Standardisation Framework for Steel Structures Featuring Metal Additive Manufacturing

Abstract Wire‐arc directed energy deposition (DED‐Arc), also known as wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), brings about unprecedented opportunities in the construction sector to improve material efficiency, enhance automation and reduce embodied carbon. To address the current standardisation gap, a normative framework for the use of DED‐Arc in construction is proposed in this paper. The current standardisation landscape for steel construction is firstly introduced. The standardisation requirements for DED‐Arc in construction, encompassing qualification, structural design and execution, are outlined. Regarding the structural design, the applicability of existing Eurocode 3 structural design rules are assessed using the existing experimental data, and modifications and additional rules needed for DED‐Arc structural components, in terms of design material and geometric properties, design methods, structural reliability and behaviour under long‐term and extreme actions, are described.