Session: AM9.1 - Materials for (strategic sectors) Aerospace and Defense applications

Paper Number: 187622

187622 - Dynamic Characteristics of Architected Diamond Tpms Sandwich Beam 

The growing demand for the development of architected cellular materials, has positioned Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) configuration as highly suitable candidates for advanced vibration isolation and energy dissipation applications. Unlike conventional strut-based lattices, TPMS structures offer high stiffness-to-weight ratios and able to modify their mechanical properties through geometric design. Among  the TPMS configurations, Diamond TPMS structure stands out due to its unique geometry, which combines smooth curvature, high surface-to-volume ratio, and uniform stress distribution. The static behaviour of TPMS structures are widely studied, but its dynamic characteristics in sandwich beam configuration is limited. In this study, the vibration response of a sandwich beam integrating Diamond TPMS as core with varying unit cell sizes and relative densities are investigated. The core and face sheet of sandwich beam were manufactured via fused deposition modeling using poly lactic acid, a biodegradable thermoplastic commonly used in additive manufacturing. The effects of unit cell size and relative densities on modal response were predicted under clamped free boundary condition through finite element simulation and validated experimentally. For fair comparison, a mass-equivalent solid beam with same length and boundary conditions were designed and analyzed. The result indicates that decreasing the relative density and increasing the unit cell size reduce the natural frequencies and dynamic flexural stiffness of the TPMS beams. When compared with  mass-equivalent solid beams,  the Diamond TPMS structures shows higher structural loss factors, highlighting their improved internal damping characteristics and superior vibration isolation capability. These findings highlight the potential of Diamond TPMS geometry as highly effective solutions for lightweight structural applications requiring vibration mitigation, including those in aerospace, robotics, and biomedical engineering.

Presenting Author: Eqbert K National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli

Presenting Author Biography: Eqbert K is a Ph.D. research scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering , National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli (NIT Trichy). His research focuses on architected mechanical metamaterials such as Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structures, and the dynamic behavior of additively manufactured sandwich structures. His work involves combined numerical modeling and experimental modal analysis to study the influence of architectural parameters such as relative density and unit cell size on vibration characteristics. His broader research interests include additive manufacturing, vibration control, and the design of lightweight structures for vibration-sensitive engineering applications.