Thermal and irradiation disorder in porous additively manufactured 316H steel: A molecular dynamics study

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to examine how temperature, irradiation, and porosity influence the atomic structure of additively manufactured 316H stainless steel. The first peak of the radial distribution function g ( r ) broadens, indicating increased disorder, while the first peak of the structure factor S ( q ) intensifies, reflecting stronger short-range order. We developed an additive model that separates temperature-driven vibrational effects from irradiation- and porosity-induced static disorder, providing a clear framework to quantify damage. These results offer key insights for designing radiation-tolerant materials with engineered porosity for nuclear applications.