Lattice structure design employing volumetric distance field on account of finite element solid model

A new approach is presented for the configuration of hybrid lattice structures for multifunctional applications. When constructing a complicated lattice structure constitute of large number of unit cells, traditional approach employing computer aided design (CAD) software demands a considerable amount of computer resources for designing models and generating STL files. In this article, we develop a MATLAB routine for efficiently modelling the solid with arbitrarily intricate exterior shape and hybrid lattice structures. employing this design way, several important modelling parameters such as the cell type, lattice numbers and the strut thickness can be controlled to obtain the required porosity distribution and mechanical behavior of the structures. Lattice structure can be constructed by combing a large number of ordered repetitions of the unit cells in the given design domain. Five types of unit cells such as simple cubic (SC), body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), octet cubic (OC) and diamond cubic (DC) structures are used for generating lattice structure and each cubic cell is constitute of a set of struts and nodes. All the geometric components are represented by volumetric distance field (VDF) and these components are combined for the computational model by employing Boolean operations on account of VDF. In our design way, the parameterization of the designed lattice structure becomes useful, requiring simple modification of the preexisting functions. In order to promote the engineering application of lattice structure, we have designed lattice structures with arbitrarily intricate geometry employing finite element solid models including linear hexahedral element, quadratic hexahedral element and cubic hexahedral element. This article contributes the development of a design approach for hybrid lattice structures via MATLAB routine employing VDF on account of finite element solid model. The geometric homogeneity between the modelled object and the built part by AM demonstrates the feasibility of proposed design way.