| Author(s) |
Holden Hyer, Qingyang Liu, Le Zhou, Dazhong Wu, Shutao Song, Yuanli Bai, Brandon McWilliams, Kyu Cho, Yongho Sohn |
| Abstract Scope |
Mg-alloy WE43 has a high strength to weight ratio. In combination with complex lattice designs, with “intended” porosity, WE43 lattices have the potential for the ultimate lightweight structural material. Therefore, this study investigates the fabrication, compressive behavior, and fracture modes of 24 different WE43 lattice structures produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Utilizing cubic and tetrahedron designs, 900 mm3 lattices were designed in which unit cell type, strut diameter, and unit cell size were varied. The compressive behavior of the lattice structures exhibited oscillations in stress, showing many local maxima and minima, with a peak in stress near 5 % strain. The highest compressive strength, and associated specific strength, achieved was 48.6 MPa and 26.4 MPa·g-1·cm3, respectively. Two failure modes were observed, 45° shear fracture and crushing, suggesting little plastic deformation. Consequently, a direct relationship between the density and the compressive strength was observed, unaffected by unit cell type. |