Cyclic Torsional Behavior of 3D-Printed ABS: Role of Infill Density and Raster Orientation

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Abstract
This study investigates the fatigue behavior of 3D-printed ABS subjected to cyclic torsional loads, with a focus on the effects of infill density and raster angle on torsional fatigue performance. A total of 50 test specimens representing 25 unique combinations of infill density (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%) and raster angle (25°/−65°, 45°/−45°, 75°/−15°, 0°/90°) were fabricated and tested using the cyclic torsion system. Fatigue failure was defined as a 75% reduction in torsional strength, recorded through cycle-by-cycle torque monitoring. The twist angle was cyclically varied between ±10° at a frequency of 5 Hz until failure occurred. The results indicate that increasing infill density significantly improves fatigue life by reducing internal porosity and enhancing load transfer, with the greatest gains observed at high infill levels (≥80%). Raster angle has a minimal effect at low infill densities but becomes critical at higher densities, where optimized filament orientations substantially extend fatigue life. Intermediate raster angles, particularly 25° and 75°, outperform orthogonal layouts by enabling better stress redistribution and inter-layer load sharing, while a 90° orientation leads to premature failure due to stress concentration and inter-layer debonding. When normalized by mass, specimens with 100% infill and intermediate raster angles achieve the highest fatigue endurance, highlighting the synergistic role of infill density and raster orientation in optimizing the durability and mass efficiency of 3D-printed components under cyclic torsional loading.
Funding Information
  • RCA fund (RCA#U095301)
  • Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) fund

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