•Reference lattice spacings in neutron diffraction measurements can be determined from mechanically stress-relieved samples.•Stress-relief heat treatments change reference lattice spacings by modifying the microstructure of reference samples.•In additive manufacturing (AM), thermal history and therefore elemental composition vary with position.•Location-dependent reference lattice spacings must be measured in AM due to chemical and microstructural heterogeneity.•Neutron diffraction and thermomechanical modeling are complementary techniques to determine residual stress.The rapid solidification and subsequent thermal cycles that material is subjected to during additive manufacturing (AM) of a component result in a buildup of residual stresses, which lead to part distortion, and negatively impact the component's mechanical properties. We present a method for using neutron diffraction to validate thermomechanical models developed to predict the residual stresses in Inconel 625 walls fabricated by laser-based directed energy deposition. Residual stress calculations from neutron diffraction measurements depend strongly on the determination of stress-free lattice spacings. After measurement of stressed lattice spacings in Inconel 625 walls, reference samples were obtained by extracting thin slices from the walls and cutting comb-type slits into these slices. Reference lattice spacings were measured in these slices, as well as equivalent slices that were also subjected to stress-relieving heat treatment. These heat treatments changed the reference lattice spacings, and therefore affected residual strain measurements. Further, this study shows the importance of using location-dependent reference lattice spacing, as during AM, the thermal history, and therefore elemental composition and stress-free lattice spacing, vary with position. Residual stresses measured by neutron diffraction along the build direction using comb-type reference samples without heat treatment were in good agreement with thermomechanical modeling predictions.Download high-res image (109KB)Download full-size image

Laser-based additive manufacturing (AM) of metals using powder feedstock can be accomplished via two broadly defined technologies: directed energy deposition (DED) and powder bed fusion (PBF). In these processes, metallic powder is delivered to a location and locally melted with a laser heat source. Upon deposition, the material undergoes a rapid cooling and solidification, and as subsequent layers are added to the component, the material within the component is subjected to rapid thermal cycles. In order to adopt AM for the building of structural components, a thorough understanding of the relationships among the complex thermal cycles seen in AM, the unique heterogeneous and anisotropic microstructure, and the mechanical properties must be developed. Researchers have fabricated components by both DED and PBF from the widely used titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V and studied the resultant microstructure and mechanical properties. This review article discusses the progress to date on investigating the as-deposited and heat-treated microstructures and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V structures made by powder-based laser AM using DED and PBF.