Numerical simulation of selective laser melting by the SPH method

Abstract. Currently, additive manufacturing technologies develop actively. This requires creation of computational methods to describe physical processes occurring at the time of manufacturing. One of the methods used for the production of metal powder parts is the method of selective laser melting. This paper presents an SPH-based numerical technique for modeling the process of powder sintering under the influence of a laser beam. The flow of liquid formed as a result of melting is described by the Navier-Stokes equations. Pressure forces, viscous effects and surface forces at the interface are included in the force balance. The thermal state is determined from the energy conservation law, which takes into account thermal processes, volumetric absorption of laser radiation energy, convective heat exchange with the external environment and radiation. Phase transitions between solid and liquid phases are described in the framework of the generalized formulation of the Stefan problem. The calculation method is verified on tests specific to the class of problems under consideration. A comparison is made with the analytical solution, as well as with solutions obtained by other modifications of the SPH method, and with experimental data.