Triaxial Analysis of Mechanical Properties in Additively Manufactured Layered Material

Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing offers unprecedented opportunities for creating tailored materials with complex geometries. This study quantifies the impact of layer thickness and orientation on the mechanical and acoustic properties of SLA‐printed materials under triaxial stress conditions, a critical yet understudied area. We fabricated models with layer dip angles of 0°, 45°, and 90°, and layer thicknesses of 25, 100, and 160 μm. These samples underwent triaxial compression testing and ultrasonic elastic wave velocity measurements using an Autolab 1500 triaxial load frame. Our findings reveal significant anisotropy in the mechanical properties of the 3D‐printed samples, with up to a 30% increase in uniaxial compressive strength for 45° oriented samples. Additionally, we uncover a novel relationship between layer parameters and acoustic properties, enabling nondestructive quality assessment of 3D‐printed components. This research provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing the performance of 3D‐printed materials in high‐stress applications, with critical insights into the behavior of SLA‐printed materials under complex stress states, useful for aerospace, geomechanics, and biomedical engineering applications.