Integrated eSHM system with Additive Manufacturing

In this paper a new material processing methodology of additive manufacturing, has been used for the production of four-point bending specimens of stainless steel AISI 316L with an integrated structural health monitoring system. Fatigue behaviour of stainless steel was studied with emphasis on crack detection and crack initiation. The aim of this work is to prove that the SHM system has reached technological readiness level 3 and to indicate that during four-point bending feasibility fatigue tests, the integrated SHM system had no influence on the crack initiation behaviour. The specimens were subjected to the so-called step test with constant fatigue stress amplitude and a constant R ratio in each step.