Mesoscopic-scale simulation of pore evolution during laser powder bed fusion process

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is an advanced manufacturing technology that uses data-driven, layer-by-layer accumulation of materials to form metal components and has been widely applied in aerospace and other fields. Effectively controlling pore defects is a key scientific problem and technical difficulty in LPBF industrial production. Based on the open-source discrete element method code Yade, the particle distribution of the powder bed was obtained. Based on the open-source computational fluid dynamics code OpenFOAM, the pore evolution during the LPBF formation process at the mesoscopic scale was predicted. The thermal-force factors affecting the molten pool included the surface tension, Marangoni effect, gasification recoil force, and mushy drag force. The laser energy model used a body heat source based on interface tracking. First, dimensionless analysis of the molten pool evolution in the case of LPBF single-track formation was carried out. The molten pool evolution was mainly influenced by the gasification recoil force, Marangoni effect and surface tension, and the main influencing factors on different zones of the molten pool were different. To examine the influences of the laser power, scanning speed, powder bed thickness, and hatch space on the pore defect in the LPBF formation process, simulations were carried out and compared with experimental results. When the volumetric energy density was too small, pore defects occurred due to insufficient fusion of metal particles, and when the volumetric energy density was too large to cause the keyhole effect, pore defects occurred because the entrained gas could not escape in time. This paper is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the scientific regulation of pore defects in LPBF production.