Additive Manufacturing is a fabrication technique that in the last years is taking its place among the common manufacturing techniques. It enables the production of full density complex design components, with the same mechanical properties obtained by conventional fabrication processes and with minimal wastage. The complete adoption by industry of this manufacturing technique is slowed down by several issues, such as costs, but design questions are also important.
Methods and tools able to support the designers during the development of products additive manufactured are the focus of this thesis proposal. So, the purpose of this study concerns the definition of the geometric shapes most adaptable to this technique, which are able to improve the functional performances of the final products and, at the same time, avoiding the critical stresses caused by additive manufacturing process that can compromise components integrity.