Study on the Influence of 3D Printing Material Filling Patterns on Marine Photovoltaic Performance

With the rapid development of offshore photovoltaic (PV) systems, PV support structures have become a critical component in offshore PV installations. The material properties of these structures significantly influence the safety and reliability of the entire system. 3D printing technology, leveraging its advantages such as rapid prototyping, complex structure manufacturing, and high material utilization, holds broad application prospects in the field of offshore PV. However, the infill pattern of 3D printing materials can significantly affect their mechanical properties. Marine PV systems require extremely high resistance to wave action, tensile strength, and torsional performance, while offshore PV support structures need sufficient compressive capacity. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how different infill patterns affect the compressive properties of 3D printed materials, thereby optimizing material selection and printing processes for offshore PV applications. Through experimental design, a variety of common infill patterns were selected. Universal testing machines and torsion testing machines were used to conduct systematic tests on compressive strength, elastic modulus, and compressive fracture strain. The results showed that different infill patterns have a significant impact on compressive properties, among which the honeycomb infill exhibited the best overall mechanical performance, effectively enhancing load-bearing capacity and stability. Based on the experimental results, appropriate infill configurations and material combinations for different components of offshore PV systems were proposed. The feasibility of optimizing 3D printing processes to improve the overall performance of offshore PV structures was further explored. The findings of this study not only provide a theoretical basis for material selection and process optimization in 3D printing for offshore PV systems but also offer important references for promoting the application of 3D printing technology in this field.