Exploring the synergistic influence of FDM parameters and strain rate on tensile strength and failure mechanism of FDM printed PLA

This research investigates the impact of orientation and infilling parameters on the tensile strength of 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) specimens with respect to varying strain rate. The influence of cross head speed of 3, 6, and 9 mm/min across various orientations (0°, 45°, 90°) and infilling percentages (30%, 60%, 90%) on the tensile strength was investigated. Results indicate significant variations in tensile strength based on these parameters. At a cross head speed of 3 mm/min, with 30% infilling, the tensile strength ranges from 37.81 MPa (0° orientation) to 30.58 MPa (90° orientation). Increasing infilling percentages lead to higher tensile strengths, with values reaching 51.68 MPa (0° orientation) at 90% infilling. Distinctively, the 0° orientation consistently outperforms 45° and 90° orientations across all infilling levels, underscoring its superior stress withstanding ablity. Similar trends are observed at different cross head speed, with the 0° orientation consistently exhibiting higher tensile strength compared to other orientations. This emphasizes the critical role of orientation in enhancing the overall performance of 3D printed specimens. In addition, the study highlights the significant influence of infilling percentage on tensile strength, indicating its importance in optimizing material properties for specific applications. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing 3D printing parameters to achieve desired mechanical properties in PLA structures.