Dissipative energy as a fatigue parameter of additively manufactured AlSi10Mg samples

The present study focuses on the thermal response of AlSi10Mg samples under cyclic dynamic loading, consequence of the self-heating effect. The samples are additively manufactured from AlSi10Mg aluminum alloy using the Laser Power Bed Fusion (L-PBF) technology. This paper discusses the prospect of applying thermographic methods to establish the standard S-N curve for fatigue life prediction using fewer samples than currently necessary and investigating the fatigue limit transition. The heat generation (self-heating) by the specimen during loading is analyzed using specific self-heating tests, which consist in gradually increasing the amplitude of loading for a certain number of cycles while monitoring the temperature of the specimen. Subsequently, this variable is processed as an input parameter within additional fatigue analyses. The effect of four different heat treatments was also considered, and some conclusions are drawn.