An Empirical Torsional Spring Model for the Inclined Crack in a 3D-Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Cantilever Beam

This paper presents an empirical torsional spring model for the inclined crack on a 3D-printed ABS cantilever beam. The work outlined deals mainly with our previous research about an improved torsional spring model (Khan-He model), which can represent the deep vertical (90°) crack in the structure. This study used an experimental approach to investigate the relationships between the crack angle and torsional spring stiffness. ABS cantilever beams with different crack depths (1, 1.3 and 1.6 mm) and angles (30, 45, 60, 75 and 90°) were manufactured by fused deposition modelling (FDM). The impact tests were performed to obtain the dynamic response of cracked beams. The equivalent spring stiffness was calculated based on the specimen’s fundamental frequency. The results suggested that an increased crack incline angle yielded higher fundamental frequency and vibration amplitude, representing higher spring stiffness. The authors then developed an empirical spring stiffness model for inclined cracks based on the test data. These results extended the Khan-He model’s application from vertical to inclined crack prediction in FDM ABS structures.