Design of lattice structures with controlled anisotropy

• Published in: Materials & design 2016-03, Vol.93, p.443-447
• Main Authors: Xu, Shanqing, Shen, Jianhu, Zhou, Shiwei, Huang, Xiaodong, Xie, Yi Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Homogenization; Lattice structures; Lattices; Lightweight; Mechanical properties; Metamaterials; Strategy; Symmetry; Weight reduction
• ISSN: 0264-1275; 1873-4197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2016.01.007

Recent advances in additive manufacturing make it possible to fabricate periodic lattice structures with complex configurations. However, a proper design strategy to achieve lattice structures with controlled anisotropy is still unavailable. There is an urgent need to fill this knowledge gap in order to develop mechanical metamaterials with prescribed properties. Here we propose two different methodologies to design lattice structures with controlled anisotropy. As examples, we created two new families of lattice structures with isotropic elasticity and cubic symmetric geometry. The findings of this work provide simple and effective strategies for exploring lightweight metamaterials with desired mechanical properties. Two different methodologies to design lattice structures with controlled anisotropy were proposed by integrating the homogenization method and 3D characterization of Young's modulus surface. As examples, two new families of lattice structures were created with isotropic elasticity and cubic symmetric geometry. [Display omitted] •We proposed strategies to design lattice structures with controlled anisotropy by assembling or symmetrically arraying units.•Two different families of isotropic lattice structures were created, including FCC–BCC and CDC structures.•We integrated homogenization method and 3D characterization of modulus in the design of lattice structures.