Effects of build orientation and strain rate on the tensile-shear behaviour of polyamide-12 manufactured via laser powder bed fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) of engineering thermoplastics is a well-established additive manufacturing technique. In this work, an experimental investigation of the tensile-shear behaviour of L-PBF processed polyamide-12 (PA12) is presented, with a particular focus on the concurrent effect of build orientation and rate dependency at strain rates ranging from 10⁻³ to 10³ s⁻¹. Results show that the deformation behaviour features significant anisotropy at both low and high strain rates, while quasi-static ultimate strength in either tension or shear shows no dependence on the build direction. As the strain rate increases, the tensile strength is characterised by apparent positive rate dependence but remains insensitive to the build orientation; however the shear strength displays significant build orientation-dependent anisotropy, highlighted by the decreasing shear strength of specimens printed in the loading direction. Post-mortem scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrates torn dimples with stretched filaments in quasi-static fractography, while cleavage facets with flake structures retrieved from high-rate loading. A fibrillar structure is observed from high-rate torsional loading indicating adiabatic decohesion during rapid crack propagation. These findings draw attention to the significant anisotropy of L-PBF PA12 parts in a high-rate loading regime and provide directions to improve the current L-PBF techniques.