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A multiphysics modelling framework for part-scale digital light processing vat photopolymerization simulation

delete2026-08-24
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OA
AI
G
Guang Liu
刘军 (Jun Liu)
Z
Zhoucheng Su
S
Shirley Xue Wang
J
Jessica Hemond
D
David W. Rosen *
DOI:10.1080/17452759.2026.2712040delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing is a vat photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing technology widely used for fabricating polymer parts with high resolution and fast printing speed. However, predicting geometric distortion and residual stress remain challenging because layer-by-layer photopolymerization process and subsequent UV post-curing involve coupled irradiation, chemical reaction, heat transfer, and mechanical deformation. In this work, a multiphysics modelling framework is developed by integrating irradiation, photopolymerization, thermal, and mechanical models to capture curing behaviour, residual stress evolution, and part distortion during DLP fabrication and post-curing. The framework is assessed using two benchmark examples from the literature by comparing predicted curing profiles, stress distributions, and warpage with published experimental and numerical results. To enable efficient part-scale simulation, an equivalent irradiance model (EIM) is introduced, in which multiple physical layers are combined into a single lumped layer while preserving the cumulative print-through exposure effect. For a 3D mounting bracket, the EIM reduces the simulation time from 25.5 h to 48.6 min, corresponding to an approximately 31-fold speedup. The proposed framework is further applied to simulate post-curing and an industry connector structure, demonstrating its capability for efficient DLP process simulation within the resin system and process parameters investigated in this study.
Keywords:
Digital light processing
vat photopolymerization
multiphysics modelling
process simulation
post-curing process

Journal

Virtual and Physical Prototyping cover
Virtual and Physical Prototyping
IF:
8.8
Papers:
1.0K
Citations:
4.9K

Organization

A
agency for science, technology, and research
Scholars:
47
Papers: 19
Citations: 0
T
te connectivity
Scholars:
43
Papers: 19
Citations: 0