Mechanical characterization and numerical modeling of TPMS lattice structures subjected to impact loading

The advent of Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) techniques allows the additive manufacturing of complex structures, as Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) lattices, which exhibit promising characteristics for impact applications, such as lightweight and high-energy absorption. Thus, this work aims to develop a numerical model of TPMS structures to investigate the mechanical response of such structures when subjected to impact loadings. To fulfill this task, stainless steel samples made by PBF technique were mechanically characterized at different strain rates using a universal testing machine and Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar. The testing campaign also explored the compressive and tensile material response, with the strain field being monitored by Digital Image Correlation technique. It was noted that the material exhibits a similar elasto-plastic response on both tension and compression and an evident strain rate hardening when the material is loaded from static (0.001 s-1) to dynamic strain rates (4000 s-1). Constitutive parameters were then obtained and implemented in an explicit finite element model developed through Abaqus CAE. Samples of TMPS lattices were manufactured and tested at different loading velocities, which showed that the FE model developed can be used to predict the impact response of TMPS lattices.