Tensile testing of polylactic acid (PLA) samples produced with a 3D printer and finite element analysis

Year 2025, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 111 - 120, 31.12.2025

Gülşah Akıncıoğlu , Yunus Zübeyir Turgut , Sıtkı Akıncıoğlu

Abstract

This study evaluated the mechanical properties of fully loaded samples produced from PLA (polylactic acid) filament using a 3D printer using experimental tensile tests and finite element analysis (FEM). The samples were designed in accordance with the ASTM D638 Type I standard and fabricated using a Creality Ender 3 V3 SE 3D printer. Tensile tests were performed on a Zwick/Roell Z010 device, and FEM analyses were performed using the Explicit Dynamics module and the Johnson Cook material model in ANSYS 2024 R2 software. Fracture zones were examined with a Dino-Lite digital microscope. Experimental tensile tests on fully loaded PLA samples accurately simulated the stress distribution using the finite element method. The study highlighted the impact of print quality on mechanical properties and provided important insights into improving the reliability of PLA in industrial applications.

Keywords

PLA filament , Tensile Test , Ansys FEM analysis , 3D printer

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