Build Direction Effects on Additively Manufactured Channels

With the advance of direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), also generically referred to as additive manufacturing (AM), novel geometric features of internal channels for gas turbine cooling can be achieved beyond those features using traditional manufacturing techniques. There are many variables, however, in the DMLS process that affect the final quality of the part. Of most interest to gas turbine heat transfer designers are the roughness levels and tolerance levels that can be held for the internal channels. This study investigates the effect of DMLS build direction and channel shape on the pressure loss and heat transfer measurements of small-scale channels. Results indicate that differences in pressure loss occur between the test cases with differing channel shapes and build directions, while little change is measured in heat transfer performance.