3D aspects of materials design for metals and alloys

Abstract: Nowadays, most structural integrity concepts rely on simplified isotropic ma-terial data that are used within continuum mechanics modeling approaches. In contrast, modern casting and forming processes yield complex microstruc-tures coming along with pronounced gradients in the material's properties in various length scales. By means of additive manufacturing. bionics-inspired structures can be perfectly adapted to the space-resolved load distribution. Specific temperature control during solidification or heat treatment allow for usage of anisotropy and precipitation effects for materials optimization down to the atomic length scale. The present paper shows the significance and practical application of a three-dimensional correlation between the material's microstructure and its technical properties.