G-Lattices: A Novel Lattice Structure and Its Generative Synthesis Under Additive Manufacturing Constraints

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel strut-based lattice structure that is called G-Lattices and a method for their generative synthesis. Given additive manufacturing (AM), user and geometrical constraints, G-Lattices can automatically be generated via a particle tracing algorithm, which places/moves particles in a lattice unit cell. As a proof of concept, several G-Lattices are manufactured through an AM machine. Additionally, the proposed G-Lattice synthesis method is customized for the models under vertical loading, which are validated through finite element method experiments and have greater strength over volume ratios compared to conventional lattice structures. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4054675]