Integrated Computational Material Engineering Tool Set for Additive Manufacturing of Stainless Steel (316L)

In this Phase I STTR program, QuesTek Innovations, a leader in the field of integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) teaming with Prof. W.E. King from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as QuesTeks academic partner, proposes expand the computational Materials by Design technology by developing an Integrated Model Toolkit that enables the modeling of AM process by predicting the local composition, microstructure (including porosity and other defects), residual stresses and/or distortion, and mechanical properties for stainless steel 316L aerospace parts. Our approach is based upon computationally-implemented mechanistic models to predict process-structure and structure-property relationships at length-scales ranging from inter-atomic bonding, to stable/meta-stable phase equilibria, to macro-segregation during solidification. The focus of the Phase I program will be to determine the architecture of the ICME based tool set and define the existing and needed models to fill this architecture. LLNL, whose strategic initiative entitled Accelerated Certification of Additively Manufactured Metals, has extensive experience in development of process models for laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of 316L stainless steel and experimental measurements of residual stress, laser material interaction etc. Prof. G. Harlow from Lehigh University will work with the team as a consultant on the rapid qualification.