Abstract
The form of the outer and inner surfaces of hollow spherical parts determines the developments of some particular categories of efforts during the compression tests. The overall purpose of the research presented in this paper was to study the behaviour of the hollow spherical parts under axial compression. The PLA hollow spherical parts were obtained by 3D printing and using distinct values for certain process input factors. The finite element method was used to theoretically investigate the behaviour of the parts and it highlighted the total plastic deformation of the test pieces. To experimentally verify the theoretical considerations, an L9 Taguchi orthogonal design was performed. The empirical mathematical model thus determined highlighted the stronger influence exerted by the printing plate temperature, printing speed, and part wall thickness.
Keywords: Cave spherical part; Plastic material; 3D printing; Compression stress; Experimental tests; Mathematical model