Stiff and strong, lightweight bi-material sandwich plate-lattices with enhanced energy absorption

Abstract

Plate-based lattices are predicted to reach theoretical Hashin-Shtrikman and Suquet upper bounds on stiffness and strength. However, simultaneously attaining high energy absorption in these plate-lattices still remains elusive, which is critical for many structural applications such as shock wave absorber and protective devices. In this work, we present bi-material isotropic cubic + octet sandwich plate-lattices composed of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (stiff) skins and elastomeric (soft) core. This bi-material configuration enhances their energy absorption capability while retaining stretching-dominated behavior. We investigate their mechanical properties through an analytical model and finite element simulations. Our results show that they achieve enhanced energy absorption approximately 2-2.8 times higher than their homogeneous counterparts while marginally compromising their stiffness and strength. When compared to previously reported materials, these materials achieve superior strengthenergy absorption characteristics, making them an excellent candidate for stiff and strong, lightweight energy absorbing applications.

Recent Advancements in Design Optimization of Lattice‐Structured Materials

“…Recently, the utilization of biphasic/multimaterial composition was exploited to enhance the energy absorption of plate lattice materials. Meng‐Ting Hsieh et al [ 131 ] designed a biphasic SC‐FCC plate lattice composed of an elastomeric soft core sandwiched between two carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) plies, where the weight fraction of the soft core ( V soft ) was varied from 0% to 50%. Numerical analysis demonstrated that increasing the V soft from 0% (i.e., a sample completely made of CFRP) to 27.5% enhanced the energy absorption of the biphasic design by 250% (in average).…”

Vat photopolymerization of fly-like, complex micro-architectures with dissolvable supports

“…Here we demonstrate a new class of ultralow density elastic micro-architected metamaterials with starshaped re-entrant topologies that can achieve wide-band omnidirectional vibration attenuation. The high porosity (exceeding 90% void space) of the proposed micro-lattice enables low mass density as low as 0.09 g/cm 3 . The design features a network of low stiffness suspended nodal structures within overhanging micro-unit cells that facilitate a Fig.…”

“…Architected metamaterials with designed three-dimensional architectures exhibit extraordinary structural and multi-functional properties that are not observed in nature and are attractive candidates for applications in energy absorption [1][2][3], energy transduction [4], fluid control [5], electronic sensors [6,7], and sound management [8,9]. While advances in additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, capable of complex and high-resolution features, have made the realization of some of these concepts possible [10][11][12], most additively manufacturable designs are limited to self-supported 3D architectures that exhibit structurally rigid properties.…”

Improving the Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Micro-Architected Biodegradable Metals

“…Another emerging category of micro-architected structure are plate-based lattices, due to their potential to achieve the upper bounds for isotropic elasticity and strain energy storage (i.e., the Hashin-Shtrikman upper bounds) [59]. However, its superior mechanical property comes at the cost of the manufacturing feasibility, as their closedcell nature obstacles the use of powder-bed AM technique.…”