Research on Lightweight Design Performance of Offshore Structures Based on 3D Printing Technology

Traditional manufacturing methods struggle to incorporate complex internal configurations within structures, thus restricting the potential for enhancing the strength of offshore structures through internal design. However, the advent of 3D printing technology presents innovative solutions to this challenge. Previous research has investigated the use of 3D printing to integrate lattice-like structures within conventional frameworks to achieve lightweight designs. Building upon this foundation, this paper models an embedded structure and other marine structures subjected to similar loads using simplified models and conducts a thorough investigation into their mechanical properties. Specifically, it examines the effects of the 3D-printed infill structure, infill rate, and tilt angle of printed specimens on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed components. The goal is to identify the optimal parameter combinations that ensure structural strength while also achieving a lightweight design and a secondary lightweight design for the embedded structure. This paper concludes, from tensile, torsional, and compressive experiments, that honeycomb infill structures, with specimens printed at an inclination angle of 0°, exhibit superior performance across all properties. Additionally, the bonding between the layers of the printed parts is identified as a key factor influencing the tensile and torsional properties. While increasing the infill rate can significantly improve the overall mechanical properties of specimens, it also results in a corresponding reduction in the lightweighting index.