Abstract: A method of optimising one or more physical properties of an alloy comprises conducting a plurality of trials per an experimental design on a plurality of candidate alloys. Each trial comprises measuring a plurality of values of each physical property of the candidate alloys for different values of a plurality of parameters, wherein the parameters comprise respective concentrations of the two or more constituents, and one or more process parameters. The method further comprises fitting the plurality of values of the physical property and the plurality of parameters to a response surface model; and determining, from the fitted response surface model, optimised values of the parameters that optimise the respective responses; wherein the response surface model describes a non-linear relationship between a time integral of each of the physical property and a linear combination of non-linear functions of the plurality of parameters.

Abstract: A method of determining optimal values of one or more process parameters for printing a part comprises obtaining a plurality of sets of test values for the one or more process parameters. An additive manufacturing system is caused to at least partially generate a plurality of test samples according to a design and the plurality of sets of test values. During or after generation of the plurality of test samples, test data indicative of respective measurements of at least one property of the test samples are obtained. The test data are fitted to a second-order function of the one or more process parameters to determine coefficients of the one or more process parameters. Based on the second-order function and the coefficients, optimal values are determined for the one or more process parameters that result in a global optimum for the at least one property.