Multi-axial fatigue analysis of 3D printed porous structures in Ti6Al4V for biomedical applications

Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing techniques such as Selective Laser Melting (SLM) have significantly increased the potential of porous structures during the last 15 years. With AM techniques it has become feasible to produce multiple complex porous structures in a single production run, enabling economical mass customization which is especially interesting for biomedical applications such as bone implants. However, the fatigue failure mechanisms and properties of these novel implants for real-life loading are currently not well understood and hence these structures cannot be used to their full potential. This research project aims at addressing this by studying the multi-axial fatigue behaviour of titanium structures with special focus on: influence of SLM process and post-build surface and heat treatments (i), failure mechanism analysis with in-situ microCT testing (ii), numerical modelling (iii), and interaction between porous structures and human body conditions (iv). On the long-term, this will lead to improved and predictable fatigue properties, allowing biomedical implants produced by AM with reliable and prolonged fatigue life.

Keywords:Additive Manufacturing, Porous structures, Multi-axial fatigue, Selective Laser Melting, Patient specific implants, 3D printing

Disciplines:Computer aided engineering, simulation and design, Biomaterials, Manufacturing processes, methods and technologies, Structural and mechanical properties