Effect of Lattice Structure on Compression Strength Behavior of 3D Printed Stochastic PLA Material for Biomedical Applications

Porous structures play a crucial role in biomedical applications, particularly in the design of implants and scaffolds, as they allow for tissue integration, nutrient transport, and enhanced biocompatibility. Among the various materials used, polymeric materials have gained significant attention due to their tunable mechanical properties, biodegradability, and ability to be processed into complex geometries. Polylactic acid (PLA), a widely used biodegradable polymer, has become especially relevant with the advancement of 3D printing technologies such as fused deposition modeling (FDM). To study the behavior of polymeric lattice structures under compressive stress, the present work investigates PLA specimens fabricated through the FDM process. Using ASTM D695 test procedures, the mechanical properties of PLA cubes were analyzed. The findings demonstrate that the lattice geometry and printing parameters strongly influence the compressive performance. Among the tested configurations, the specimen with a Delaunay lattice structure exhibited the highest load-bearing capacity (17394.44 N), outperforming those with Voronoi and orthofoam structures. This study highlights the potential of optimized lattice architectures in enhancing the mechanical performance of polymer-based biomedical structures.