Shock compression of additive manufactured metals

Additive manufacturing allows production of novel structures, not possible with conventional methods. These can take the form of complex geometries, unusual microstructures, or even functionally graded materials. The benefits that these could bring to industries such as aerospace and defense have resulted in a large push to develop AM techniques for structural metals. However – the mechanical response of such parts is often far removed from that of their conventional counterparts. Here, we present results on the shock compression of a range of AM metals, including Ti6Al4V, stainless steel, and tantalum, investigating how they respond to dynamic loading. Comparisons of their equation-of-state and damage tolerance to that of wrought samples will highlight the importance of thorough testing and qualification of AM parts, and reveal some of the challenges that need to be addressed before they can replace traditional methods.