Experimental, analytical, and numerical studies of the energy absorption capacity of bi-material lattice structures based on quadrilateral bipyramid unit cell

The present study investigates the mechanical performance and energy absorption capacity of bi-material 3D lattice structures via experimental, analytical, and numerical approaches. The analytical model has been developed to obtain the effective parameters in energy absorption, such as equivalent elastic modulus and yield stress. Analytical relations based on hyperbolic shear deformation beam theory were extended to calculate the mechanical properties of an extracted unit cell from the lattice structure subjected to applied loads and appropriate boundary conditions. Then, experimental and nonlinear numerical studies have been conducted to analyze the energy absorption properties of the bi-material lattice structure. Quasi-static compression tests were conducted to analyze this lattice structure's mechanical properties and energy absorption capacity. As the numerical study, the elastic-plastic damage behavior was implemented in finite element analyses to examine the nonlinear response of considered structures. The obtained results reveal that the numerical models exhibit an acceptable prediction. According to the results, not only does the use of hybrid structures provide more energy absorption and improve mechanical properties, but also, in comparison to the usual lattice structures fabricated with a single material, the rational combination of two materials makes the bi-material three-dimensional lattice structure to inherit the optimum energy absorption and stiffness.