scholarly journals A Comparison of Miniature Lattice Structures Produced by Material Extrusion and Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2163
Author(s):  
Rafael Guerra Silva ◽  
María Josefina Torres ◽  
Jorge Zahr Viñuela
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Solid Material ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Material Extrusion ◽  
Lower Accuracy ◽  
Manufacturing Methods

In this paper, we study the capabilities of two additive manufacturing technologies for the production of lattice structures, namely material extrusion and vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing. A set of polymer lattice structures with diverse unit cell types were built using these additive manufacturing methods and tested under compression. Lattice structures built using material extrusion had lower accuracy and a lower relative density caused by the air gaps between layers, but had higher elastic moduli and larger energy absorption capacities, as a consequence of both the thicker struts and the relatively larger strength of the feedstock material. Additionally, the deformation process in lattices was analyzed using sequential photographs taken during the compression tests, evidencing larger differences according to the manufacturing process and unit-cell type. Both additive manufacturing methods produced miniature lattice structures with similar mechanical properties, but vat polymerization should be the preferred option when high geometrical accuracy is required. Nevertheless, as the solid material determines the compressive response of the lattice structure, the broader availability of feedstock materials gives an advantage to material extrusion in applications requiring stiffer structures or with higher energy absorption capabilities.

scholarly journals Design of Shoe Soles Using Lattice Structures Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 719-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoying Dong ◽  
Daniel Tessier ◽  
Yaoyao Fiona Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Footwear Industry ◽  
Deposition Modeling ◽  
Shoe Soles

AbstractAdditive manufacturing (AM) has enabled great application potential in several major industries. The footwear industry can customize shoe soles fabricated by AM. In this paper, lattice structures are discussed. They are used to design functional shoe soles that can have controllable stiffness. Different topologies such as Diamond, Grid, X shape, and Vintiles are used to generate conformal lattice structures that can fit the curved surface of the shoe sole. Finite element analysis is conducted to investigate stress distribution in different designs. The fused deposition modeling process is used to fabricate the designed shoe soles. Finally, compression tests compare the stiffness of shoe soles with different lattice topologies. It is found that the plantar stress is highly influenced by the lattice topology. From preliminary calculations, it has been found that the shoe sole designed with the Diamond topology can reduce the maximum stress on the foot. The Vintiles lattice structure and the X shape lattice structure are stiffer than the Diamond lattice. The Grid lattice structure buckles in the experiment and is not suitable for the design.

Design and Analysis of Lattice Structures for Additive Manufacturing

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Beyer ◽  
Dustin Figueroa
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Cnc Machining ◽  
Numerical Control ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Cell Structures ◽  
Bending Load

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables time and cost savings in the product development process. It has great potential in the manufacturing of lighter parts or tools by the embedding of cellular/lattice structures that consume less material while still distributing the necessary strength. Less weight and less material consumption can lead to enormous energy and cost savings. Although AM has come a long way over the past 25–30 years since the first technology was invented, the design of parts and tools that capitalize on the technology do not yet encompass its full potential. Designing for AM requires departing from traditional design guidelines and adopting new design considerations and thought structures. Where previous manufacturing techniques (computer numerical control (CNC) machining, casting, etc.) often necessitated solid parts, AM allows for complex parts with cellular and lattice structure implementation. The lattice structure geometry can be manipulated to deliver the level of performance required of the part. The development and research of different cell and lattice structures for lightweight design is of significant interest for realizing the full potential of AM technologies. The research not only includes analysis of existing software tools to design and optimize cell structures, but it also involves design consideration of different unit cell structures. This paper gives a solid foundation of an experimental analysis of additive manufactured parts with diverse unit cell structures in compression and flexural tests. Although the research also includes theoretical finite element analysis (FEA) of the models, the results are not considered here. As an introduction, the paper briefly explains the basics of stress and strain relationship and summarizes the test procedure and methods. The tests concentrate primarily on the analysis of 3D printed polymer parts manufactured using PolyJet technology. The results show the behavior of test specimens with different cell structures under compression and bending load. However, the research has been extended and is still ongoing with an analysis of selective laser melted test specimens in aluminum alloy AlSi10Mg.

Lattice Structure Design for Additive Manufacturing: Unit Cell Topology Optimization

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Hanks ◽  
Mary Frecker
Keyword(s):  
Topology Optimization ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Structure Design ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Design For Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Structure Topology

Abstract Additive manufacturing is a developing technology that enhances design freedom at multiple length scales, from the macroscale, or bulk geometry, to the mesoscale, such as lattice structures, and even down to tailored microstructure. At the mesoscale, lattice structures are often used to replace solid sections of material and are typically patterned after generic topologies. The mechanical properties and performance of generic unit cell topologies are being explored by many researchers but there is a lack of development of custom lattice structures, optimized for their application, with considerations for design for additive manufacturing. This work proposes a ground structure topology optimization method for systematic unit cell optimization. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the approach. Case Study 1 results in a range of unit cell designs that transition from maximum thermal conductivity to minimization of compliance. Case Study 2 shows the opportunity for constitutive matching of the bulk lattice properties to a target constitutive matrix. Future work will include validation of unit cell modeling, testing of optimized solutions, and further development of the approach through expansion to 3D and refinement of objective, penalty, and constraint functions.

scholarly journals Energy Absorption and Mechanical Performance of Functionally Graded Soft–Hard Lattice Structures

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafizur Rahman ◽  
Ebrahim Yarali ◽  
Ali Zolfagharian ◽  
Ahmad Serjouei ◽  
Mahdi Bodaghi
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Hard Materials ◽  
Unit Cell Size ◽  
Rational Combination ◽  
Dual Material

Today, the rational combination of materials and design has enabled the development of bio-inspired lattice structures with unprecedented properties to mimic biological features. The present study aims to investigate the mechanical performance and energy absorption capacity of such sophisticated hybrid soft–hard structures with gradient lattices. The structures are designed based on the diversity of materials and graded size of the unit cells. By changing the unit cell size and arrangement, five different graded lattice structures with various relative densities made of soft and hard materials are numerically investigated. The simulations are implemented using ANSYS finite element modeling (FEM) (2020 R1, 2020, ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA) considering elastic-plastic and the hardening behavior of the materials and geometrical non-linearity. The numerical results are validated against experimental data on three-dimensional (3D)-printed lattices revealing the high accuracy of the FEM. Then, by combination of the dissimilar soft and hard polymeric materials in a homogenous hexagonal lattice structure, two dual-material mechanical lattice statures are designed, and their mechanical performance and energy absorption are studied. The results reveal that not only gradual changes in the unit cell size provide more energy absorption and improve mechanical performance, but also the rational combination of soft and hard materials make the lattice structure with the maximum energy absorption and stiffness, in comparison to those structures with a single material, interesting for multi-functional applications.

scholarly journals Investigations on the Mechanical Response of Gradient Lattice Structures Manufactured via SLM

Metals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judyta Sienkiewicz ◽  
Paweł Płatek ◽  
Fengchun Jiang ◽  
Xiaojing Sun ◽  
Alexis Rusinek
Keyword(s):  
Relative Density ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Dynamic Loading ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Dynamic Compression ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Static And Dynamic Loading

The main aim of the paper is to evaluate the mechanical behavior or lattice specimens subjected to quasi-static and dynamic compression tests. Both regular and three different variants of SS 316L lattice structures with gradually changed topologies (discrete, increase and decrease) have been successfully designed and additively manufactured with the use of the selective laser melting technique. The fabricated structures were subjected to geometrical quality control, microstructure analysis, phase characterization and compression tests under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. The mismatch between dimensions in the designed and produced lattices was noticed. It generally results from the adopted technique of the manufacturing process. The microstructure and phase composition were in good agreement with typical ones after the additive manufacturing of stainless steel. Moreover, the relationship between the structure relative density and its energy absorption capacity has been defined. The value of the maximum deformation energy depends on the adopted gradient topology and reaches the highest value for a gradually decreased topology, which also indicates the highest relative density. However, the highest rate of densification was observed for a gradually increasing topology. In addition, the results show that the gradient topology of the lattice structure affects the global deformation under the loading. Both, static and dynamic loading resulted in both barrel- and waisted-shaped deformation for lattices with an increasing and a decreasing gradient, respectively. Lattice specimens with a gradually changed topology indicate specific mechanical properties, which make them attractive in terms of energy absorption applications.

Compression behavior of three-dimensional printed polymer lattice structures

2018 ◽  
Vol 233 (8) ◽  
pp. 1574-1584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Al Rifaie ◽  
Ahsan Mian ◽  
Raghavan Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Basic Unit ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Body Centered Cubic ◽  
Static Compression ◽  
Compression Behavior

This paper focuses on the compression behavior of additively manufactured or three-dimensional printed polymer lattice structures of different configurations. The body-centered cubic lattice unit cell, which has been extensively investigated for energy absorption applications, is the starting point for this research. In this study, the lattice structure based on the body-centered cubic unit cell was modified by adding vertical struts in different arrangements to create three additional configurations. Four lattice structure designs were selected for comparison: the basic unit cell (body centered cubic), body centered cubic with vertical struts added to all nodes in the lattice, body centered cubic with vertical struts added to alternate nodes in the lattice, and body centered cubic with gradient in the number of vertical bars in the lattice. Samples of all four designs were prepared using acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene polymer by three-dimensional printing. The stiffness, failure loads, and energy absorption behaviors of all four configurations were determined under quasi-static compression loading. Specific properties were calculated by normalizing the test properties by the sample mass. It is observed from experimental data that selective placement of vertical support struts in the unit cell influences both the absolute and specific mechanical properties of lattice structures.

scholarly journals Dynamic crushing behavior of closed-cell aluminum foams based on different space-filling unit cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Talebi ◽  
R. Hedayati ◽  
M. Sadighi
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Peak Stress ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Energy Absorption Capacity ◽  
Closed Cell ◽  
Unit Cells

AbstractClosed-cell metal foams are cellular solids that show unique properties such as high strength to weight ratio, high energy absorption capacity, and low thermal conductivity. Due to being computation and cost effective, modeling the behavior of closed-cell foams using regular unit cells has attracted a lot of attention in this regard. Recent developments in additive manufacturing techniques which have made the production of rationally designed porous structures feasible has also contributed to recent increasing interest in studying the mechanical behavior of regular lattice structures. In this study, five different topologies namely Kelvin, Weaire–Phelan, rhombicuboctahedron, octahedral, and truncated cube are considered for constructing lattice structures. The effects of foam density and impact velocity on the stress–strain curves, first peak stress, and energy absorption capacity are investigated. The results showed that unit cell topology has a very significant effect on the stiffness, first peak stress, failure mode, and energy absorption capacity. Among all the unit cell types, the Kelvin unit cell demonstrated the most similar behavior to experimental test results. The Weaire–Phelan unit cell, while showing promising results in low and medium densities, demonstrated unstable behavior at high impact velocity. The lattice structures with high fractions of vertical walls (truncated cube and rhombicuboctahedron) showed higher stiffness and first peak stress values as compared to lattice structures with high ratio of oblique walls (Weaire–Phelan and Kelvin). However, as for the energy absorption capacity, other factors were important. The lattice structures with high cell wall surface area had higher energy absorption capacities as compared to lattice structures with low surface area. The results of this study are not only beneficial in determining the proper unit cell type in numerical modeling of dynamic behavior of closed-cell foams, but they are also advantageous in studying the dynamic behavior of additively manufactured lattice structures with different topologies.

Determination of Optimal Unit-Cell Size of Homogeneous Conformal Unit-Cell Lattice Structure Using Solid Shape Matching

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud A. Alzahrani ◽  
Seung-Kyum Choi
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Solid Body ◽  
Strain Energy ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Unit Cell Size ◽  
Unit Cells

With rapid developments and advances in additive manufacturing technology, lattice structures have gained considerable attention. Lattice structures are capable of providing parts with a high strength to weight ratio. Most work done to reduce computational complexity is concerned with determining the optimal size of each strut within the lattice unit-cells but not with the size of the unit-cell itself. The objective of this paper is to develop a method to determine the optimal unit-cell size for homogenous periodic and conformal lattice structures based on the strain energy of a given structure. The method utilizes solid body finite element analysis (FEA) of a solid counter-part with a similar shape as the desired lattice structure. The displacement vector of the lattice structure is then matched to the solid body FEA displacement results to predict the structure’s strain energy. This process significantly reduces the computational costs of determining the optimal size of the unit cell since it eliminates FEA on the actual lattice structure. Furthermore, the method can provide the measurement of relative performances from different types of unit-cells. The developed examples clearly demonstrate how we can determine the optimal size of the unit-cell based on the strain energy. Moreover, the computational cost efficacy is also clearly demonstrated through comparison with the FEA and the proposed method.

An experimental investigation on mechanical performances of 3D printed lightweight ABS pipes with different cellular wall thickness

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 8169-8177
Author(s):  
Berkay Ergene ◽  
İsmet ŞEKEROĞLU ◽  
Çağın Bolat ◽  
Bekir Yalçın
Keyword(s):  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Honeycomb Structure ◽  
Cellular Structures ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Absorbed Energy ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
3D Printed

In recent years, cellular structures have attracted great deal of attention of many researchers due to their unique properties like exhibiting high strength at low density and great energy absorption. Also, the applications of cellular structures (or lattice structures) such as wing airfoil, tire, fiber and implant, are mainly used in aerospace, automotive, textile and biomedical industries respectively. In this investigation, the idea of using cellular structures in pipes made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material was focused on and four different pipe types were designed as honeycomb structure model, straight rib pattern model, hybrid version of the first two models and fully solid model. Subsequently, these models were 3D printed by using FDM method and these lightweight pipes were subjected to compression tests in order to obtain stress-strain curves of these structures. Mechanical properties of lightweight pipes like elasticity modulus, specific modulus, compressive strength, specific compressive strength, absorbed energy and specific absorbed energy were calculated and compared to each other. Moreover, deformation modes were recorded during all compression tests and reported as well. The results showed that pipe models including lattice wall thickness could be preferred for the applications which don’t require too high compressive strength and their specific energy absorption values were notably capable to compete with fully solid pipe structures. In particular, rib shape lattice structure had the highest elongation while the fully solid one possessed worst ductility. Lastly, it is pointed out that 3D printing method provides a great opportunity to have a foresight about production of uncommon parts by prototyping.

Design for Additive Manufacturing of Cellular Compliant Mechanism Using Thermal History Feedback

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jivtesh Khurana ◽  
Bradley Hanks ◽  
Mary Frecker
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Thermal History ◽  
Test Problem ◽  
Compliant Mechanisms ◽  
Compliant Mechanism ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Design For Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Area Of Interest

With growing interest in metal additive manufacturing, one area of interest for design for additive manufacturing is the ability to understand how part geometry combined with the manufacturing process will affect part performance. In addition, many researchers are pursuing design for additive manufacturing with the goal of generating designs for stiff and lightweight applications as opposed to tailored compliance. A compliant mechanism has unique advantages over traditional mechanisms but previously, complex 3D compliant mechanisms have been limited by manufacturability. Recent advances in additive manufacturing enable fabrication of more complex and 3D metal compliant mechanisms, an area of research that is relatively unexplored. In this paper, a design for additive manufacturing workflow is proposed that incorporates feedback to a designer on both the structural performance and manufacturability. Specifically, a cellular contact-aided compliant mechanism for energy absorption is used as a test problem. Insights gained from finite element simulations of the energy absorbed as well as the thermal history from an AM build simulation are used to further refine the design. Using the proposed workflow, several trends on the performance and manufacturability of the test problem are determined and used to redesign the compliant unit cell. When compared to a preliminary unit cell design, a redesigned unit cell showed decreased energy absorption capacity of only 7.8% while decreasing thermal distortion by 20%. The workflow presented provides a systematic approach to inform a designer about methods to redesign an AM part.

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