The damage tolerance of elastic-brittle, two-dimensional isotropic lattices

The fracture toughness of elastic-brittle 2D lattices is determined by the finite element method for three isotropic periodic topologies: the regular hexagonal honeycomb, the Kagome lattice and the regular triangular honeycomb. The dependence of mode I and mode II fracture toughness upon relative density is determined for each lattice, and the fracture envelope is obtained in combined mode I-mode II stress intensity factor space. Analytical estimates are also made for the dependence of mode I and mode II toughness upon relative density. The high nodal connectivity of the triangular grid ensures that it deforms predominantly by stretching of the constituent bars, while the hexagonal honeycomb deforms by bar bending. The Kagome microstructure deforms by bar stretching remote from the crack tip, and by a combination of bar bending and bar stretching within a characteristic elastic deformation zone near the crack tip. This elastic zone reduces the stress concentration at the crack tip in the Kagome lattice and leads to an elevated macroscopic toughness.Predictions are given for the tensile and shear strengths of a centre-cracked panel with microstructure given explicitly by each of the three topologies. The hexagonal and triangular honeycombs are flaw-sensitive, with a strength adequately predicted by linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) for cracks spanning more than a few cells. In contrast, the Kagome microstructure is damage tolerant, and for cracks shorter than a transition length its tensile strength and shear strength are independent of crack length but are somewhat below the unnotched strength. At crack lengths exceeding the transition value, the strength decreases with increasing crack length in accordance with the LEFM estimate. This transition crack length scales with the parameter of bar length divided by relative density of the Kagome grid, and can be an order of magnitude greater than the cell size at low relative densities. Finally, the presence of a boundary layer is noted at the free edge of a crack-free Kagome grid loaded in tension and in shear. Deformation within this boundary layer is by a combination of bar bending and stretching whereas remote from the free edge the Kagome grid deforms by bar stretching (with a negligible contribution from bar bending). The edge boundary layer degrades both the macroscopic stiffness and strength of the Kagome plate. No such boundary layer is evident for the hexagonal and triangular honeycombs.     

PLASTIC ZONE OF SEMI-INFINITE CRACK IN PLANAR KAGOME AND TRIANGULAR LATTICES

The fracture investigations of the planar lattices made of ductile cell walls are currently limited to bending-dominated hexagonal honeycomb. In this paper, the plastic zones of stretching-dominated lattices, including Kagome and triangular lattices, are estimated by analyzing their effective yield loci. The normalized in-plane yield loci of these two lattices are almost identical convex curves enclosed by 4 straight lines, which is almost independent of the relative density but is highly sensitive to the principal stress directions. Therefore, the plastic zones around the crack tip of Kagome and triangular are estimated to be quite different to those of the continuum solid and also hexagonal lattice. The plastic zones predictions by convex yield surfaces of both lattices are validated by FE calculations, although the shear lag region caused by non-local bending effect in the Kagome lattice enlarges the plastic zone in cases of small ratio of rp/l.     

Mechanical Properties of two novel planar lattice structures

Two novel statically indeterminate planar lattice materials are designed: a new Kagome cell (N-Kagome) and a statically indeterminate square cell (SI-square). Their in-plane mechanical properties, such as stiffness, yielding, buckling and collapse mechanisms are investigated by analytical methods. The analytical stiffness is also verified by means of finite element (FE) simulations. In the case of uniaxial loading, effective modulus, yield strength, buckling strength and critical relative density are compared for various lattice structures. At a critical relative density, the collapse mode will change from buckling to yielding. Elastic buckling under macroscopic shear loading is found to have significant influence on failure of lattice structures, especially at low relative densities. Comparison of the analytical bulk and shear moduli with the Hashin–Shtrikman bounds indicates that the mechanical properties of the SI-square honeycomb are relatively close to being optimal. It is found that compared with the other existing stretching-dominated 2D lattice structures, the N-Kagome cell possesses the largest continuous cavities for fixed relative densities and wall thicknesses, which is convenient for oil storage, disposal of heat exchanger, battery deploying and for other functions. And the initial yield strength of the N-Kagome cell is slightly lower than that of the Kagome cell. The SI-square cell has similar high stiffness and strength as the mixed cell while its buckling resistance is about twice than that of the mixed cell.     

格栅结构力学性能研究进展

格栅复合材料是一种新型轻质高强材料. 综述了格栅复合材料的周期构型特征和格栅结构的制备工艺. 归纳了二维周期格栅材料的等效刚度矩阵计算方法, 比较了不同构型格栅的基本力学性能, 介绍了胞元材料的微极弹性理论和格栅的强度与屈服面计算方法. 探讨了格栅的缺陷及其力学响应, 包括格栅的尺度效应、夹杂缺陷以及裂纹扩展特征, 介绍了波在格栅材料中传播机理的最新研究成果. 根据格栅材料在工程中的应用形式, 分类介绍了格栅板壳结构、格栅加筋板壳结构和格栅夹层结构的结构特点和破坏方式、设计优化准则和实验研究成果. 还归纳了作者所在研究小组近期在碳纤维格栅复合材料的制备、实验研究和理论分析等方面的最新工作进展.      

The reinforcement and defect interaction of two-dimensional lattice materials with imperfections

The defect interaction and reinforcement of imperfect two-dimensional lattice materials are studied by theoretical investigations and finite element (FE) simulations. An analytical model is proposed to predict the interaction of two defects in lattice materials based on a single defect model. An interaction coefficient is introduced to characterize the degree of interaction. The effects of defect type and defect distance on interaction coefficients are studied. The critical interaction distance of defects, beyond which the interaction of two defects can be neglected, is derived. FE calculations are performed to validate the theoretical model. The simulated results indicate that increasing the number of defects can reduce the stress concentration rather than weakening the strength of the residual parts in certain circumstances. Subsequently, several reinforcement methods are proposed to reduce the stress concentration in the triangular and Kagome lattice for the single-bar-missing defect and single-joint-missing defect. An analytical model is developed for the reinforced lattices, and the predicted stress concentration factors are in good agreement with those of FE simulations. By theoretical studies and FE simulations, optimal reinforcement methods are derived for the triangular and Kagome lattice under planar loading conditions.     

A nonlinear mechanics model of bio-inspired hierarchical lattice materials consisting of horseshoe microstructures

Development of advanced synthetic materials that can mimic the mechanical properties of non-mineralized soft biological materials has important implications in a wide range of technologies. Hierarchical lattice materials constructed with horseshoe microstructures belong to this class of bio-inspired synthetic materials, where the mechanical responses can be tailored to match the nonlinear J-shaped stress–strain curves of human skins. The underlying relations between the J-shaped stress–strain curves and their microstructure geometry are essential in designing such systems for targeted applications. Here, a theoretical model of this type of hierarchical lattice material is developed by combining a finite deformation constitutive relation of the building block (i.e., horseshoe microstructure), with the analyses of equilibrium and deformation compatibility in the periodical lattices. The nonlinear J-shaped stress–strain curves and Poisson ratios predicted by this model agree very well with results of finite element analyses (FEA) and experiment. Based on this model, analytic solutions were obtained for some key mechanical quantities, e.g., elastic modulus, Poisson ratio, peak modulus, and critical strain around which the tangent modulus increases rapidly. A negative Poisson effect is revealed in the hierarchical lattice with triangular topology, as opposed to a positive Poisson effect in hierarchical lattices with Kagome and honeycomb topologies. The lattice topology is also found to have a strong influence on the stress–strain curve. For the three isotropic lattice topologies (triangular, Kagome and honeycomb), the hierarchical triangular lattice material renders the sharpest transition in the stress–strain curve and relative high stretchability, given the same porosity and arc angle of horseshoe microstructure. Furthermore, a demonstrative example illustrates the utility of the developed model in the rapid optimization of hierarchical lattice materials for reproducing the desired stress–strain curves of human skins. This study provides theoretical guidelines for future designs of soft bio-mimetic materials with hierarchical lattice constructions.     

Progressive fracture analysis of planar lattices and shape-morphing Kagome-structure

Lattice solids are being contemplated for use in prospective lightweight structural applications. Hence, the understanding of their mechanical behavior is essential. In this work, the tensile behavior of the triangular (T), hexagonal (H) and Kagome (K) planar lattices containing notches is explored using FE-based progressive failure analysis. As an elastic-brittle material is assumed for the struts, they fail in rupture. The effects of notch-length and relative density are examined. Computations show a dramatic decrease of both stiffness and strength of the lattices with increasing the notch-length. For the relative density, the opposite effect is ascertained. Fracture patterns are found to depend only on the topology of the lattices. T- and K-lattice show a similar and much stronger behavior than the H-lattice.Using the same numerical method, the bending behavior of the shape-morphing Kagome-structure (KS) is simulated in regard of the different materials used in the members of the structure. Failure analysis of the KS involves progression of yielding and initiation of buckling in the face-sheet and struts. It was found that the bending rigidity of the KS is governed by the stiffness of the material of the face-sheet while the material of the core determines whether yielding or buckling will initiate first.     

The fracture toughness of planar lattices: Imperfection sensitivity

The imperfection sensitivity of in-plane modulus and fracture toughness is explored for five morphologies of 2D lattice: the isotropic triangular, hexagonal and Kagome lattices, and the orthotropic 0/90^° and ±45^° square lattices. The elastic lattices fail when the maximum local tensile stress at any point attains the tensile strength of the solid. The assumed imperfection comprises a random dispersion of the joint position from that of the perfect lattice. Finite element simulations reveal that the knockdown in stiffness and toughness are sensitive to the type of lattice: the Kagome and square lattices are the most imperfection sensitive. Analytical models are developed for the dependence of modes I and II fracture toughness of the 0/90^° and ±45^° lattices upon relative density. These models explain why the mode II fracture toughness of the 0/90^° lattice has an unusual functional dependence upon relative density.     

正交各向异性Kagome蜂窝材料宏观等效力学性能

由于微结构的布局和尺寸的方向性,人造和天然的蜂窝材料都会不同程度呈现各向异性,其中正交各向异性的蜂窝材料较为常见.该文采用桁架模型推导了正交各向异性Kagome单胞蜂窝材料等效刚度和强度的解析表达式,给出了初始屈服函数和近似弹性屈曲强度,讨论了等效刚度与各向异性率和相对密度的关系.等效刚度的解析结果与单胞壁杆采用梁单元建模的刚架模型均匀化结果进行比较,结果令人满意.需要说明的是这类"组合蜂窝"材料具有多功能性和潜在的可设计性,正在受到人们关注.     

An energy-based anisotropic yield criterion for cellular solids and validation by biaxial FE simulations

The initial yield surface of 2D lattice materials is investigated under biaxial loading using finite element analyses as well as by analytical means. The sensitivity of initial yield surface to the dominant deformation mode is explored by using both low- and high-connectivity topologies whose dominant deformation mode is either local bending or strut stretching, respectively. The effect of microstructural irregularity on the initial yield surface is also examined for both topologies. A pressure-dependent anisotropic yield criterion, which is based on total elastic strain energy density, is proposed for 2D lattice structures, which can be easily extended for application to 3D cellular solids. Proposed criterion uses elastic constants and yield strengths under uniaxial loading, and does not rely on any arbitrary parameter. The analytical framework developed allows the introduction of new scalar measures of characteristic stresses and strains that are capable of representing the elastic response of anisotropic materials with a single elastic master line under multiaxial loading.     

Preliminary study on ductile fracture of imperfect lattice materials

The ductile fracture behavior of two-dimensional imperfect lattice material under dynamic stretching is studied by finite element method using ABAQUS/Explicit code. The simulations are performed with three isotopic lattice materials: the regular hexagonal honeycomb, the Kagome lattice and the regular triangular lattice. All the three lattices are made of an elastic/visco-plastic metal material. Two typical imperfections: vacancy defect and rigid inclusion are introduced separately. The numerical results reveal novel deformation modes and crack growth patterns in the ductile fracture of lattice material. Various crack growth patterns as defined according to their profiles, “X”-type, “Butterfly”-type, “Petal”-type, are observed in different combinations of imperfection type and lattice topology. Crack propagation could induce severe material softening and deduce the plastic dissipation of the lattices. Subsequently, the effects of the strain rate, relative density, microstructure topology, and defect type on the crack growth pattern, the associated macroscopic material softening and the knock-down of total plastic dissipation are investigated.     

AN EQUIVALENT CONTINUUM METHOD OF LATTICE STRUCTURES

An equivalent continuum method is developed to analyze the effective stiffness of three-dimensional stretching dominated lattice materials. The strength and three-dimensional plastic yield surfaces are calculated for the equivalent continuum. A yielding model is formulated and compared with the results of other models. The bedding-in effect is considered to include the compliance of the lattice joints. The predicted stiffness and strength are in good agreement with the experimental data, validating the present model in the prediction of the mechanical properties of stretching dominated lattice structures.     

Yield surfaces of various periodic metal honeycombs at intermediate relative density

Initial yield surfaces are derived for several periodic metal honeycomb cell structures with sufficiently high relative density that failure occurs by plastic yielding. Both in-plane stress states (normal stresses perpendicular to cell axes, with in-plane shear) and triaxial stress states with one principal stress direction along the cell axes are considered. Beam/column and plate/shell yield criteria are adopted to address general in-plane loading and 3D triaxial loading, respectively, accounting for combined cell wall stretching and bending as appropriate. Cell wall behavior is assumed to be elastic-perfectly plastic. The initial yield surfaces for different periodic cell structures are systematically compared. Some issues related to the initial yield surfaces of various honeycombs are discussed, including dependencies on relative density and in-plane and out-of-plane applied stresses, as well as the influence of joints between cell walls.     

Mechanical properties of lattice grid composites

An equivalent continuum method only considering the stretching deformation of struts was used to study the in-plane stiffness and strength of planar lattice grid com- posite materials. The initial yield equations of lattices were deduced. Initial yield surfaces were depicted separately in different 3D and 2D stress spaces. The failure envelope is a polyhedron in 3D spaces and a polygon in 2D spaces. Each plane or line of the failure envelope is corresponding to the yield or buckling of a typical bar row. For lattices with more than three bar rows, subsequent yield of the other bar row after initial yield made the lattice achieve greater limit strength. The importance of the buckling strength of the grids was strengthened while the grids were relative sparse. The integration model of the method was used to study the nonlinear mechanical properties of strain hardening grids. It was shown that the integration equation could accurately model the complete stress-strain curves of the grids within small deformations.     

轻质高强点阵材料及其力学性能研究进展

点阵材料是一种新型轻质高强材料, 同时具备形状控制、致动、能量吸收和传热等多种功能. 文章综述了点阵材料的拉伸主导型设计原则、点阵构型和制备工艺. 拉伸主导型点阵材料的比强度和比刚度明显强于一般胞元材料, 在低密度时质量效率更加突出. 根据材料的基本构型特征主要介绍了三维八角点阵以及夹层点阵材料, 比较分析了熔模铸造法和冲压折叠成型工艺的特点. 总结了研究点阵材料力学性能的理论方法和试验研究成果, 研究表明缺陷对点阵材料力学性能的影响明显小于一般胞元材料. 对点阵材料在形状控制与致动、传热和数值计算方面的应用研究成果进行了介绍. 文中归纳了作者近期在炭纤维点阵复合材料方面的工作, 给出了制备炭纤维隐身点阵格栅的探索性工作. 主要包括炭纤维点阵复合材料的三维编织工艺和二维点阵格栅的嵌锁工艺以及隐身点阵格栅反射率试验测试结果.      

新型复合材料点阵结构的研究进展

复合材料点阵结构是一种具有轻质、高比强、高比刚以及多功能潜力的新型结构材料, 近几年受到国外学者的极大关注, 是新一代结构材料一体化的理想结构材料. 本文概述了点阵复合材料及结构的发展历程, 包括复合材料点阵结构的拓扑构型设计、制备工艺研究、力学性能表征、失效模式分析、预报模型评价等方面的工作, 并给出了复合材料点阵结构的力学性能、失效模式和理论数值模型汇总表以及修正后的材料强度与密度关系图. 同时, 本文对复合材料点阵结构可能应用的领域进行预测, 并对其未来发展进行了展望.      

Kagome plate structures for actuation

A class of planar, pin-jointed truss structures based on the ancient Kagome basket weave pattern with exceptional characteristics for actuation has been identified. Its in-plane stiffness is isotropic and has optimal weight among planar trusses for specified stiffness or strength. The version with welded joints resists plastic yielding and buckling, while storing minimal energy upon truss bending during actuation. Two plate structures are considered which employ the planar Kagome truss as the actuation plane. It is shown that these plates can be actuated with minimal internal resistance to achieve a wide range of shapes, while also sustaining large loads through their isotropic bending/stretching stiffness, and their excellent resistance to yielding/buckling.     

Mechanical behavior of sandwich panels with tetrahedral and Kagome truss cores fabricated from wires

Wires are great candidates as the raw material for truss periodic cellular metals because they can display high strength as in piano wires, are easy to fabricate, and can be controlled to be defect free. New approaches based on tri-axial weaving of wires to create ideal trusses, i.e., tetrahedral and Kagome truss have been presented. The mechanical properties of the sandwich panels with the truss cores fabricated by using the new approaches under compression and bending loadings are analyzed by elementary beam theory and experiments. The relative density, stiffness, and strength of the sandwich panels are estimated by the derived equations and compared with the measured results. The failure mechanisms of the sandwich panels are analyzed, and also benefits and shortcomings of each approach with respect to mechanical performance and production are discussed.     

Kagome平面格栅结构的屈服面及裂尖塑性区分析

分析了Kagome格栅的等效刚度和屈服面. 其屈服面奇异,由4段直线围成. 利用该屈服面,估算了Kagome具有I型、II型半无限大裂纹的裂尖塑性区,有限元计算验证了解析预测的准确性. 与奇异屈服面相比,由Mises光滑屈服面给出的塑性区误差较大. 因此只有弹性情况,可以将Kagome等效为各向同性;若材料塑性,或应力场奇异性较强,Kagome的强度依赖于主应力方向,不能用各向同性模型来描述.      

Pattern formation in the three-dimensional deformations of fibered sheets

We simulate pattern formation in the deformations of a pantographic lattice using a model of elastic surfaces that accounts for the geodesic bending of the constituent fibers. The theory predicts an unusual arrangement of coexistent phases observed in an actual lattice, manufactured by a 3D printing process, in which the fibers undergo part-wise uniform shears separated by internal transition layers controlled by geodesic bending stiffness.