Mechanical response of single-layer tetrahedral trusses under shear loading

It has been demonstrated by analytical and numerical studies that lattice core panels may be structurally more efficient than other lightweight structures that are currently available. This paper addresses the mechanical performance of single-layer tetrahedral trusses under shear loading. The truss specimens were fabricated by rapid prototyping and investment casting. Casting defects can contribute significantly to the deviation of the experimental results from the theoretical and numerical predictions. The results also highlight the anisotropic and asymmetric response of the truss architecture selected for this study. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.