Analysis of mechanical properties of a lattice structure produced with the additive technology

Abstract

Mechanical characteristics of 3D printed lattice structures primarily depend on the properties of materials from which they are produced. Another factor is the topology of the structure. In the paper it was shown, that the behavior of the lattice can significantly differ from the fully-dense material and both the experiments and the FE modelling is necessary to describe well the structure in the macroscopic sense. A separate problem is damage identification along with the process of deformation – this however can be done with satisfactory effect by treating the lattice as a porous structure. For creating the 3D model of the lattice/porous structure the PTC Creo 6 CAD software was used. It enabled both physical realization of the porous ABS specimens and exporting the geometry to the FE software environment Abaqus. The performed experimental tests of uniaxial compression enabled determination of the material model necessary to be implemented in the numerical simulations. The macroscopic damage initiation and its evolution was described well with a scalar damage parameter. The proposed procedure might be accepted as a simple and easy-to-implement methodology for the assessment of the lattice/porous material deterioration.