Abstract
This study investigates the compressive response of a caisson-ceiling-inspired (CC) lattice developed from curved supporting paths and hierarchical nesting in traditional Chinese caisson ceilings. Four lattice configurations were compared numerically, and CC and CUBIC+BCC specimens were fabricated and subjected to quasi-static compression. Under the investigated nominal geometry, loading direction and material condition, the CC lattice showed higher nominal compressive stress and volumetric energy absorption than CUBIC+BCC in the available representative records. The numerical and experimental results gave the same performance ranking and broadly similar deformation characteristics, whereas the numerical stress levels remained lower than the experimental values.