Insights into the mechanical properties of several triplyperiodic minimal surface lattice structures made by polymeradditive manufacturing

Maskery, Ian; Sturm, L.; Aremu, Adedeji; Panesar, Ajit; Williams, C.B.; Tuck, Christopher; Wildman, Ricky D.; Ashcroft, Ian; Hague, Richard J.M.

Abstract

Three-dimensional lattices have applications across a range of fields including structural lightweighting, impact absorption and biomedicine. In this work, lattices based on triply periodic minimal surfaces were produced by polymer additive manufacturing and examined with a combination of experimental and computational methods. This investigation elucidates their deformation mechanisms and provides numerical parameters crucial in establishing relationships between their geometries and mechanical performance. Three types of lattice were examined, with one, known as the primitive lattice, being found to have a relative elastic modulus over twice as large as those of the other two. The deformation process of the primitive lattice was also considerably different from those of the other two, exhibiting strut stretching and buckling, while the gyroid and diamond lattices deformed in a bending dominated manner. Finite element predictions of the stress distributions in the lattices under compressive loading agreed with experimental observations. These results can be used to create better informed lattice designs for a range of mechanical and biomedical applications.

Citation

Maskery, I., Sturm, L., Aremu, A., Panesar, A., Williams, C., Tuck, C., Wildman, R. D., Ashcroft, I., & Hague, R. J. (2018). Insights into the mechanical properties of several triplyperiodic minimal surface lattice structures made by polymeradditive manufacturing. Polymer, 152, 62-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2017.11.049

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 21, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Dec 15, 2017
• Publication Date: Dec 12, 2018
• Deposit Date: Dec 11, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 15, 2017
• Journal: Polymer
• Print ISSN: 0032-3861
• Electronic ISSN: 0032-3861
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 152
• Pages: 62-71
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2017.11.049
• Keywords: selective laser sintering; additive manufacturing; cellular solid; lattice; triply periodic minimal surface
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/900169
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032386117311175
• Contract Date: Dec 11, 2017