Material Behavior of 2D Steel Lattices with Different Unit-Cell Patterns

Abstract

Over the past years, two-dimensional lattices have attracted the attention of several researchers because they are lightweight compared with their full-solid counterparts, which can be used in various engineering applications. Nevertheless, since lattices are manufactured by reducing the base material, their stiffnesses then become lower. This study presents the weight efficiency of the lattices defined by relations between the elastic modulus and the weight density of the lattices. In this study, the mechanical behavior of 2D lattices is described by the in-plane elastic modulus. Experimental studies on the elastic modulus of the 2D lattices made of steel are performed. Three lattices having different unit cells, including square, body-centered, and triangular unit cells, are considered. The elastic modulus of each lattice is investigated by tensile testing. All specimens of the lattices are made of steel and manufactured by waterjet cutting. The experimental results of the elastic modulus of the lattices with the considered unit-cell patterns are validated with those obtained from finite element simulations. The results obtained in this study are also compared with the closed-form solutions founded in the literature. Moreover, the unit-cell pattern yielding the best elastic modulus for the lattice is discussed through weight efficiency.