3D printed tubular lattice metamaterials with engineered mechanical performance

Abstract

We numerically and experimentally report 3D tubular lattice metamaterials with sinusoidal ligaments, which enable the deformation pattern to switch from bending to stretching. A non-linear J-shape stress-strain response and auxetic behavior over a large deformation range are observed due to the intrinsic deformation mechanism. Numerical analyses further demonstrate that the proposed tubular lattice metamaterials exhibit a high degree of tunability for Poisson's ratio and mechanical responses. In particular, the design flexibility can be harnessed to create heterogeneous tubular structures that can morph into target shapes. The findings presented here provide insights to develop 3D architected metamaterials with various potential applications, such as tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and stretchable electronics.