack initiation sites and reduced fatigue life. The rough as-built surface, which had numerous notch-like crack initiation sites, deteriorated fatigue performance; however, it lowered the scatter in fatigue life. Machining off the as-built surface improved fatigue life but increased the scatter.