Nominal elastic modulus assessment in 3D-printed components under varying printing parameters using Bayesian methods and random forest surrogate modeling

Abstract

The expanding range of materials available for 3D printing is driving its widespread adoption in advanced fields. As 3D printing becomes increasingly prevalent in the manufacturing of industrial components, its advantages in accommodating complex geometries and reducing material waste are attracting significant attention. Acquiring and applying precise elastic properties of materials during structural design is crucial for ensuring part safety and consistency. However, non-destructive mechanical property assessment methods remain limited. In this paper, we propose an efficient surrogate model, built using a Bayesian model updating approach combined with a random forest algorithm, to achieve high-precision calibration of material elastic constants. In the experiment, samples were 3D printed using fused deposition modeling, and modal information was obtained using operational modal analysis with one end fixed to simulate cantilever beam boundary conditions. Parameter updating was then performed within a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo framework. The deviation between the updated calculated frequencies and the measured frequencies was significantly reduced, and the Modal Assurance Criterion value between the updated calculated mode shapes and the measured mode shapes was higher than 0.99, demonstrating the accuracy of the updated parameters. Compared to traditional destructive testing methods, the proposed method directly calibrates the structural elastic modulus at the component level without affecting the normal use of the component, providing a more practical approach for the analysis and research of material properties in 3D printing additive manufacturing. The related technology can be extended to other structural forms of 3D-printed products.