AM Bench 2025 Measurements and Challenge Problems

Modelers are invited to submit challenge problem simulation results before the deadline of 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025. There are no restrictions on what challenge problems are attempted. For each set of benchmarks, a downloadable .pdf file is provided that describes all the measurements and challenge problems. Tabulated results using challenge-specific templates are required for most challenges. Because some participants may not be able to share proprietary details of the modeling approaches used, we are not requiring such details. However, whenever possible we strongly encourage participants to include with their submissions a .pdf document describing the modeling approaches, physical parameters, and assumptions used for the submitted simulations.

All evaluations of submitted modeling results will be conducted by the AM Bench 2025 Organizing Committee in conjunction with the relevant AM Bench 2025 measurement teams. Award plaques will be awarded at the discretion of the Organizing Committee.

If you are interested in following or participating in any of the AM Bench 2025 challenge problems, please email us at ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) so we can add you to our contact list. This will allow us to inform you if any updates are made.

Q&A webinars will be held on March 13 and 14 following the schedule shown below.  Links to register for the Q&A webinar events for each challenge set are provided under the corresponding benchmark description. After the webinar is completed, additional links will be added for the recorded webinar presentations and any benchmark FAQs.

Challenge problem Q&A webinar schedule:

March 13, 2025 (all times ET)

March 14, 2025

Please note that the challenge problems reflect only a small part of the validation measurement data provided by AM Bench for each set of benchmarks. The Measurement Description sections for each set of benchmarks describe the full range of measurements conducted.

Metal AM Benchmarks and Challenge Problems

AMB2025-01: Laser powder bed fusion 3D builds of nickel-based superalloy 625 with variations in feedstock chemistries

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 13, 2025
  • Microstructure Upon Stress Relief (CHAL-AMB2025-01-SR): Predict the average solidification cell size, average maximum and minimum segregated mass fractions of Nb and Mo at the cell walls and cell interiors, respectively, and the volume fractions of precipitates, excluding oxides, in the as-built microstructures. Predict the volume fractions of precipitates, excluding oxides, in the microstructures after stress relief heat treatment at 870 °C for 1 h.
  • Microstructure Upon Homogenization (CHAL-AMB2025-01-H): Predict the average solidification cell size, average maximum and minimum segregated mass fractions of Nb and Mo at the cell walls and cell interiors, respectively, and the volume fractions of precipitates, excluding oxides, in the as-built microstructures. Predict the volume fractions of precipitates, excluding oxides, in the microstructures after homogenization heat treatment at 1150 °C for 1 h.

AMB2025-02: Macroscale quasi-static tensile tests of PBF-LB IN718

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 14, 2025
  • Tensile Properties Prediction (CHAL-AMB2025-02-TP): Average tensile properties of nickel alloy 718 specimens extracted from AMB2022-01 as-built specimens. Microstructure data from nominally identical AM Bench 2022 specimens are available.

AMB2025-03: High-cycle rotating bending fatigue tests of PBF-LB Ti-6Al-4V

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 14, 2025
  • S-N Curve Prediction (CHAL-AMB2025-03-SN): High-cycle rotating bending fatigue S-N curves from PBF-LB Ti-6Al-4V specimens that were heat treated, machined and polished to remove surface roughness .
  • Applied Stress Prediction (CHAL-AMB2025-03-AS): Specimen-specific fatigue strength of specimens selected from CHAL-AMB2025-03-SN.
  • Failure Location Prediction (CHAL-AMB2025-03-FL): Specimen-specific fatigue crack initiation locations for specimens selected from CHAL-AMB2025-03-SN.

AMB2025-04: Laser hot-wire directed energy deposition (DED) 3D builds of nickel-based superalloy 718 test objects

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 13, 2025
  • Temperature history prediction (CHAL-AMB2025-04-THP01): Predict the temperature history at one thermocouple location located on bottom surface of the baseplate
  • Residual Elastic Stresses (CHAL-AMB2025-04-RS01): Residual elastic strain components at select locations internal to build, corresponding to neutron diffraction measurements.
  • Residual Elastic Strains (CHAL-AMB2025-04-RS02): Residual elastic strain components at select locations internal to build, corresponding to energy dispersive diffraction measurements.
  • Baseplate Deflection (CHAL-AMB2025-04-BD): Deflection of the baseplate with no heat treatment

AMB2025-05: Single bead-thickness walls and individual laser hot-wire alloy 718 beads with variations in laser power and travel speed with fixed wire feed rate

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 13, 2025
  • Average grain size (CHAL-AMB2025-05-MS01): Distributions of direction-specific grain sizes from specified regions in the stair step walls.
  • Melt pool transverse geometry (CHAL-AMB2025-05-MP01): Predict the width and depth of the melt pool for each set of processing parameters of the single bead depositions.

AMB2025-06: Arrays of adjacent laser tracks (pads) on alloy 718 plate with two pad sizes and three scenarios - no powder layer and a single alloy 718 powder layer, two thicknesses

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 13, 2025
  • Pad Melt Pool Geometry (CHAL-AMB2025-06-PMPG): Laser track geometrical measurements (depth, width, etc.) describing the overlapping laser tracks at specified locations of all pads. Additional metrics include the total solidified area above the substrate and the total dilution area below the substrate.
  • Pad Surface Topography (CHAL-AMB2025-06-PST): Surface roughness and fused layer thickness measurements for different regions of the pads. 

AMB2025-07: Arrays of adjacent laser tracks (pads) on bare alloy 718 plate with varying turn-around time

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 13, 2025
  • Pad Cooling Rate and Time Above Melting (CHAL-AMB2025-07-PCRTAM): Cooling rate immediately following complete solidification (below solidus) at specified locations within pads. Time above the midpoint between the solidus and liquidus temperatures for the melt pool at specified locations within pads.  This metric is closely related to melt pool length but is explicitly location specific.
  • Pad Melt Pool Geometry (CHAL-AMB2025-07-PMPG): Laser track geometrical measurements (depth, width, etc.) describing the overlapping laser tracks at specified locations of all pads. In addition, the final track melt pool shape for all pads.

AMB2025-08: Phase transformations within single laser tracks on Fe-Cr-Ni alloys with varying composition

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 14, 2025
  • Phase Transformation Sequence (CHAL-AMB2025-08-PTS): Predict the time sequence of phases that evolve during and after solidification.
  • Phase transformation kinetics (CHAL-AMB2025-08-PTK): Whereas the previous challenge focuses on identifying the order of phase formation, this part of the challenge requires predicting the rates and mechanisms by which these transformations occur.

Polymer AM Benchmarks and Challenge Problems

AMB2022-09: Vat photopolymerization cure depth samples fabricated on a methacrylate-functionalized microscope slide

• Detailed descriptions (Posted 3/5/2025)
• Submit challenge problem solutions to ambench [at] nist.gov (ambench[at]nist[dot]gov) before 23:59 (ET) on August 29, 2025
• Registration for informational webinar on March 14, 2025
  • Cure depth dependence on resin composition and radiant exposure (CHAL-AMB2025-09-CD): Cure depth, and subsequent critical cure energy (Ec) and depth of light penetration (Dp), dependence on resin composition and radiant exposure.