Abstract
Additive Manufacture (AM) enables the fabrication of highly complex lattice structures with exceptional engineering properties. Inconel is a technically useful material in that it provides high resistance to oxidisation, creep and loss of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. The combination of Inconel material properties and the geometric freedom of AM provides a unique opportunity for the fabrication of engineered structures with exceptional strength and stiffness at elevated temperatures, as for example is required for high temperature turbomachinery. Despite the associated technical opportunities, there exists no design data on the mechanical response, deformation characteristics and failure modes of AM Inconel 625 lattice structures. This research provides a comprehensive reference for the mechanical response of Inconel 625 lattice structures fabricated by Selective Laser Melting (SLM). Furthermore, the high ductility of Inconel 625 lattice enables novel insight into the structural mechanics of AM lattice, and the associated deformation photography provides a reference for the validation and verification of numerical models of AM lattice behaviour.
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•A comprehensive reference of the mechanical response of Inconel 625 (IN625) lattice structures made by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is provided.•Mechanical performance was measured including yield strength, Young’s Modulus and associated density specific properties for mass limited design.•IN625 lattice structures display exceptional ductility presenting attractive opportunities for energy absorption applications.•Adjustment of topology and cell size can enable coarse and fine tuning of lattice mechanical properties.•This previously unavailable IN625 lattice experimental data provides a reference for design application and numerical models validation.