Additive manufacturing of adaptive architected structures for enhanced protective equipment

Additive manufacturing (AM) of bio-inspired structures has gained significant attention in recent years due to its ability to create highly complex and customized products. A key application of this technology is in the development of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is essential for ensuring the safety and performance of athletes in various sports. This study focuses on designing and fabricating protective architected components using AM technology, with an emphasis on gradient structures that exhibit auxetic properties. These properties improve impact resistance, enhance wearability, and streamline the manufacturing process. The architected structures developed in this study can be tailored to provide varying levels of impact resistance and shape recovery, making them ideal for use in PPE. Ultimately, this research contributes to advancing the safety, comfort, and performance of bio-inspired structures in sports-related PPE. • Development of architected gradient structures with auxetic properties for improved mechanical properties and impact resistance. • Integration of design and additive manufacturing processes to produce customizable and adaptive protective components. • Exploration of 3D-printed structures with tailored mechanical properties for streamlined manufacturing and wearability. • Significant contributions to advancing lightweight, adaptive, and high-performance protective equipment.