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@article{194706,
        author = {Pugalvendhan G and Dr B Anandavel and Dr K Venkatesan},
        title = {INVESTIGATES THE INFLUENCE OF BUILD ORIENTATION ON THE FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR OF LPBF-FABRICATED 316L STAINLESS STEEL},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {10},
        pages = {4932-4936},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=194706},
        abstract = {Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is an advanced metal additive manufacturing process extensively used for producing complex geometries with high dimensional accuracy. However, the layer-wise fabrication inherent to LPBF induces anisotropic microstructural features, directional solidification patterns, and orientation-dependent defect distributions. These characteristics significantly influence mechanical performance, particularly fatigue behaviour, where crack initiation and propagation are strongly affected by build orientation, internal porosity, and interlayer bonding quality. The present study investigates the influence of build orientation on the fatigue crack propagation behaviour of LPBF-fabricated 316L stainless steel by comparing specimens manufactured at 0° orientations relative to the build platform. The hypothesis of this research is that specimens fabricated at a 20° orientation require greater time for crack propagation than those built at 0° orientation. This is attributed to crack deflection across inclined layer boundaries, increased crack path tortuosity, and variation in the effective stress intensity factor caused by anisotropic microstructural alignment. Fatigue specimens were produced using LPBF process to ensure high density and consistent microstructure. Post-fabrication machining and surface finishing were performed to minimize surface roughness effects and isolate orientation-dependent fatigue behaviour. Mechanical characterization was conducted and Fractographic analysis was carried out to identify crack initiation sites, examine crack growth patterns, and correlate failure mechanisms with build orientation and defect morphology. The experimental results demonstrate that build orientation significantly influences fatigue crack growth characteristics. Specimens fabricated at 20° orientation exhibited modified crack propagation paths due to interaction with inclined interlayer boundaries, resulting in increased crack deflection and extended effective crack length compared to 0° specimens. The findings indicate that angular build orientation alters crack propagation mechanisms and contributes to differences in fatigue life. This study establishes a direct correlation between build orientation and fatigue crack propagation behaviour in LPBF 316L stainless steel, providing insights for optimizing component orientation during fabrication to enhance fatigue performance and structural reliability in critical engineering applications.},
        keywords = {Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), 316L Stainless Steel, Build Orientation Fatigue Crack Propagation, Anisotropic Microstructure, Crack Deflection, Stress Intensity Factor, Fractographic Analysis.},
        month = {March},
        }