Performance of a 3D printed cellular structure inspired by bone

Abstract

Biological thin-walled cellular structures have intricate arrangements that facilitate lightweight and high energy absorption. A prime example is trabecular bone, which possesses a unique thin-walled cellular structure of connected rods or plates, to minimise weight whilst meeting the loading demands from the body. For example, the femur has a closed cell structure of plates to transmit heavy loads to the ground, whereas a carpal bone has an open cell structure of connected rods. Although existing lightweight thin-walled cellular structures with controlled arrangements have been investigated extensively, such as those with re-entrant geometries, asymmetric instability due to local buckling c..