Optimized Core Geometry for Energy Absorption in 3D-Printing Sandwich Panels: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The demand for lightweight and durable materials is continuously increasing, leading to the escalated utilization of sandwich structures across various engineering applications, including biomedical, automotive, renewable energy, aircraft, and transportation. This preference is driven by the unique mechanical properties of sandwich materials including superior energy absorption, reduced density, higher stiffness-to-weight, and strength-to-weight ratios, Consequently, this demand has driven the development of advanced composite materials with multifunctional performance. Sandwich panels encompass a wide range of designs, including Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS), commonly observed in diverse natural systems. This study aimed to assess the mechanical properties of sandwich structures with different core geometries through a combination of numerical simulation and experimental impact testing. Specifically, the investigation focused on a type of TPMS sheet structure and its comparison with a typical honeycomb structure to identify the most suitable core geometry for 3D-printed lightweight sandwich panels with high energy absorption capacity. The architected sandwich panels firstly were fabricated using the 3D printing technique and PLA filaments. A numerical simulation was performed to assess the response of sandwich structures when subjected to impact testing. Furthermore, the experimental impact test was carried out to estimate the mechanical behavior. Both experimental and numerical results clearly demonstrated the significant impact of meta-sandwich structure topology and geometrical parameters on the energy absorption capabilities of the panels.