Deformation Behavior of Additively Manufactured AISI 316L: Experimental Compression Tests and Numerical Rolling Simulations

Austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is one of the most extensively investigated alloys in additive manufacturing due to its good processability and corrosion resistance. However, its mechanical performance is strongly influenced by subsequent post-processing, particularly heat treatment and thermomechanical deformation. This work focuses on the evaluation of the compressive behavior of 316L in three different conditions: as-built, after heat treatment at 1000 °C/1 h followed by water quenching (HT2), and in comparison with conventionally manufactured bulk material. Uniaxial compression tests were carried out to obtain true stress–strain curves, which were further used as input data for numerical simulations. The simulations were performed using DEFORM software to model hot rolling with different thickness reductions (20, 40, 60, and 80 %). Both symmetric and asymmetric rolling configurations were considered to investigate the influence of deformation mode on stress distribution and strain localization. The comparison between experimental data and numerical predictions enables validation of the applied material model and provides insights into the deformation mechanisms of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel. The expected outcomes highlight the role of heat treatment in tailoring the mechanical response and demonstrate the potential of finite element methods for designing efficient rolling strategies for L-PBF materials. This approach may contribute to the development of hybrid processing routes combining additive manufacturing with conventional forming.