Additive manufacturing (AM) continues to transform the design and production of materials and components, enabling complex geometries, lightweight structures, and bespoke designs that were previously impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. However, these new possibilities also bring unique challenges in understanding and predicting the fracture and failure behavior of AM materials, components, and the novel structures and metamaterials being developed for advanced applications.

This special session will focus on the fracture and failure mechanisms of additively manufactured materials, components, structures, and metamaterials. It will explore both the scientific foundations and the practical challenges associated with ensuring the structural integrity of AM-produced parts. 

Topics of interest include:
 

• Fracture mechanics of AM materials and structures: Investigating the influence of microstructure, defects, and residual stresses on fracture behavior, with a particular focus on the unique characteristics of AM-produced parts.
• Failure analysis in AM components: Exploring the different failure modes (e.g., brittle, ductile, fatigue) in various AM processes such as powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, and material extrusion, and their implications for part reliability.
• Fatigue and durability of AM components/structures: Examining the performance of AM components under cyclic loading and long-term use, and developing strategies to improve the durability of additively manufactured parts.
• Designing for failure resistance in AM structures: Best practices for improving the strength and resilience of AM parts, including material selection, process optimization, and post-processing techniques.
• Metamaterials and innovative structures in AM: The role of advanced materials and structures, such as lattice structures and metamaterials, in improving performance and creating lightweight, high-strength components. Understanding how the unique properties of these materials impact fracture and failure behavior.
• Non-destructive testing (NDT) and in-situ monitoring for AM parts: Investigating the latest techniques for detecting and characterizing defects, cracks, and fractures in AM components during production and service life.
• Case studies and real-world applications: Insights from industries such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and energy, where AM materials and metamaterials are being integrated into high-performance and safety-critical components.
• Optimisation and improvements based on case failures identification, 
• other related.

The session aims to bring together researchers, engineers, and industry experts to share the latest advancements in the understanding of fracture and failure mechanisms in AM materials and components, with a special emphasis on the challenges and opportunities presented by new structures and metamaterials. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the state-of-the-art techniques for enhancing the reliability, performance, and safety of additively manufactured parts in demanding applications.

We invite contributions that present new experimental data, theoretical models, or innovative design strategies aimed at improving the fracture resistance and performance of AM structures and metamaterials, as well as addressing the growing need for reliable, high-performance AM components in industry.