Numerical Investigation of Torsional Analysis of 3D-Printed PLA Components using Finite Element Analysis

Additive manufacturing with polylactic acid (PLA) has evolved from rapid prototyping to producing functional mechanical components, necessitating accurate prediction of torsional performance for reliable design. This paper presents a numerical investigation of the torsional behavior of FDM-printed PLA components using finite element analysis (FEA). A solid CAD model was analyzed under torque loading, with one end fixed and the opposite subjected to rotational displacement. The model assumed linear elastic isotropic material behavior and underwent mesh convergence testing to ensure numerical accuracy. Results include shear stress contours, torsional stiffness, and angle of twist, which were compared against analytical torsion theory for validation. The findings demonstrate that torsional rigidity and stress distribution strongly depend on infill orientation and density, consistent with trends reported in recent studies. The proposed framework provides a reliable approach for optimizing the torsional design of 3D-printed PLA components in engineering applications.