Effect of infill pattern of polylactide acid (PLA) 3D-printed integral sandwich panels under ballistic impact loading

• Published in: Materials today communications 2024-03, Vol.38, p.107626, Article 107626
• Main Authors: Ma, Quanjin, Rejab, M.R.M., Song, Yiheng, Zhang, Xin, Hanon, Muammel M., Abdullah, M.H., Kumar, A. Praveen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D-printed integral sandwich structure; Ballistic impact; Fused deposition modeling; Impact resistance characteristics; Infill pattern; Polylactide acid
• ISSN: 2352-4928; 2352-4928
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.107626

This paper investigates the effect of the infill pattern of polylactide acid (PLA) 3D-printed sandwich panels under ballistic impact loading. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique is used to manufacture the PLA 3D-printed integral sandwich panels with four infill patterns: cubic, grid, gyroid, and honeycomb. The ballistic data acquisition system is collected the experimental results with three impact velocities: 109.65, 173.97, and 209.48 m/s. It was revealed that the 3D-printed sandwich panel with cubic infill pattern reached the highest maximum impact load than the other three infill patterns. Moreover, it was highlighted that the sandwich panel with cubic and gyroid infill patterns absorbed 1.41 and 1.15 J and provided better impact resistance characteristics. It is highlighted that the infill pattern plays a vital role in the impact resistance of 3D-printed sandwich structures. Furthermore, it is recommended the three-dimensional (3D) infill pattern, e.g., cubic, gyroid, 3D honeycomb, can provide better impact performance than the two-dimensional (2D) infill pattern. [Display omitted] •Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is used to manufacture integral PLA 3D-printed sandwich panels.•The effect of infill pattern on 3D-printed sandwich panel is examined under ballistic impact loading.•The integral PLA sandwich panel with cubic infill pattern provides the best impact resistance performance.•Infill pattern of 3D-printed structure plays an important role in impact resistance characteristics.