Mechanical responses and energy absorption characteristics of a novel functionally graded voxel lattice structure

Functionally graded lattice structures have attracted considerable interest owing to their superior mechanical performance compared to traditional uniform structures. In this paper, a novel voxel lattice unit cell with multiple symmetrical struts was designed, and graded lattice structures with variable densities were proposed. Quasi-static compression tests and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate mechanical responses, deformation modes, and energy absorption abilities. The results demonstrated that graded design enabled tunable deformation and a significant 20.3 % increase in specific energy absorption compared to uniform structures. This study expands the design space of functionally graded lattice structures and highlights their significance in practice.

Automated summary

This study introduces a novel graded lattice structure with tunable deformation and high energy absorption capability. The results expand the design possibilities of functionally graded lattice structures and underscore their significance in practical applications.