Compressive behaviour of Neovius Triply Periodic Minimal Surface cellular structure manufactured by fused deposition modelling

ABSTRACT

Compressive behaviour of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface type Neovius structure is investigated. The structure was manufactured by Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) Additive Manufacturing technology in ABS material. The Neovius cellular structures with four different unit cell sizes of 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm with the volume fractions of 15%, 20% and 25% were investigated. Morphology of the samples was analysed through optical microscopy, and the pore and strut sizes were compared for the designed model and FDM samples. During the compression test, the Neovius structure showed the oscillating behaviour of the stress–strain curve with the larger unit cell size showing fracture across multiple layers in different orientations. Optical analysis of the struts after the compression tests showed that struts are the weakest link with the highest stressed area and the fracture was seen initiated at the struts. Both compressive modulus and strength increased with the increase in volume fraction.

KEYWORDS:

• Neovius
• compression behaviour
• cellular structure
• Triply Periodic Minimal Surface

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr Girish Thipperudruppa for his support in FDM. Sohaib Z Khan is also thankful for the Endeavour Fellowship from the Government of Australia for the completion of this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Sohaib Z Khan received MPhil (2006) and PhD (2010) from The University of Manchester, UK. He was a faculty member at National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan and worked at the Swinburne University of Technology, Australia as a Research Fellow of Endeavour Fellowship. Currently, he is an Associate Professor at Islamic University Madinah, Saudi Arabia. His research interests include additive manufacturing, material characterisation and laser-material interaction.

S. H. Masood received PhD (1984) from the University of Queensland, Australia. He is a Professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. His research interests include Rapid Manufacturing, Tooling and Prototyping, Additive Manufacturing, Fused Deposition Modelling and Direct Metal Deposition.

Essam Ibrahim received PhD (2009) from Osaka University, Japan. He is an Associate Professor at Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia. His area of expertise includes advanced materials, corrosion resistance and manufacturing technology for thick-coated layer composite alloys through laser-material interaction.

Zaini Ahmad received Master’s degree (2004) from Cranfield University, UK and PhD (2009) from Queensland University of Technology, Australia. He is an Associate Professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia. His research interests include Computational solid mechanics. Other areas of expertise are finite element modelling/simulation, crashworthiness, impact mechanics, thin-walled structures and light-weight structure under dynamic loading.

ORCID

Sohaib Z. Khan http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9023-2689

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Islamic University Madina [grant number research project number 49/40].