Lattice Structure and Metamaterial Design for Additive Manufacturing

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Interests: design for additive manufacturing (DfAM); lattice (cellular) structures; metamaterials; laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF); topology optimization and generative design

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has transformed the way structures are designed and produced, enabling the creation of complex geometries and structures that were previously difficult or impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. One of the most exciting areas of development in AM is the creation of lattice structures and cellular metamaterials. Lattice structures are lightweight yet possess exceptional mechanical, thermal, and energy absorption properties, making them ideal for a broad range of applications, including aerospace and biomedical devices, as well as energy storage systems. Cellular metamaterials are engineered materials that have unique and tunable properties such as mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties beyond those found in nature, due to their unique cellular structure.

This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring the latest developments in lattice structures and metamaterials fabricated through AM. We welcome submissions focused on designing lattice structures and metamaterials for AM, utilizing optimization, generative, and AI-based algorithms and design tools. We also welcome articles that address the design and optimization of lattice structures and metamaterials for specific applications, the mechanical behavior and performance of AM lattice structures and metamaterials, and the development of new AM processes and materials for the production of these structures.

We invite researchers from academia and industry who are working in this exciting field to submit their research to this Special Issue. This is an excellent opportunity to share your work, exchange ideas, and form a comprehensive collection of research in this field.

Dr. Meisam Abdi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing
  • lattice and cellular structures
  • mechanical metamaterials
  • triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS)
  • auxetic structures
  • design for additive manufacturing
  • generative design
  • optimization
  • artificial intelligence (AI)
  • powder bed fusion

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

32 pages, 22322 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Energy Absorption with Bioinspired Composite Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Gyroid Lattices Fabricated via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
by Dawit Bogale Alemayehu and Masahiro Todoh
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(3), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8030086 - 23 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2062
Abstract
Bio-inspired gyroid triply periodic minimum surface (TPMS) lattice structures have been the focus of research in automotive engineering because they can absorb a lot of energy and have wider plateau ranges. The main challenge is determining the optimal energy absorption capacity and accurately [...] Read more.
Bio-inspired gyroid triply periodic minimum surface (TPMS) lattice structures have been the focus of research in automotive engineering because they can absorb a lot of energy and have wider plateau ranges. The main challenge is determining the optimal energy absorption capacity and accurately capturing plastic plateau areas using finite element analysis (FEA). Using nTop’s Boolean subtraction method, this study combined walled TPMS gyroid structures with a normal TPMS gyroid lattice. This made a composite TPMS gyroid lattice (CTG) with relative densities ranging from 14% to 54%. Using ideaMaker 4.2.3 (3DRaise Pro 2) software and the fused deposition modeling (FDM) Raise3D Pro 2 3D printer to print polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics in 1.75 mm filament made it possible to slice computer-aided design (CAD) models and fabricate 36 lattice samples precisely using a layer-by-layer technique. Shimadzu 100 kN testing equipment was utilized for the mechanical compression experiments. The finite element approach validates the results of mechanical compression testing. Further, a composite CTG was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) before and after compression testing. The composite TPMS gyroid lattice showed potential as shock absorbers for vehicles with relative densities of 33%, 38%, and 54%. The Gibson–Ashby model showed that the composite TPMS gyroid lattice deformed mainly by bending, and the size effect was seen when the relative densities were less than 15%. The lattice’s relative density had a significant impact on its ability to absorb energy. The research also explored the use of these innovative foam-like composite TPMS gyroid lattices in high-speed crash box scenarios to potentially enhance vehicle safety and performance. The structures have tremendous potential to improve vehicle safety by acting as advanced shock absorbers, which are particularly effective at higher relative densities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lattice Structure and Metamaterial Design for Additive Manufacturing)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 25274 KiB  
Article
Multi-Objective Parametric Shape Optimisation of Body-Centred Cubic Lattice Structures for Additive Manufacturing
by Hafiz Muhammad Asad Ali and Meisam Abdi
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2023, 7(5), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp7050156 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2180
Abstract
There has been significant interest in additively manufactured lattice structures in recent years due to their enhanced mechanical and multi-physics properties, making them suitable candidates for various applications. This study presents a multi-parameter implicit equation model for designing body-centred cubic (BCC) lattice structures. [...] Read more.
There has been significant interest in additively manufactured lattice structures in recent years due to their enhanced mechanical and multi-physics properties, making them suitable candidates for various applications. This study presents a multi-parameter implicit equation model for designing body-centred cubic (BCC) lattice structures. The model is used in conjunction with a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) approach to maximise the stiffness of the BCC lattice structure while minimising von-Mises stress within the structure under a specific loading condition. The selected design from the MOGA at a specific lattice density is compared with the classical BCC lattice structure and the designs generated by a single-objective genetic algorithm, which focuses on maximising stiffness or minimising von-Mises stress alone. By conducting a finite element analysis on the optimised samples and performing mechanical testing on the corresponding 3D-printed specimens, it was observed that the optimised lattice structures exhibited a substantial improvement in mechanical performance compared to the classical BCC model. The suitability of multi-objective and single-objective optimisation approaches for designing lattice structures was further investigated by comparing the corresponding designs in terms of their stiffness and maximum von-Mises stress values. The results from the numerical analysis and experimental testing demonstrate the significance of the application of an appropriate optimisation strategy for designing lattice structures for additive manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lattice Structure and Metamaterial Design for Additive Manufacturing)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop