Mechanical Behavior of TPMS-Based Solid Network Structures Obtained by Additive Manufacturing Technology

Abstract

Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) lattice structures are characterized by their varied microstructures and mechanical properties, which leads to better mechanical performance compared to classical and uniform structures. TPMS-based lattices are mainly used in applications requiring low densities and high mechanical strength. In this work, unit cell size and type grading are mechanically investigated for solid network structures with topologies based on triply periodic minimal surfaces, namely Neovius, Primitive, and IWP. For unit cell size grading, the structures were designed with two dimensions, such as 1 mm and 5 mm. The mechanical test was carried out to investigate the tensile mechanical performance of TPMS-based solid network structures under tensile loading. The tensile test was performed using the finite element software Ansys Workbench. The results obtained show that unit cell type affects the mechanical behavior of lattice objects. Furthermore, the unit cell dimensions do not influence the mechanical performance of 3D printed solid network structures. The suitability of using TPMS-based solid network structures in the implants field was confirmed by the tensile test results.