Investigation of torsional properties of surface- and strut-based lattice structures manufactured using multiJet fusion technology

Functionally graded lattice structures have attracted much attention in engineering due to their excellent mechanical performance resulting from their optimized and application-specific properties. These structures are inspired by nature and are important for a lightweight yet efficient and optimal functionality. They have enhanced mechanical properties over the uniform density counterparts because of their graded design, making them preferable for many applications. Several studies were carried out to investigate the mechanical properties of graded density lattice structures subjected to different types of loadings mainly related to tensile, compression, and fatigue responses. In applications related to biomedical, automotive, and aerospace sectors, dynamic bending and rotational stresses are critical load components. Therefore, the study of torsional properties of functionally gradient lattice structures will contribute to a better implementation of lattice structures in several sectors. In this study, several functionally gradient triply periodic minimal surfaces structures and strut-based lattice structures were designed in cylindrical shapes having 40% relative density. The HP Multi Jet Fusion 4200 3D printer was used to fabricate all specimens for the experimental study. A torsional experiment until the failure of each structure was conducted to investigate properties of the lattice structures such as torsional stiffness, energy absorption, and failure characteristics. The results showed that the stiffness and energy absorption of structures can be improved by an effective material distribution that corresponds to the stress concentration due to torsional load. The TPMS based functionally gradient design showed a 35% increase in torsional stiffness and 15% increase in the ultimate shear strength compared to their uniform counterparts. In addition, results also revealed that an effective material distribution affects the failure mechanism of the lattice structures and delays the plastic deformation, increasing their resistance to torsional loads.

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Effect of Fillets on Mechanical Properties of Lattice Structures Fabricated Using Multi-Jet Fusion Technology

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14092194 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (9) ◽

pp. 2194

Author(s):

Aamer Nazir ◽

Ahmad-Bin Arshad ◽

Chi-Pin Hsu ◽

Jeng-Ywan Jeng

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Failure Mechanism ◽

Energy Absorption ◽

High Speed ◽

Lattice Structure ◽

High Stress ◽

Lattice Structures ◽

Fusion Technology ◽

Sharp Edges ◽

Sharp Corners

Cellular structures with tailored topologies can be fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) processes to obtain the desired global and local mechanical properties, such as stiffness and energy absorption. Lattice structures usually fail from the sharp edges owing to the high stress concentration and residual stress. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the failure mechanism of lattice structures to improve the mechanical properties. In this study, several lattice topologies with fillets were designed, and the effects of the fillets on the stiffness, energy absorption, energy return, and energy loss of an open-cell lattice structure were investigated at a constant relative density. A recently developed high-speed AM multi-jet fusion technology was employed to fabricate lattice samples with two different unit cell sizes. Nonlinear simulations using ANSYS software were performed to investigate the mechanical properties of the samples. Experimental compression and loading–unloading tests were conducted to validate the simulation results. The results showed that the stiffness and energy absorption of the lattice structures can be improved significantly by the addition of fillets and/or vertical struts, which also influence other properties such as the failure mechanism and compliance. By adding the fillets, the failure location can be shifted from the sharp edges or joints to other regions of the lattice structure, as observed by comparing the failure mechanisms of type B and C structures with that of the type A structure (without fillets). The results of this study suggest that AM software designers should consider filleted corners when developing algorithms for generating various types of lattice structures automatically. Additionally, it was found that the accumulation of unsintered powder in the sharp corners of lattice geometries can also be minimized by the addition of fillets to convert the sharp corners to curved edges.

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Fabrication of polymeric lattice structures for optimum energy absorption using Multi Jet Fusion technology

Materials & Design ◽

10.1016/j.matdes.2018.05.059 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 155 ◽

pp. 86-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

F.N. Habib ◽

P. Iovenitti ◽

S.H. Masood ◽

M. Nikzad

Keyword(s):

Energy Absorption ◽

Lattice Structures ◽

Fusion Technology ◽

Optimum Energy

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Backscattered Electron Imaging of GaAs/AlGaAs Super Lattice Structures with an Ultra-High- Resolution SEM

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100103103 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 204-205

Author(s):

Kazumichi Ogura ◽

Michael M. Kersker

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Layer Structure ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Beam Current ◽

Electron Beam Current ◽

Lattice Structures ◽

Super Lattice ◽

Different Types ◽

Backscattered Electron ◽

Electron Imaging

Backscattered electron (BE) images of GaAs/AlGaAs super lattice structures were observed with an ultra high resolution (UHR) SEM JSM-890 with an ultra high sensitivity BE detector. Three different types of super lattice structures of GaAs/AlGaAs were examined. Each GaAs/AlGaAs wafer was cleaved by a razor after it was heated for approximately 1 minute and its crosssectional plane was observed.First, a multi-layer structure of GaAs (100nm)/AlGaAs (lOOnm) where A1 content was successively changed from 0.4 to 0.03 was observed. Figures 1 (a) and (b) are BE images taken at an accelerating voltage of 15kV with an electron beam current of 20pA. Figure 1 (c) is a sketch of this multi-layer structure corresponding to the BE images. The various layers are clearly observed. The differences in A1 content between A1 0.35 Ga 0.65 As, A1 0.4 Ga 0.6 As, and A1 0.31 Ga 0.69 As were clearly observed in the contrast of the BE image.

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Lattice imaging of precipitates in Al-Zn-Mg alloy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100143651 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 412-413

Author(s):

C. K. Wu

Keyword(s):

Grain Boundaries ◽

Homogeneous Nucleation ◽

Alloy System ◽

Mg Alloy ◽

List Type ◽

Lattice Structures ◽

Type Number ◽

Orientation Relationships ◽

Lattice Imaging ◽

The Matrix

The precipitation phenomenon in Al-Zn-Mg alloy is quite interesting and complicated and can be described in the following categories:(i) heterogeneous nucleation at grain boundaries;(ii) precipitate-free-zones (PFZ) adjacent to the grain boundaries;(iii) homogeneous nucleation of snherical G.P. zones, n' and n phases inside the grains. The spherical G.P. zones are coherent with the matrix, whereas the n' and n phases are incoherent. It is noticed that n' and n phases exhibit plate-like morpholoay with several orientation relationship with the matrix. The high resolution lattice imaging techninue of TEM is then applied to study precipitates in this alloy system. It reveals the characteristics of lattice structures of each phase and the orientation relationships with the matrix.

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