Mechanical property evaluation of 316 L micro-powders via particle compression tests and finite element method simulation

Inspired by the observed similarity in the phase constitution and grain scale of powders and laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) builds, mechanical properties of powder are proposed to reflect the intrinsic mechanical strength of alloy systems. In this study, we propose a combined experimental–numerical method that integrates finite element method (FEM) simulations with particle compression tests to demonstrate this feasibility. Individual 316L stainless-steel particles were compressed to produce reproducible force–displacement curves. FEM simulations employing the Voce hardening law revealed that the compressive response is sensitive to plastic parameters but largely insensitive to elastic properties. By iteratively fitting the simulations to the experimental data, we successfully determined the true stress–strain relationship of the powders. The validity of the approach was further confirmed by accurately predicting the compression behavior of 316L particles with different diameters. This study provides a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective tool for powder characterization, enabling alloy screening and composition optimization in L-PBF applications.