PSI - Issue 73

Barbora Křistková et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 73 (2025) 87 – 93

92

6

Barbora Krˇistkova´, V´ıt Krˇivy´, Miroslav Vacek / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2025) 000–000

porosity of the printed element. However, the mechanical properties of the produced parts can vary significantly. These properties are determined not only by the printing method, but also by the type of printer, the atomic composition of the production powder and the print orientation (vertical or horizontal). The printing will be done on a Renishaw AM400 printer (34). This printer has a print area of up to 250 x 250 x 300 mm and can produce at a speed of 5–20 cm 3 / hr, depending on the material used. The layer thickness will be about 50 µ m.

Table 1: Mechanical properties of 316L stainless steel metal powder

Mechanical property

Horizontal direction (XY)

Vertical direction (Z)

Upper tensile strength (UTS)

676MPa ± 2MPa 547MPa ± 3MPa

624MPa ± 17MPa 494MPa ± 14MPa

Yield strength

Elongation at break Modulus of elasticity Hardness (Vickers) Surface roughness (Ra)

43% ± 2%

35% ± 8%

197GPa ± 4GPa

190GPa ± 10GPa

198HV0.5 ± 8HV0.5

208HV0.5 ± 6HV0.5

4 µ mto6 µ m

4 µ mto6 µ m

The manufactured fittings will be tested by destructive testing until the element is broken. On the basis of the tests, all samples will be evaluated and mechanical properties will be determined.

4. Conclusion

The study demonstrates that additive metal manufacturing is a promising technology whose application can signif icantly enrich structural practice, especially in the field of architectural details of glass facades. Based on a literature search and design process, it is shown that the use of 3D printing - and in particular the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) method - enables the creation of complex, organic shapes that are not commonly achievable by traditional manufac turing methods. The resulting prototype of an atypical four-armed spider, designed in Blender software, demonstrated not only its aesthetic value, but also its potential to optimize production cycles and reduce material waste. Initial printed prototypes in PLA material verified the functionality of the basic design, but also identified several areas requiring further optimization, in particular, the need to reinforce support leg thicknesses and smooth transitions between structural elements. Further modifications are crucial to achieve optimum mechanical stability and reliable load transfer. It is also necessary to complete numerical simulations to assess the maximum load capacity and overall mechanical properties of the final part. The practical application of 3D fabricated detailing methods could lead to a redefinition of structural detailing and a shift toward more e ffi cient construction that is both aesthetically distinct and environmentally friendly through material savings. Future research should systematically investigate how specific material properties and print orientation influence the mechanical properties of printed components. Collaborating with the Protolab Research Center of the Technical University of Ostrava is essential for the production of individual components. Verifying the practical applicability and long-term reliability of the proposed detail is a long-term goal. In general, this thesis explores the potential of 3D metal printing as a revolutionary manufacturing tool and seeks to open up new applications in architecture and construction.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Student Grant Competition of VSˇB-TUO (project SP2025 / 053).

References

[1] I. Capasso, F. R. Andreacola, G. Brando, Additive manufacturing of metal materials for construction engineering: An overview on technologies and applications, Metals 14 (9) (2024) 1033.