| Abstract Scope |
Fiber-reinforced brittle-matrix composites can achieve exceptionally high energy absorption in tension relative to the monolithic matrix material. In woven and braided composites, high energy absorption results from two key mechanisms: (i) local hardening via reinforcement lock-up, which promotes damage delocalization, and (ii) conversion of the far-field tensile stress into a local compressive stress that extracts inelastic work from the brittle matrix phase. In this talk, I will show how these same mechanisms can be engineered into additively manufactured interpenetrating composites and interpenetrating lattices to achieve unprecedented combinations of energy absorption and strength. I will present two case studies that illustrate these principles: an additively manufactured, fully dense interpenetrating composite of 316L stainless and A356 and an interpenetrating lattice structure, termed chain lattice, that transforms brittle 3D-printable materials into damage-tolerant structures. |