Effect of Infill Pattern and Infill Density of 3d Printed Pla Parts on the Acoustic Wave Propagation

Abstract

In this work, the impact of fused filament fabrication (FFF) on wave propagation is investigated in 3D-printed PLA samples. Specifically, this study aims to evaluate the influence of acoustic wave propagation through three infill patterns {Linear, Combined, Concentric}, and five infill densities {100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%} produced through 3D printing. By varying those parameters, FFF allows for the modulation of the volumetric fraction of porosity. Consequently, a decrease in wave velocity and an increase in acoustic attenuation are observed as the volumetric fraction of porosity increases. This effect is particularly significant when the observation is conducted perpendicular to the filament orientation. The ability to modulate the volumetric fraction of porosity offers interesting prospects for adjusting the acoustic characteristics of 3D-printed materials, paving the way for potential applications in areas such as acoustic engineering and the design of custom materials. These findings enhance our understanding of the interactions between additive manufacturing and the acoustic properties of materials, providing valuable insights for the future development of composite materials tailored to specific applications.

Keywords: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), infilling pattern and density, Polylactic acid (PLA), Effective properties, ultrasound wave, Mechanical testing.