Mechanical and corrosion properties of stainless steel fabricated by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) using weave and stringer beads

Wire-Arc-Additive-Manufacturing shows promise as a manufacturing method for large structures. However, careful control of material properties is required due to the number of process variables involved. Traditional welding techniques employ many different weaving methods to produce various bead properties in different situations. The effect of these weave patterns on the porosity and tensile strength of the produced prints is studied to determine if a relationship exists been print weave settings and the quality of printed samples. Walls which have been manufactured using Wire-Arc-Additive-Manufacturing are analyzed using non-destructive ultrasonic testing to quantify sample porosity. Microhardness testing is performed to define the heat affected zones. Corrosion analysis is performed on sample slices to understand the effect on corrosion resistance. Similar, adjacent sample slices underwent tension testing to determine if the yield point of the samples is affected by weave conditions.