Investigating the Cause-Effect Relationship Between Contour Number and Dynamic Mechanical Damping in FDM-Printed Parts

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is widely adopted across various industries due to its ability to produce complex geometries at a reasonable cost. However, the mechanical performance of FDM-printed parts often falls short compared to those produced by traditional manufacturing methods. This shortcoming is largely attributed to the sensitivity of mechanical properties to process parameters used during fabrication. While prior studies have extensively investigated the impact of these parameters under static loading conditions, significantly fewer have explored their influence under oscillatory or dynamic loads, conditions that are common in real world applications. Among the many process parameters, the Contour Number, which refers to the number of outer perimeters around each layer, plays a critical role. Yet, its specific impact on dynamic mechanical damping behaviour remains underexplored. This paper investigates how varying the Contour Number affects the energy dissipation capacity of FDM-printed parts. The findings provide valuable insights for improving the structural integrity and fatigue resistance of FDM components subjected to dynamic or cyclic loading environments.