Simulation of the thermomechanical behavior of discrete particles in the laser directed energy deposition process

This work aims to simulate the thermomechanical behavior of discrete particles interacting with a laser source in the Laser Directed Energy Deposition process (L-DED). The associated changes in mechanical and thermal properties as a function of temperature and an accurate contact model of particle-particle and particle-rigid obstacles are discussed and evaluated. The Hertz-Mindlin + JKR contact model is used to simulate particle deposition and particle agglomerate. The variation of parameters such as laser power, initial velocity and surface energy affects the thermomechanical behavior of particles, directly affecting particle agglomerate or dispersing after the contact. Through the simulation of particle deposition, it is possible to observe a good similarity with the real deposition process.