Structural Detailing of Material Extrusion Additively Manufactured 2D Metamaterials With Rigid Inclusions

ABSTRACT Metamaterials are artificially designed structures that exhibit tailored mechanical properties. These properties result primarily from their underlying small‐scale architecture and can therefore be improved by adapting this structure. In this work, the mechanical behaviour of the two‐dimensional projection of the underlying structure is investigated herein. In a lattice cell, square‐shaped rigid inclusions are linked by simply supported struts. This unit of the metamaterial is investigated using a methodological three‐tone: 3D printing, compression tests and simulation. The methods are used iteratively to carry out parameter studies in order to improve the model. Particular emphasis is on designing the CAD model with regard to fabricate the lattice cell using extrusion‐based additive manufacturing technology, so‐called 3D printing. Further tailoring of detailed structural components, such as hinges, is achieved by tuning the printing parameters for fused filament fabrication. This tailoring process is presented together with experimental test results. The compression modulus of the lattice cell is determined both analytically and experimentally and an excellent comparison is achieved.