Effect of geometric configuration on compression behavior of 3D-printed polymeric triply periodic minimal surface sheets

Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) has attracted extensive attention in recent years due to its unique, symmetric, and non-self-intersecting features. In this study, the mechanical behaviors of 3D-printed polymeric TPMS sheets were experimentally investigated. The eighteen specimens of six different configurations (including Schwarz Primitive, Schoen Gyroid, Skeleton, Schoen I-WP, Schwarz Diamond, and P-W Hybrid) were fabricated by means of fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique in poly lactic acid (PLA) polymer. These structures were quasi-statically compressed via uniaxial INSTRON 1342 machine. Their mechanical behaviors were evaluated in terms of crashworthiness indicators, compression characteristic, deformation process, specific force, and normalized criteria. The results show that the 18 specimens experience the classical characteristics of cellular structure during collapse process. P-W Hybrid structure processes good energy absorption, and load bearing capacity compared with other structures. Schoen I-WP structure experiences good collapse pattern with layer-by-layer folding sequence. The investigated structures are ranked by in a comprehensive manner through a normalized criterion as follow: P-W Hybrid > Schwarz Diamond > Schoen I-WP > Skeleton > Schoen Gyroid > Schwarz Primitive.

Automated summary

This study experimentally investigates the mechanical behaviors of 3D-printed polymeric TPMS sheets. The results show that the P-W Hybrid structure exhibits good energy absorption and load bearing capacity, while the Schoen I-WP structure experiences a good collapse pattern. The structures are ranked in a comprehensive manner, with P-W Hybrid being the best.