Comparison of Various Processing Treatments on Uniaxial Compression Performance of Large Scale Additively Manufactured Thermoplastic ABS Chopped Fiber Composite Structures

The chapter focuses on the comparison of various processing treatments on the uniaxial compression performance of large-scale additively manufactured thermoplastic ABS chopped fiber composite structures. It begins by introducing industrial large-scale polymer additive manufacturing (ILSPAM) and the limited literature available on process treatments in this field. The research aims to demonstrate the manufacturability of a large, mostly hollow prefabricated foundation structure using ILSPAM, identify and categorize manufacturing process defects, and assess the structure’s performance despite these defects. The authors used a CI BAAM ILSPAM machine to produce prototype structures with ABS-glass and ABS-carbon fiber composites. They conducted cyclic uniaxial compression tests to evaluate the structures' performance under varying processing treatments. The results showed significant differences in relative displacements between specimens, highlighting the impact of processing parameters on structural performance. The chapter concludes by discussing potential explanations for the observed effects and the implications for future research in this area.