A decade of design for additive manufacturing research : a bibliometric analysis (2014–2024)

Celik, H.K. and Elham, A. and Erbil, M.A. and Rennie, A.E.W. and Akinci, I. (2025) A decade of design for additive manufacturing research : a bibliometric analysis (2014–2024). Rapid Prototyping Journal. ISSN 1355-2546

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Abstract

Purpose Design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) has gained significant traction over the past decade, fundamentally reshaping engineering design by leveraging the unique capabilities of additive manufacturing (AM). Despite its rapid evolution, gaps persist in consolidating the vast body of knowledge that has emerged. This bibliometric study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of DfAM research from 2014 to 2024, mapping key contributions, identifying thematic trends, and evaluating interdisciplinary developments using a data-driven approach. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) protocol to ensure systematic data selection and analysis. A combined data set from Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus was used, resulting in 949 documents across 350 sources. The data were processed using RStudio and Bibliometrix, enabling co-authorship mapping, co-citation analysis, and thematic evolution tracking. Key bibliometric indicators such as publication growth rate, citation trends, and institutional collaborations were evaluated to provide a structured understanding of DfAM’s development. Findings The analysis reveals a steady annual growth rate of 20.65%, with a sharp rise in research activity between 2018 and 2023. The highest number of publications was recorded in 2023 (138 articles), reflecting growing academic and industrial engagement. The citation impact varies, with early publications (2014–2016) receiving 55.75–68.68 citations per document, while recent works (2020–2024) show a declining trend, averaging 1.42 citations in 2024, likely due to citation accumulation time. The findings also highlight key research clusters, including topology optimisation, generative design, and sustainability-driven DfAM strategies. Originality/value Unlike previous bibliometric analyses that relied on a single database (either Scopus or WoS), this study integrates/merges both sources, offering a more comprehensive and accurate citation network. It also introduces up to date novel analytical dimensions, including thematic evolution tracking and institutional collaboration mapping, providing a strategic roadmap for future DfAM research.