Cross-like lattices with tailorable mechanical properties

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 281; p. 128617
• Main Authors: Yang, Nan, Deng, Yong, Mao, Zhongfa, Wang, Suian, Niu, Xiaodong, Wu, Nan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.12.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing; Aerospace engineering; Aerospace industry; Finite element method; Lattices; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Porosity; Porous materials; Stiffness; Structural; Three dimensional printing; Tissue engineering; Topology; Two dimensional analysis; Mechanical properties; Additive manufacturing; Porous materials; Lattices; Structural
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2020.128617

•New cross-like lattices are proposed with high porosity.•The mechanical properties of the proposed lattices can be tuned geometrically.•The proposed lattices have potential auxetic behavior.•The failure mechanism under high strain level is explained. Here we propose a new 3D structure with cubic unit cells constructed by six 2D cross-like lattices. Applying Finite element analysis (FEA), we find that the mechanical properties of such 3D lattices can be geometrically tuned without considering different material attributes. The topology and volume fraction are changed by varying the deformation angle and strut diameter-length ratio, respectively, which both affect the overall stiffness. This is demonstrated by the experiments with 3D printed acrylate resin specimens. Interestingly, the proposed lattices also show a potential auxetic property and high porosity (>90%). Such lattices can be used to create new materials with lightweight and tunable mechanical properties in tissue engineering, civil engineering, and aerospace industry.