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Study of certain flow characteristics of laser-sintered wick structures by numerical analysis using flow-3D
Navuluri, Sai Chaithanya
Navuluri, Sai Chaithanya
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t24019_Navuluri.pdf
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2024-05
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Laser sintering is a promising additive manufacturing technique for fabricating wick structures with intricate geometries and tailored properties. In this study, we investigate the effects of laser emission mode, overlap percentage, and starting position on the microstructure and properties of laser-sintered wick structures.
Theoretical models provide valuable predictions regarding porosity, permeability, and other key properties of the wick structures based on laser sintering parameters. However, experimental measurements reveal discrepancies between theoretical predictions and actual results, highlighting the need for further refinement and validation of theoretical models.
Using a combination of hot pressing at 200°C and 200 psi pressure, followed by laser sintering in Flow-3D software, we explore the optimization of laser sintering parameters to achieve desired wick structure properties. Our simulations consider pulsed and continuous laser emissions with varying overlap percentages, shedding light on the influence of these parameters on wick structure properties.
The results show that emission mode, overlap percentage, and starting position significantly affect the microstructure and properties of laser-sintered wick structures. Pulsed heating introduces thermal gradients and material spattering, resulting in higher overall porosity compared to continuous wave emission. Additionally, optimization of laser parameters provides insights into fluid flow rate, capillary pressure, and thermal conductivity.
Furthermore, the investigation reveals that higher overlap percentages lead to denser structures with lower porosity but higher permeability. This finding underscores the importance of overlap percentage as a critical parameter in laser sintering for wick structure fabrication.
Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of laser sintering as a manufacturing process for wick structures and provides valuable insights for process optimization. Further research is needed to address discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements and to explore additional factors influencing wick structure properties.
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Thesis (M.S.)-- Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
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Wichita State University
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